The impact of internet use on mental health may be less significant than widely assumed, according to a comprehensive international study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute.
The "Global Well-Being and Mental Health in the Internet Age" study analyzed data from two million individuals aged 15 to 89 in 168 countries.
Contrary to popular beliefs about the detrimental effects of the internet, the research team found relatively small and inconsistent links between internet adoption and psychological well-being.
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Study: No 'Smoking Gun' Mental Health Harm From Internet
Professor Andrew Przybylski from the Oxford Internet Institute and Assistant Professor Matti Vuorre from Tilburg University spearheaded the study, examining trends over the last two decades.
The findings indicated only minor and irregular changes in global well-being and mental health, challenging the notion of a direct and substantial connection between internet use and psychological harm.
"We looked very hard for a 'smoking gun' linking technology and well-being and we didn't find it," remarked Przybylski.
Despite studying extensive data on well-being and internet adoption, including demographic information and age groups, the researchers did not identify any conclusive evidence supporting the idea that certain groups are more susceptible to negative effects.
Examining age groups and gender revealed no distinct patterns among internet users, challenging the belief that women and young girls are more susceptible. On average, countries experienced higher life satisfaction, especially among females during the study.
Although the study identified a minor link suggesting that higher mobile broadband adoption correlated with increased life satisfaction, the researchers stressed its negligible practical importance.
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Greater Data Transparency
The researchers also highlighted the necessity for greater data transparency from technology companies to establish more conclusive evidence regarding the effects of internet use.
"Research on the effects of internet technologies is stalled because the data most urgently needed are collected and held behind closed doors by technology companies and online platforms," the study noted.
"It is crucial to study, in more detail and with more transparency from all stakeholders, data on individual adoption of and engagement with Internet-based technologies. These data exist and are continuously analyzed by global technology firms for marketing and product improvement but unfortunately are not accessible for independent research," it added.
The researchers compared well-being and mental health data with per capita internet users, mobile broadband subscriptions, and usage patterns to investigate the potential predictive role of internet adoption on psychological well-being.
The study also examined rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm from 2000 to 2019 in approximately 200 countries, exploring their connections with internet adoption.
Well-being assessments utilized face-to-face and phone surveys, while mental health evaluations relied on statistical estimates from World Health Organization member states' aggregated health data. The study's findings were published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science.
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