Finding your digital sweet spot: how much is too much?
A long-term study from the University of Cincinnati and Northwestern University suggests that daily social media use exceeding 150 minutes is linked to higher rates of depression. Researchers recommend limiting screen time to maintain mental well-being, noting that social media usage is a stronger predictor of depression than other digital habits like gaming or TV.
Why it matters
This research provides a quantitative threshold for digital consumption, offering actionable health guidance in an era of increasing screen addiction.
Long-term study proposes screen time limit for social media.
Are you consuming social media content, or is this content consuming you? A research team in the United States has come up with a screen time threshold in order to maintain a positive state of mental well-being. Teens and young women have long dominated the conversation around social media and mental health. To get the full picture, research needs to isolate social media from general screen habits and see if this pattern holds across different populations over time. A major study led by the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Northwestern University is the largest yet to track how social media affects mental health throughout an entire adult life.
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