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Genetics Link Social Media Use and Mental Health

9/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study in Behavioral Genetics examines genetic influences on social media use and mental health.
Researchers analyzed data from 6,492 individuals, including twins, revealing small correlations between social media use and psychological wellbeing, ranging from -0.09 to 0.10.
Shared genetic factors suggest genetics affect both social media behavior and mental health, with 72% heritability in online time.
The study challenges the idea of a simple negative impact of social media on wellbeing.
Limitations include its cross-sectional design and a sample primarily from the Netherlands.

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Story summary

A study in Behavioral Genetics examines genetic influences on social media use and mental health.
Researchers analyzed data from 6,492 individuals, including twins, revealing small correlations between social media use and psychological wellbeing, ranging from -0.09 to 0.10.
Shared genetic factors suggest genetics affect both social media behavior and mental health, with 72% heritability in online time.
The study challenges the idea of a simple negative impact of social media on wellbeing.
Limitations include its cross-sectional design and a sample primarily from the Netherlands.