Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
05:32
Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
Published on: December 7, 2018
9.1K
Windows of developmental sensitivity to social media
Amy Orben1, Andrew K Przybylski2, Sarah-Jayne Blakemore3,4
1MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. amy.orben@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
Nature Communications
|March 29, 2022
Summary
Social media use impacts adolescent life satisfaction differently by age and sex. Younger adolescents show the strongest negative link, with specific sensitive periods identified for males and females during development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Media Psychology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- The evolving landscape of digital technology necessitates understanding its impact on adolescent well-being.
- Previous research indicates a complex, often negative, association between social media use and life satisfaction.
- Developmental changes in adolescence may moderate this relationship, requiring age-specific and sex-specific analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the relationship between social media use and life satisfaction evolves throughout adolescent development.
- To identify specific age and sex differences in the association between social media use and life satisfaction.
- To explore the longitudinal interplay between social media use and life satisfaction across adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two large UK datasets (N=84,011 for cross-sectional, N=17,409 for longitudinal) covering ages 10-80 and 10-21, respectively.
- Utilized self-reported estimates of social media use and life satisfaction ratings.
- Employed cross-sectional and longitudinal statistical modeling to examine developmental trends and temporal relationships.
Main Results:
- The negative association between social media use and life satisfaction was strongest in younger adolescents.
- Sex differences in this relationship were observed only during younger adolescent developmental stages.
- Longitudinal data revealed distinct developmental windows of sensitivity to social media, with bidirectional effects between social media use and life satisfaction observed at different ages for males (14-15, 19) and females (11-13, 19).
Conclusions:
- The impact of social media on adolescent life satisfaction is not uniform, varying significantly with age and sex.
- Specific developmental periods represent heightened sensitivity to social media's influence on well-being during adolescence.
- Understanding these age- and sex-specific dynamics is crucial for developing targeted interventions and guidance for adolescents.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Socioemotional Development during Infancy
172
Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Primary Temperament Types
172
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
150
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
150
01:21Impact of Social Context on Individuals
25
Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...
25
01:30Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
7
Since the early 2000s, computer-mediated communication (CMC) has grown rapidly, playing a crucial role in self-development. A key distinction between CMC and real-life interactions is the lack of a physically present partner. This absence makes non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and paralinguistic signals unavailable in CMC platforms like email, instant messaging, or social media. The lack of these cues can create ambiguity and complicate how feedback is interpreted.The...
7
02:04Bullying
8.5K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.5K
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
12
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
12