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Social Media and Mental Health: The Role of Algorithms and Regulation

Author

Listed:
  • Alexey Makarin
  • Simona Mandile

Abstract

Key Messages:Causal research consistently shows – across platforms, methods, and time periods – that social media is harmful for mental healthPromising remedies include helping parents coordinate restrictions on children’s use, for example, through school smartphone bansOther proposals include disabling addictive features for broader segments of the population and enforcing greater data transparencyRegulators should nevertheless proceed with caution, since social media generates large consumer surplus, only partially explained by addictive behavior

Suggested Citation

  • Alexey Makarin & Simona Mandile, 2025. "Social Media and Mental Health: The Role of Algorithms and Regulation," EconPol Forum, CESifo, vol. 26(04), pages 63-67, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:epofor:v:26:y:2025:i:04:p:63-67
    as

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    File URL: https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/econpol-forum-4-2025-makarin-etal-mental-health.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leonardo Bursztyn & Benjamin Handel & Rafael Jiménez-Durán & Christopher Roth, 2025. "When Product Markets Become Collective Traps: The Case of Social Media," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 115(12), pages 4105-4136, December.
    2. Arenas-Arroyo, Esther & Fernandez-Kranz, Daniel & Nollenberger, Natalia, 2025. "High speed internet and the widening gender gap in adolescent mental health: Evidence from Spanish hospital records," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    3. Donati, Dante & Durante, Ruben & Sobbrio, Francesco & Zejcirovic, Dijana, 2025. "Lost in the net? Broadband internet and youth mental health," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    4. Marta Golin, 2022. "The effect of broadband Internet on the gender gap in mental health: Evidence from Germany," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(S2), pages 6-21, October.
    5. Jean Twenge & David G. Blanchflower, 2025. "Declining Life Satisfaction and Happiness Among Young Adults in Six English-speaking Countries," NBER Working Papers 33490, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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