SOCIAL MEDIA SWEET SPOT REVEALED FOR TEEN WELLBEING
- Bella Star
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
As Australia debates restrictions on social media for under-16s, new research suggests the conversation might be missing the point.
A major study led by the University of Adelaide has found that moderate use of social media, rather than none at all, is linked to better wellbeing among teenagers.
Published in JAMA Paediatrics, the research points to a clear “sweet spot” that challenges the idea that less is always better.
Social media and the well-being sweet spot
The study identified that teenagers who spend up to 12.5 hours a week on social media report more positive well-being outcomes than those who either overuse it or avoid it entirely.
Lead author Dr Ben Singh says the findings highlight a far more nuanced relationship than the public debate often suggests.
“Public debate often frames social media as being harmful to teenagers’ wellbeing, but our findings suggest the reality is far more nuanced,” Dr Singh said.
“It’s a real Goldilocks scenario – not too little and not too much social media is best for teenagers’ wellbeing.”
Social media use varies between boys and girls
The research also found that the impact of social media isn’t one-size-fits-all, with clear differences between boys and girls as they grow older.
“For girls, we found that moderate use of social media was linked to better wellbeing in their middle teenage years (grades 7-9; ages 12-15) and onwards,” Dr Singh said.
“It was the opposite for boys, with those not using social media as they grew older at risk of poorer wellbeing.”
In younger children, avoiding social media made little difference, as offline interactions were enough to meet social needs. But by adolescence, the digital world becomes a central space for connection and identity.
By the time teenagers reach their mid-teens, social media is no longer just entertainment. It becomes a key part of how they socialise, express themselves and feel included.
The study suggests that completely removing social media may, in some cases, cut off an important avenue for belonging.
That doesn’t mean unlimited scrolling gets a free pass.
At the other end of the spectrum, high usage was consistently linked to negative outcomes, including increased sadness, worry and difficulty managing emotions.
“Teenagers who reported the greatest social media use after school were consistently more likely to experience low wellbeing, including higher levels of sadness, worry and difficulty managing emotions,” Dr Singh said.
The takeaway is straightforward, even if the reality isn’t. Social media itself isn’t the problem. Extremes are.
Social media debate needs a reset
The findings land at a time when platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat are under increasing scrutiny, with calls to limit access for younger users.
But this research suggests a blanket ban may not address the full picture.
Instead, helping teenagers develop a healthier relationship with social media, one that sits somewhere in the middle, could be a more effective approach.
Because, like most things in life, it turns out the answer isn’t all or nothing. It’s somewhere in between.
