Rethinking the Internet’s Role in Mental Health: Recent Study Challenges Common Perceptions

In a recent study published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, researchers examined the impact of the growth in internet technology on psychological well-being and overall mental health. They found that the effect of the prolific growth of internet-based technologies on mental health worldwide has been inconsistent and minor.

The rapid growth in internet technologies in the past two decades has raised concerns about the impact on psychological well-being and mental health. Apprehensions also exist about the widespread popularity of internet-enabled technologies such as social media, smartphones, and online games among adolescents and their harmful effects on their mental health. The initial response of some governments to such concerns was to regulate the access of specific age groups to these technologies.

However, subsequent studies involving methodologies such as meta-analyses and longitudinal observations have challenged the initial views that widespread internet technologies have been harmful to the psychological well-being of users. Early studies also lacked methods for accurate measurements of internet technology engagement as well as robust sampling.