Put down the phone. A new study from Western University in Ontario suggests that excessive screen time—and particularly the mindless kind of scrolling we all fall into—may be directly linked to rising levels of anxiety, depression, aggression, and impulsivity in teens.

Published in Computers in Human Behavior, the study followed 580 adolescents aged 12 to 17 over a nine-month period, tracking everything from how much time they spent on screens to how they used them, including posting content, messaging, and passive scrolling.

“Passive scrolling is a major concern,” said Emma Duerden.“We get sucked in and time just disappears. For the teens we surveyed, passive scrolling heightens their anxiety and really impacts their mental health.”

What the Study Found

The results of the study found that 45% of teens with no prior mental health diagnoses reported clinical-level anxiety—the kind that would typically warrant a medical evaluation.

“This is really quite surprising,” said Duerden.“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of anxiety in the adolescent population were somewhere between 8% and 15%. Now, we see almost half of the sample size reporting heightened anxiety, which is obviously alarming and needs to be addressed.”

And screen time matters. According to the study:

• Spending two or more hours a day on screens during weekdays doubled the odds of clinical-level anxiety.
• It quadrupled the odds of experiencing emotional and behavioral problems.
• The worst offender? Passive scrolling—endlessly flicking through content without engaging.

Why Passive Scrolling Hits Hard

Not all screen time is equal. The study analyzed behaviors like posting, commenting, gaming, and watching videos, but the clear standout in terms of negative impact was passive scrolling.

This kind of use is linked to:

• Boredom, which leads to frustration and irritability
• Impulsivity, especially in already vulnerable teens
• Destructive social comparisons, which erode self-esteem
• Exposure to inappropriate content, much of it algorithmically served

In short, passive scrolling is not mentally neutral. It doesn’t just waste time—it reshapes how adolescents feel about themselves and the world.

A Pandemic Hangover?

While the study doesn’t definitively say COVID-19 caused the spike in anxiety, it does highlight the pandemic as a likely catalyst. With school closures, limited outdoor activity, and social isolation, screens became lifelines—but also traps.

And old habits die hard. Duerden noted that some teens reported up to 15 hours of screen time a day.

“They wake up, go on a screen and stay the whole day,” she said.

So What Can Be Done?

The study emphasizes that managing screen time and increasing physical activity could help—but Duerden is quick to point out that it’s easier said than done.

“I think cell phone bans in schools are key,” she said.“Getting outside and being part of the real world is also important. We all just need to take a break from our phones for our mental and overall well-being.”

This isn’t a call to rise up and be a luddite. It’s a warning that we may be underestimating the neurodevelopmental toll of daily digital overload, especially on young minds still forming habits and identity.

Mobile devices has creeped into every aspect of our lives and taken over things that mobile devices should not even be remotely needed such as meditation and making friends. However, studies have repeatedly shown how much we neglect the developmental detriment it is for children who are even more vulnerable to their effect.

Good parenting should absolutely include setting boundaries regarding their use including for leisure and learning. And a good way to start is parents setting the boundaries by example by getting off of their own device and spending more time with their children.

EJ Choi et al. Screen time woes: Social media posting, scrolling, externalizing behaviors, and anxiety in adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2025.108688