Excessive social media found to harm teenagers’ mental health – but experts say moderation may be key

A ban on under-16s from using social media including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram is due to come into effect in December in Australia. Youth mental health body Orygen says a new report suggests moderation is key when it comes to social media use. Photograph: Chesnot/Getty Images

Australian teenagers who spend between one and three hours on social media a day report similar or better mental health outcomes compared with teenagers using social media less, suggesting moderation may be key, according to a major new survey.

The Mission Australia survey canvassed the views of 17,480 young people across Australia aged between 15 and 19, which comes amid the public debate over restricting access to social media for people aged under 16.