iRelate Initiative

Teens  who frequently use social media are more likely to say they struggle with  mental health  concerns that are not being addressed, new Canadian research reveals. At issue is the amount of time adolescents spend browsing and posting on sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. "It is difficult to speculate what mechanisms may link the use of social networking sites to mental health problems," said study author Dr. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga, from the department of epidemiology at Ottawa Public Health in Ottawa, Canada. While the study did not prove a cause-and-effect link, Sampasa-Kanyinga noted that the "use of social networking sites can lead to poor mental health, and poor mental health may be a reason why youth use social networking sites. That said, it could be that kids with mental health problems are seeking out interactions as they are feeling isolated and alone. Or it could be that greater time online exposes one to more opportunities for cy