As smartphones, social media and video games become a constant part of childhood, new research is raising fresh concerns about how digital media may be shaping the mental health and development of young people.

A large global review published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that children and adolescents who spend more time on social media and other digital platforms may face higher risks of emotional and behavioral problems.

The research examined findings from 153 studies exploring how digital media—from social networks to video games and messaging apps—affects young people’s wellbeing. Across these studies, researchers consistently found that higher social media use was linked with increased symptoms of depression and emotional distress among children and teenagers.

Young users were also more likely to show behavioral challenges, including both outward behaviors such as aggression and rule-breaking and inward struggles like anxiety, low mood and self-harm thoughts.

The findings also suggest that digital media may be influencing other parts of young people’s lives. Children and teens who spent more time on social platforms were more likely to experience lower academic performance, poorer self-perception and reduced positive developmental outcomes.

Video games, however, appeared to present a more mixed picture. While gaming was linked to slightly higher levels of aggression and behavioral issues, researchers also observed small improvements in attention and executive functioning—skills that help people plan, focus and manage tasks.

The study also found that simply spending more time on digital devices or messaging platforms was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, although the link was smaller than that seen with social media use.

One of the most striking patterns emerged among younger adolescents. The connection between social media use and depression appeared stronger during early teenage years, a stage when the brain is still developing and young people may be particularly sensitive to social comparison, online interactions and digital pressures.

Researchers also noticed that more recent years of social media exposure were increasingly linked with higher levels of substance use among teenagers, suggesting that the evolving digital landscape could be influencing behavior in new ways.

Experts say these findings fit with what scientists call the bioecological model of child development, which explains how children grow and develop through constant interaction with their environment—including the digital spaces they now inhabit daily.

While technology can offer many benefits, from learning opportunities to social connection, researchers say the study highlights the importance of thoughtful policies, parental awareness and age-appropriate guidance around screen use. Understanding how digital experiences affect developing brains may be key to helping children navigate an increasingly online world while protecting their mental health and overall wellbeing.