Study reveals use of social media has ‘trivial’ effect on children’s happiness

A study by Oxford researchers revealed that the time spent by children on social media has only a ‘trivial’ impact on life satisfaction. The researchers emphasise that parents should stop worrying about how long their children spend on social media platforms and instead talk to them about their experiences. First author of the research, Amy Orben from Oxford University, suggests ‘Just as things went awry offline, things will also go awry online, and it is really important for that communication channel to be open,’

The impact of social media and screen time on children is a widely debated topic, with some studies suggesting their adverse effect on children’s mental health while others highlighting the positive effects, including helping children to socialise and find support.