this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2025
147 points (98.7% liked)

World News

48629 readers
3099 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 6 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

These correlations are mediated through several factors, including social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships

Funny how 3 items are very specific, but it is not stated what about social media is so harmful?
Also as Lembot_0004 state, I think targeted advertising could be a big factor, and in EU and many countries that's illegal to do against children.

leading to symptoms in adulthood that are not the traditional mental health symptoms of depression and anxiety and can be missed by studies using standard screeners. These symptoms of increased aggression, detachment from reality and suicidal thoughts

Sounds like those symptoms would be pretty standard to test for in a mental health evaluation.

I can't help but get the feeling that this study was designed by an interest group. It somehow doesn't ring true to me. Although the conclusion is pretty much as most would probably expect.
But maybe that's the problem? The study shows exactly what most prejudiced against young people having smartphones would expect, and that could be caused by a flawed study.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

it is not stated what about social media is so harmful?

They're listing "mediating factors"; which is not exclusive to bad things even if it contributes to bad outcomes.

Our analysis reveals that receiving a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mind health outcomes in young adulthood, particularly among females, including suicidal thoughts, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and diminished self-worth. These correlations are mediated through several factors, including social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships.

What this is saying is:

"receiving a smartphone before age 13" + "social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships" = "poorer mind health outcomes in young adulthood, particularly among females, including suicidal thoughts, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and diminished self-worth."

The cellphone in isolation isn't harmful. It's the access to social media intended for adults, the 24/7 avenue for cyberbullying, the physiological interruptions to circadian rhythm due to screen time, and exasperated emotional damage of poor family dynamics where cellphones replace face to face intimacy.

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago

Its not the smartphone. Its corporations and social media. The tech has the ability to make people insanely smart. Capitalism and the far right wont allow that.

When I was a kid I loved tech, had a bunch of computers, read tech books, tried to take apart and break or fix stuff. Install tons of ridiculous software to see what it did. Now I don't think kids have true tech interest. They are handed a phone and they let the zucc tell them what to do/buy/date/say. Gross. Poor young people today.

Im not even old. But I guess get off my lawn or whatever, Kewl.

[–] Lembot_0004@discuss.online 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Stupid study doesn't dare to write a correct title: "Watching an enormous number of degenerative advertisements is associated with poorer mental health and well-being."

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago

"Our analysis reveals that receiving a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mind health outcomes in young adulthood, particularly among females, including suicidal thoughts, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and diminished self-worth. These correlations are mediated through several factors, including social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships. "

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago