Teenagers who develop addictive patterns of using social media, phones or video games are at greater risk of suicidal behaviour, a new study shows. Researchers tracked over 4,000 young people for four years and found that nearly one in three reported increasingly compulsive screen use. Those on this trajectory faced twice the risk of suicidal behaviour by the end of the study.

While the findings don’t prove screen time causes mental health problems, researchers warn that compulsive use is a significant risk factor. Lead author Dr Yunyu Xiao said the focus should shift from simply limiting screen time to addressing deeper, addiction-like behaviours.

The study comes amid rising youth mental health concerns and debate over smartphone regulations. Xiao noted that addiction may be driven by platform design, bullying or difficult life experiences, making it harder for teens to disconnect