Social media is fuelling sharply higher rates of depression among girls than boys, a study that interviewed almost 11,000 14-year-olds has found. Greater daily hours of social media use corresponds to an increase in depressive symptoms, explained Professor Yvonne Kelly from University College London, as well as poor sleep. Shannon McLaughlin, 18, from Blackburn, who was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in her early teens, said: “People mostly share the positive things about life on social media, without showing the negatives … Seeing that everyone was happy and enjoying life made me feel so much worse.” Barbara Keeley, the shadow minister for mental health, said social media firms should be forced to adopt a duty of care to protect young users. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has produced guidance including a checklist for whether your family’s screen time is under control. Sign upThe Guardian Morning Briefing is delivered to thousands of inboxes bright and early every weekday.

Source: The Guardian January 04, 2019 06:22 UTC