Multiple longitudinal and cross-sectional studies report a dose-response gradient in which adolescent girls who use social media heavily report higher rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and lower well-being than light users, with the gradient steepening above roughly two to three hours of daily use.
The post-2012 rise in adolescent depression and self-harm is concentrated in girls, and the platforms whose adoption coincides with the inflection are image-based and comparison-driven.
Twenge et al. — iGen / Clinical Psychological Science (placeholder)
Could a different cause produce the same effect E in this case?
Is there a plausible causal mechanism by which C could bring about E?
How strong is the causal generalization linking C to E? Are there documented cases where C does not produce E?
Are there intervening or confounding factors that could interfere with the causal chain from C to E?
Is the apparent link between C and E merely a post hoc correlation rather than a causal relation?
Showcase: Smartphones, social media, and adolescent mental health