The harmful effect of social media on the well-being of students has been well documented. A 2019 study of more than 12,000 13- to 16-year-olds in the UK conclusively established that being on social media more than three times a day led to a decline in the mental health and well-being of students.
A 2016 MIT study found that frequent access to social media led to a 7% increase in severe depression and a 20% increase in anxiety disorders among students. The researchers also discovered that excessive nighttime social media use and emotional investment in social media (getting a sense of validation and belonging predominantly from social media) were linked to poor test scores in various academic criteria and also caused higher levels of anxiety and depression.
