Global Study Finds Internet Use Beneficial for Mental Health of Young Women

A groundbreaking 16-year global study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute has found that internet use has a positive impact on overall wellbeing, with a notable exception: young women aged 15-24. The study, which analyzed data from two million people across 168 countries, revealed that internet access is linked to an 8.5% higher life satisfaction and 8.3% more positive experiences.

Why this matters: This study's findings have significant implications for policymakers and mental health professionals, as they challenge the prevailing narrative that internet use is detrimental to mental health. Moreover, understanding the nuances of internet use and its impact on different demographics can inform strategies to promote healthy internet habits and mitigate potential negative effects.

The study found a strong link between internet usage and positive wellbeing, contradicting modern-day concerns that the internet age has led to increased mental health problems, isolation, and body image issues. However, young women aged 15-24 reported worse "community wellbeing" as a result of internet use, with 4.9% of associations linking internet use and community wellbeing being negative.

The study used over 33,000 statistical models and data sets, concluding that 84.9% of links between internet connectivity and wellbeing were positive. Researchers measured wellbeing based on eight indicators, including life satisfaction, daily negative and positive experiences, social wellbeing, physical wellbeing, community wellbeing, and purpose. Notably, the study did not examine social media use specifically.

Professor Andrew Przybylski of Oxford University, lead author of the study, expressed surprise at the findings. "Overall, we found that average associations were consistent across internet adoption predictors and wellbeing outcomes... with those who had access to or actively used the internet reporting meaningfully greater wellbeing than those who did not," he said. Assistant Professor Matti Vuorre, a previous research associate at the OII, added, "We were surprised to find a positive correlation between wellbeing and internet use across the majority of the thousands of models we used for our analysis."

The study, published in the American Psychological Association's Technology, Mind and Behaviour journal, collected data from the Gallup World Poll spanning 2006-2021. Participants' wellbeing was measured face-to-face and over the phone, using surveys that included questions about internet access.

This landmark research provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between internet use and mental health, highlighting the need for further investigation into the specific experiences of young women. As debates surrounding internet regulation and the impact of technology on wellbeing continue, the study's findings underscore the importance of a nuanced, data-driven approach to understanding the role of the internet in our lives.

Key Takeaways

• Internet use linked to 8.5% higher life satisfaction and 8.3% more positive experiences.
• Young women aged 15-24 report worse "community wellbeing" due to internet use.
• 84.9% of links between internet connectivity and wellbeing are positive.
• Study analyzed data from 2 million people across 168 countries over 16 years.
• Findings challenge prevailing narrative that internet use is detrimental to mental health.