No ‘smoking gun’ linking mental health harm and the internet – study

However, the study did not look at social media use, and although the data included some young people, the researchers did not analyse how long people spent online

A woman using her mobile phone.. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The internet and mobile phones may not have a “blanket negative effect” on wellbeing and mental health, researchers say.

A large international study used data from two million people aged 15 to 89 in 168 countries, and found smaller associations than would be expected if the internet were causing widespread psychological harm.