Recent Statistics on Digital Media Use and Mental Health (2021–2025)
Growing Mental Health Risks For Youth Online
1. Heavy screen time doubles teen anxiety and depression: According to an October 2024 CDC analysis, about 1 in 4 U.S. teenagers who spent 4 + hours per day on screens had recent symptoms of anxiety (27 %) or depression (26 %), roughly double the rate seen in teens with < 4 hours (12 % and 9.5 %). This strong correlation between excessive screen exposure and mentalhealth symptoms highlights why intervention is critical (CDC. NCHS Data Brief 513, Oct 2024)
2. Teens themselves see social media as harmful: In a 2025 Pew Research Center survey of 13 17 year olds, 48 % said social media has a mostly negative effect on people their age (up from 32 % in 2022). Nearly half also admitted they spend too much time on social platforms, and 44 % reported actively cutting back on social media or smartphone use to protect their wellbeing. This perception from youths and their attempts to self-regulate reflect growing concern and the need for guidance on healthy tech habits. (Pew Research
Center. Teens, Social Media & Mental Health, Apr 2025)
3. Young adults feel lonely and inadequate online: Even digitalnative generations report
negative emotional effects. In Deloitte’s 2023 global survey, 46 % of Gen Z respondents
said social media makes them feel lonely or inadequate, and 45 % feel pressure to present
an ideal self online. Notably, 20 % of Gen Z reported spending five or more hours per
day on video apps alone. This combination of extreme screen time and resultant low
selfesteem underscores why mentalhealth curricula must address social media’s impact
on young adults’ selfimage and life satisfaction. (Deloitte. 2023 Gen Z & Millennial
Survey, May 2023)
Social Media, Loneliness, and Isolation
4. Adults are online almost all day: DataReportal’s Digital 2025 Global Overview—based
on GWI surveys of internet users aged 16–64 in 53 countries—shows the average adult now spends 6 hours 38 minutes online every day, nearly one full waking day each week
on screens. Such pervasive connectivity contributes to digital fatigue, sleep disruption, and reduced realworld engagement, highlighting the need for intentional techmanagement skills. (DataReportal / GWI, Jan 2025)
5. Loneliness at epidemic levels in the digital age: In 2023 the U.S. Surgeon General declared an “epidemic of loneliness.” CDC data released in 2024 show that about one in three U.S. adults reports feeling lonely. This social disconnection—linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety—is increasingly blamed in part on digital media replacing in-person interaction, turning loneliness into a public health issue that demands community and mental health action. (CDC. Social Connectedness & Loneliness, May 2024)
6. More social media, more loneliness: New research suggests heavy socialmedia use can actually fuel isolation. A 2024 nineyear longitudinal study of adults found that both passive scrolling and active posting on social platforms were associated with increased
feelings of loneliness over time, rather than alleviating them. In other words, the very apps meant to connect people can intensify loneliness when overused—highlighting the need for guidance on balanced, meaningful online engagement. (Wesselmann E et al., Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull., Dec 2024)
Strains on Relationships and Family Life
7. Devices are impeding real world relationships: Pervasive screen use is straining family and romantic bonds. A Pew survey in 2024 found 46 % of teens say their parent is at
least sometimes distracted by their phone when the teen is trying to talk to them. This “distracted parenting” can leave youth feeling devalued and emotionally disconnected.
(Earlier studies have noted similar issues among couples, with partners feeling “phubbed” – phonesnubbed–by one another.) Such data illustrate how digital devices, when unchecked, can erode face-to-face interaction and trust, signaling a need for education on healthy device boundaries in families and relationships. (Pew Research Center. How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time, Mar 2024)
Addictive Screen Behavior In Children
8. Screen addiction linked to worse mental health in kids: A large 2025 study (Columbia & Cornell, published in JAMA) tracked 4,300 children (enrolled at ages 9–10) for four years. It found about 40 % developed high or escalating “addictive” use of social
media or mobile devices. Children with persistent or increasing addictive screen use had significantly worse mental health–including more anxiety, depression, and aggression–and were 2–3 times more likely to develop suicidal thoughts or behaviors compared to kids with low addictive use. These findings underline the need for early intervention and digital wellness education in childhood. (Nagata JM et al., JAMA, 18 Jun 2025,
article No. 2835481)
These statistics collectively highlight the pressing need for “Mental Health in a Digital World”–equipping parents, educators, health providers, wellness directors, and communities to mitigate technology’s psychological and social risks through awareness, informed use, and healthy habits.