Online connections hold double-edged impact on teen mental health, Texas A&M study finds

While adolescents and teens around the world are more socially connected than ever through online social networking sites, they also report more feelings of depression, anxiety and related mental health issues.

A new review of the scholarly research to date, led by health behavior experts with the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, sheds light on these trends — the good, the bad and whether they are connected — and offers next steps for policy and the design of online environments.

“We know that social connections, even those online, can strengthen mental health for some in this age group, but there’s still a lot we don’t understand about how these friendships and social connections impact their overall well-being,” said Tyler Prochnow, an assistant professor in the school’s Department of Health Behavior.

Helpful or harmful? Research reveals a complicated situation

To learn more, Prochnow — along with Texas A&M colleagues Meg S. Patterson and Jamilia Blake, as well as researchers from Arizona State University, UCLA and Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas — conducted a systematic review of the scholarly literature in January 2024.

Their findings on the relationship between online social connections and mental health among 10- to 18-year-olds were published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

The team found 3,745 articles on the topic, and 23 met their criteria — studies that measured mental health outcomes, looked at online social connection and analyzed how the two relate in this age group.

Most of the studies looked at snapshots in time rather than following participants long term, and together they involved thousands of young people. Researchers most often measured online social support, followed by comparison on social media, sharing with online friends and positive self-disclosure. When looking at mental health, most studies focused on symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“The research shows that online connections can both help and harm teens’ mental health,” Prochnow said. “Those who actively reach out and establish online connections can get needed help and support, but those who are passive — by scrolling through sites, for example — can see negative mental health outcomes.”

Understanding online social connections

Using an adaptation of the U.S. Surgeon General’s framework on social connection, the team then analyzed what these studies found for three aspects of social connection: structure, function and quality.

Structure refers to the number of online relationships teens have, who these relationships are with (such as friends, family members or neighbors) and how often they interact with these people. Function refers to how much teens can count on these online friends for different needs, such as emotional support, information or just being available to talk, and quality is about how positive, helpful or satisfying the relationships are.

In terms of structure, the review found that online connections can be a safety net for people feeling vulnerable or down. It also found that those who are depressed tend to have smaller online networks and feel less connected to others, and that online friendships can help people who struggle with social skills feel more confident.

Regarding function, the review found that actively sharing information and messaging online usually leads to stronger friendships and more happiness; however, continually sharing worries can lead to overthinking or “spiraling” together (co-rumination), which might increase feelings of depression.

And while a strong online network can help boost self-esteem and make life feel more satisfying, in certain situations, seeking help online (without also seeking it in person) was associated with higher risks of feeling suicidal in select studies.

And finally, on the topic of quality, the research has found that positive interactions online prolong positive feelings, while the opposite also is the case. Support from online friends can reduce feelings of depression, but seeing some posts can make adolescents and teenagers compare themselves unfavorably and increase feelings of depression.

Building trust and safety for teens online

Next, the team developed recommendations based on these findings and applied them to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Six Pillars to Advance Social Connection.

“These were not created specifically for online connections, but we believe they provide a good framework for developing targeted strategies that address the nuanced findings of our review,” Prochnow said.

Pillar 1: Strengthen social infrastructure in local communities. Designing digital spaces with a sense of belonging and shared purpose — as seen in online games — can help teens feel connected and support their mental health.

Pillar 2: Enact pro-connection public policies. Smarter policies could protect teens by encouraging healthy, active use while limiting harmful effects of “doom scrolling” or passive social media consumption with no purpose.

Pillar 3: Mobilize the health sector. Teens’ online connections can help or harm their mental health, so providers need tools and guidelines to spot risks and support safe, healthy use.

Pillar 4: Reform digital environments. Giving teens control over their data and stronger safety tools can build trust and support healthier online connections.

Pillar 5: Deepen our knowledge. Teen’s online connections affect mental health in complex ways, so more research, funding and public awareness are needed to guide healthy use.

Pillar 6: Cultivate a culture of connection. Promoting kindness, respect and empathy online can make digital spaces safer by encouraging positive behavior and reducing risks like bullying.

“The bottom line is that as digital technologies evolve, we must develop strategies to maximize benefits and minimize risks,” Prochnow said. “Our study provides one possible path forward.”

By Ann Kellett, Texas A&M University School of Public Health