The relationship between internet use and mental health has become an increasingly important topic of research and discussion in recent years. As digital technologies have become ubiquitous across global populations, understanding how these technologies impact psychological well-being has become essential. Research examining this connection reveals a complex picture that defies simplistic conclusions about whether internet use is inherently beneficial or harmful to mental health. This article examines the available evidence regarding the intersection of internet use and mental health outcomes across different populations and types of online activities.
Global Perspectives on Internet Use and Mental Health
A comprehensive study analyzing data from two million individuals across 168 countries challenges the widely held belief about the negative psychological impact of internet technologies. Researchers found only small and inconsistent changes in global well-being and mental health over the last two decades, despite extensive internet adoption. These findings suggest that the relationship between internet use and mental health may be more nuanced than previously assumed.
The methodology of this global study involved contrasting two different datasets on well-being and mental health against countries' per capita internet users and mobile broadband subscriptions and use. In one analysis, researchers examined whether internet adoption predicts psychological well-being. In a second study, they analyzed data on rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm from 2000-2019 in approximately 200 countries and their associations with internet adoption.
Wellbeing was assessed using data from face-to-face and phone surveys by local interviewers in the respondents' native languages. Mental health was evaluated using statistical estimates of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and self-harm across nearly 200 countries from 2000 to 2019, based on aggregated health data from World Health Organisation member states.
Notably, the researchers highlighted that valuable data exist and are continuously analyzed by global technology firms for marketing and product improvement, but unfortunately are not accessible for independent research. This limitation in data availability represents a significant challenge for researchers attempting to fully understand the relationship between internet technologies and mental health outcomes.
Canadian Data on Internet Use and Mental Health
Statistics Canada provides valuable insights into the relationship between internet use and self-reported mental health. Canadian data indicate that factors other than time spent online can contribute to the relationship between internet use and mental health, such as the type of online activity, and the demographic characteristics of the user.
According to the 2022 Canadian Internet Use Survey, nearly half (44%) of Canadians who spent 20 hours or more per week on general Internet use reported very good or excellent mental health. This percentage was higher than that of individuals who spent similar amounts of time on specific online activities. For example, only 35% of those who spent 20 hours or more per week playing video games online reported very good or excellent mental health.
The data further reveal variations in mental health outcomes based on different types of online activities:
- General Internet use: 44% of heavy users (20+ hours/week) reported very good or excellent mental health
- Watching streamed content: 40% of heavy users reported very good or excellent mental health
- Online video games: 35% of heavy users reported very good or excellent mental health
These differences suggest that the nature of online activities may significantly influence their impact on mental health, rather than simply the amount of time spent online.
Canadian data also highlight age-related differences in internet usage patterns. About two-fifths of Canadians aged 15 to 24 (42%) reported spending 20 hours or more per week on general Internet use in 2022, the highest among all age groups. This percentage was similar to usage during the pandemic in 2020 (43%) but at least 10 percentage points higher than before the pandemic in 2018 (32%). Among older age groups, those aged 25 to 34 followed closely behind at 38%.
Regarding content consumption, almost 9 in 10 Canadians watched content online in 2022 (87%), with 17% watching content online for 20 hours or more in a typical week. This activity includes watching television series or movies, eSports or other video game streaming services, or user-generated content on platforms such as YouTube or TikTok.
Gender Differences in Online Activities and Mental Health
Research from Statistics Canada reveals important gender differences in how online activities relate to mental health outcomes. In a study examining data on mental health in adolescents aged 12 to 17 from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, video game use by girls was found to be associated with lower self-reported mental health, even when controlling for other factors. For boys, no relationship between video game use and mental health could be identified.
Similarly, for social media or instant messaging use, no differences in mental health could be identified when controlling for other factors, regardless of sex. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering the type of activity and personal characteristics when examining the relationship between Internet use and mental health.
Social Media Use Among Adolescents and Mental Health
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that approximately 95% of high school-aged youths use a social media platform, with approximately one fifth reporting "almost constant" social media use. This high prevalence of social media use among adolescents has raised concerns about potential impacts on mental health development.
Associations between frequent social media use and poor mental health outcomes among adolescents are increasingly being documented. Research has identified links between heavy social media use and depression, as well as suicide risk. Social media use might also increase risk for electronic victimization and perpetration, which can be antecedents of poor mental health.
Evidence suggests that certain youth populations might be more vulnerable than others to potential harms of social media use. Female and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning adolescents are more likely to experience electronic victimization than male or heterosexual peers. However, it is important to note that youths might also benefit from social support and connection found online, highlighting the dual nature of social media's potential impact.
The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data has been used to examine associations between frequent social media use and U.S. high school students' experiences of bullying victimization, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicide risk. These studies contribute to a growing body of literature attempting to disentangle the complex relationship between digital engagement and adolescent mental health.
Rising Social Media Use and Anxiety Among Young Adults
Research indicates a concerning parallel between the rise in social media use and increased reporting of anxiety among younger people over the past 20 years. It is estimated that the prevalence of anxiety for 18-to-25-year-olds was about 8% in 2008, compared with 15% in 2018, and it is now around 17%. This represents more than a doubling of reported anxiety prevalence in this age group over approximately 15 years.
This increase in anxiety reporting has been paralleled by a rise in social media use. Twenty years ago (in 2008, when the iPhone/smartphone was launched), the prevalence of social media usage among 18-to-25 year-olds was 65%, and now it is around 99%. This increase of 50% in social media adoption mirrors the rise in anxiety, although the increase in anxiety is more pronounced.
Several explanations have been proposed for factors responsible for this increase, including living in a more uncertain world, lack of resilience among the young, or copycat reporting. One suggestion that has not been explored in detail is the possibility of an increase in the experience of anxiety symptoms—not anxiety in the strict sense but as a result of social media withdrawal. While this correlation fits several of the above explanations, the possibility of copycat reporting of psychological problems from videos posted by others on social media—either for attention or identity—cannot be ruled out.
Smartphone Use and Relationship Satisfaction
The increasing prevalence of smartphones also warrants consideration in discussions about technology and mental health. The 2020 Canadian Internet Use Survey found that most Canadians (84%) had a smartphone for personal use, up 4 percentage points from 2018 (80%). The increase was even larger for seniors aged 65 and older (+11 percentage points), despite lower overall use (54%).
Smartphone use was nearly universal among younger demographics: 96% of teenagers and adults aged 15 to 24, 97% of those aged 25 to 34, and 96% of those aged 35 to 44 reported having a smartphone for personal use in 2020.
Regarding usage patterns, almost two-thirds of Canadians (64%) used their smartphone at least once per hour in 2020, including to check messages, use social networks and news sites, and check notifications. One-fifth (20%) used their smartphone a few times per day or less. Younger individuals were more likely to check their smartphone more frequently—88% of those aged 15 to 24 and those aged 25 to 34 reported using their smartphone at least once per hour, with those aged 35 to 44 not far behind (82%).
This high frequency of smartphone use has raised questions about potential impacts on interpersonal relationships and mental health, though the specific relationship between smartphone use, relationship satisfaction, and mental health outcomes requires further investigation.
Factors Influencing the Relationship Between Internet Use and Mental Health
The evidence presented across multiple studies suggests that the relationship between internet use and mental health is influenced by several factors:
Type of online activity: Different online activities appear to have varying impacts on mental health. General internet use, watching streamed content, and online gaming showed different associations with self-reported mental health in the Canadian study.
Individual characteristics: Age, sex, and gender appear to moderate the relationship between internet use and mental health outcomes. For example, gender differences were observed in how video game use relates to mental health among adolescents.
Time spent online: While the amount of time spent online may have some relationship with mental health outcomes, the Canadian data suggest this relationship is not straightforward and may depend on other factors.
Content and context: The nature of content consumed and the social context in which internet use occurs likely play significant roles in determining psychological impacts.
Individual vulnerabilities: Certain populations, such as female and LGBTQ+ adolescents, may be more vulnerable to potential harms of social media use.
Purpose of use: Whether internet use is for social connection, entertainment, information gathering, or other purposes may differentially affect mental health outcomes.
Conclusion
The relationship between internet use and mental health is complex and multifaceted. Research from multiple sources suggests that internet technologies are neither uniformly beneficial nor harmful to mental health, but rather their impact depends on numerous factors including the type of activity, individual characteristics, patterns of use, and content consumed.
Global research indicates that despite extensive internet adoption over the past two decades, changes in global well-being and mental health have been small and inconsistent. Canadian data reveal that nearly half of heavy internet users report very good or excellent mental health, though outcomes vary by activity type. Among adolescents, social media use is nearly universal, with some evidence linking frequent use to poorer mental health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The parallel rise in social media adoption and reported anxiety among young adults warrants further investigation, though causation cannot be definitively established from available data. Understanding these complex relationships is critical as society continues to navigate increasingly digital environments.
As internet and social media use continue to evolve, ongoing research will be essential to better understand how different patterns and types of digital engagement influence mental health across diverse populations. Such evidence will be valuable for developing guidelines for healthy internet use and for supporting mental health in an increasingly digital world.