Challenging Assumptions: A Global Study Questions Blanket Negative Effects of Internet and Mobile Phones on Well-being and Mental Health

Researchers suggest that the internet and mobile phones may not universally have a detrimental impact on well-being and mental health. A comprehensive international study, encompassing data from two million individuals aged 15 to 89 across 168 countries, revealed smaller associations than expected if the internet were causing widespread psychological harm.

The study, conducted by Professor Andrew Przybylski from the Oxford Internet Institute and Assistant Professor Matti Vuorre from Tilburg University, analyzed home and mobile broadband use. Contrary to common assumptions about a broad negative influence, the researchers failed to discover a definitive link between technology use and well-being.

Despite the extensive scope of the study, which spanned two decades and included data from the United Kingdom, the researchers emphasize the need for more transparency from technology companies. They argue that data critical for understanding the effects of internet technologies are often inaccessible, being held by technology companies and online platforms for marketing and product improvement purposes.

The study, published in the Clinical Psychological Science journal, investigated well-being and mental health in relation to a country's internet users and mobile broadband subscriptions. While the researchers did not analyze social media use or quantify the time individuals spent online, they caution against making sweeping claims about the global negative impact of the internet on well-being. Instead, they advocate for a nuanced approach and call for increased transparency and data accessibility to facilitate independent research on the subject.