Mental Health Examining How Younger Children Use Social Media

Courtney Blackwell, a pediatric mental health and well-being expert at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has led one of the first nationwide studies in the U.S. to examine how younger children use social media and how those experiences may relate to mental health and development.

Chicago/USA – Most research on adolescent social media use focuses on teens ages 13 and up, the minimum age required to create an account. But new research from Northwestern University is shedding light on a younger, largely overlooked group: children ages 8 to 12.

Courtney Blackwell, a pediatric mental health and well-being expert at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has led one of the first nationwide studies examining how younger children use social media and how those experiences may relate to mental health and development.

“Technically, kids this age aren’t supposed to be online, but we know many of them are,” said Blackwell. “Early childhood and early adolescence are incredibly sensitive periods for brain development, yet we know very little about how social media fits into that picture.”

Blackwell will virtually present findings from her study — based on survey data from more than 3,000 children and adolescents across the U.S. — during a Feb. 11 talk about the current landscape of social media and youth mental health. The presentation is hosted by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (Echo) Program, supported by the National Institutes of Health.

What: “The kids are(n’t) alright: The role of social media in youth mental health”

When: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1–2 p.m. ET

Where: Virtual, open to the public and media

Who: Courtney Blackwell, associate professor of medical social sciences, Northwestern

As youth mental health challenges have risen alongside increased social media use, researchers and policymakers have questioned whether platforms contribute to emotional distress, or whether they can also offer benefits, such as social connection and creative expression. Blackwell’s presentation will explore both risks and potential benefits, particularly for younger users navigating a key developmental transition.

“These kids are becoming more independent, starting to compare themselves to older peers and are figuring out who they are,” Blackwell said. “We wanted to understand what they’re doing online and how those experiences may be shaping their development.”

Unlike many previous studies that focus primarily on screen time, Blackwell’s research examined a broad range of media behaviors, including platform preferences, frequency and type of social interactions, motivations for use and positive and negative experiences such as social support or bullying. Parents reported on media use for children under age 8, while older participants completed surveys themselves.

Blackwell previously led research on social media use and mental health among adolescents ages 13 to 18.

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