A long study shows that social media can make young children feel sad.

一項長期研究顯示，社群媒體會讓年幼兒童感到憂鬱。

Researchers looked at 1,200 children in Melbourne. Children aged 12 and 13 used social media for two hours or more every day. One year later, many of these children felt very sad.

研究人員觀察了墨爾本的 1,200 名兒童。其中 12 至 13 歲的兒童每天使用社群媒體兩小時或以上。一年後，許多這些兒童感到非常憂鬱。

Girls felt more sadness. Boys hurt themselves more. This happens because children's brains change quickly at this age. They want their friends to like them.

女童感受到的憂鬱較深，而男童則較多自殘行為。這是因為兒童在這個年齡層的大腦變化迅速，他們渴望被朋友接納。

Some teachers disagree with the study. They say the data is not perfect. Australia tried to stop children under 16 from using social media. But 70 percent of children still use it.

部分教師不同意這項研究，認為數據並不完美。澳洲曾嘗試禁止 16 歲以下兒童使用社群媒體，但仍有 70% 的兒童在使用。

Children need help with their mental health. Simple age rules do not stop the problem.

兒童需要心理健康方面的幫助。簡單的年齡限制無法解決問題。

A ten-year study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has found a link between high social media use and a decrease in mental health among young teenagers.

Murdoch 兒童研究中心進行的一項十年研究發現，高度使用社群媒體與年輕青少年的心理健康下降之間存在關聯。

The research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, followed about 1,200 children in Melbourne from 2015 to 2021. The data shows that 12- to 13-year-olds who used social media for two or more hours a day had a higher risk of depression and lower wellbeing one year later. This trend was strongest in girls, while boys in the same group showed a higher increase in self-harming behaviors. Dr. Nandi Vijayakumar emphasized that these results are likely caused by rapid brain development, the start of puberty, and a greater need for social acceptance during these years.

這項發表在《澳洲醫學雜誌》的研究，在 2015 年至 2021 年間追蹤了墨爾本約 1,200 名兒童。數據顯示，每天使用社群媒體兩小時或以上的 12 至 13 歲兒童，一年後患憂鬱症的風險較高且身心健康狀況較差。這一趨勢在女孩中最強烈，而同組的男孩則顯示出自我傷害行為顯著增加。Nandi Vijayakumar 醫生強調，這些結果可能是由大腦快速發育、進入青春期以及在這些年份對社交認同感的需求增加所導致的。

However, some experts have questioned the study's methods. Professor Daniel Angus from the Queensland University of Technology pointed out that the data relied on self-reporting and did not explain exactly what the children were doing online. Consequently, he argued that simply measuring 'time spent' is not enough to prove that social media causes these problems. Furthermore, these findings come as Australia introduces a social media ban for under-16s, although evidence suggests this is not very effective since about 70 percent of users still access the platforms. While Professor Susan Sawyer stressed the importance of these results, others argue that such studies may underestimate the ability of today's youth to think critically.

然而，部分專家對該研究的方法提出質疑。昆士蘭科技大學的 Daniel Angus 教授指出，數據依賴於自我報告，且未解釋兒童在網上的具體行為。因此，他認為僅僅衡量「花費時間」不足以證明社群媒體是導致這些問題的原因。此外，這些發現正值澳洲針對 16 歲以下青少年實施社群媒體禁令之際，儘管證據顯示此舉並不十分有效，因為約 70% 的用戶仍能訪問這些平台。雖然 Susan Sawyer 教授強調了這些結果的重要性，但其他人認為此類研究可能低估了當今青少年的批判性思考能力。

The study shows that early adolescence is a vital time for mental health support, although the fact that risks continue after age 13 suggests that age limits alone may not be enough.

研究顯示，青春期早期是心理健康支援的關鍵時期，但風險在 13 歲後依然持續，這表明單憑年齡限制可能不足夠。

A decade-long study conducted by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has identified a correlation between high social media usage and a decline in mental wellbeing among early adolescents.

由墨度兒童研究中心進行的一項為期十年的研究發現，高度使用社交媒體與早期青少年心理健康下降之間存在關聯。

The research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, monitored approximately 1,200 children in Melbourne from 2015 to 2021. Data indicates that individuals aged 12 to 13 who engaged with social media for two or more hours daily experienced a heightened risk of depressive symptoms and diminished wellbeing one year subsequently. This vulnerability is most pronounced in females, where 11 additional cases of high depressive symptoms per 100 individuals were observed compared to those with minimal usage. Conversely, males in the same cohort exhibited a higher relative increase in self-harming behaviors. Dr. Nandi Vijayakumar attributed these findings to the intersection of rapid neurological development, the onset of puberty, and an increased sensitivity to peer validation and social exclusion during early adolescence.

這項發表在《澳洲醫學雜誌》的研究，在2015年至2021年間監測了墨爾本約1,200名兒童。數據顯示，12至13歲且每日使用社交媒體兩小時或以上者，在一年後出現憂鬱症狀的風險較高，且身心健康狀況下降。這種脆弱性在女性中最為顯著，每100人中比極少使用社交媒體者多出11例高度憂鬱症狀個案。相反地，同組中的男性在自我傷害行為方面則表現出較高的相對增幅。Nandi Vijayakumar 博士將這些發現歸因於神經系統快速發育、青春期開始，以及早期青少年對同儕認同與社交排斥的敏感度增加。

Despite these correlations, the study's methodology has been subject to academic scrutiny. Professor Daniel Angus of the Queensland University of Technology highlighted the limitations of self-reported data and the lack of granularity regarding specific online activities, suggesting that 'time spent' is an insufficient metric for determining causality. Furthermore, the research coincides with the implementation of an Australian under-16 social media ban. However, evidence suggests a lack of efficacy in this regulatory measure, with approximately 70 percent of previously active users continuing to access platforms. While Professor Susan Sawyer emphasized the significance of these population-level findings, other stakeholders, such as Daniel Donahoo of Project Rockit, argued that such analyses may underestimate the critical thinking capacities of contemporary youth.

儘管存在這些關聯，該研究的方法論仍受到學術質疑。昆士蘭科技大學的 Daniel Angus 教授指出，自我報告數據具有局限性，且缺乏關於特定網路活動的細粒度分析，認為「花費時間」不足以作為判定因果關係的指標。此外，此研究適逢澳洲實施16歲以下社交媒體禁令。然而，證據顯示該監管措施缺乏成效，約70%原先活躍的用戶仍繼續訪問這些平台。雖然 Susan Sawyer 教授強調這些群體層面發現的重要性，但其他利益相關者（如 Project Rockit 的 Daniel Donahoo）則認為，此類分析可能會低估現代青少年的批判性思考能力。

The study identifies early adolescence as a critical window for mental health intervention, though the persistence of risks beyond age 13 suggests that age-based restrictions may be insufficient.

研究指出早期青少年是心理健康干預的關鍵期，但風險在13歲後依然存在，顯示僅靠年齡限制可能不足。