As teens spend increasing amounts of time online and on social media, new research reveals an alarming link: excessive screen time among 11- and 12-year-olds is associated with early experimentation with substances like alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis.
The research, published in “Drug and Alcohol Dependence,” found that adolescents who frequently use social media, text, or video chat are more likely to try these substances within a year. Interestingly, other screen-based activities—like gaming, browsing the internet, or watching TV and videos—were not tied to the same risks.
The authors of the study suggest that social media may influence substance use through constant exposure to positive portrayals of alcohol and drug use. They also highlight how marketing campaigns for alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis often target these platforms.
“Adolescents may be more susceptible to substance-related content and advertising on social media due to limitations in impulse control and self-regulatory behaviors,” researchers wrote. They also added that social media use may impact mental health, with behaviors like compulsive reward-seeking and coping mechanisms—including substance use—emerging as a result of desensitization.
Peer influence may also play a significant role. Researchers say that texting and video chatting allow for social interaction that, much like in-person peer pressure, can drive risky behaviors. Screen activities—like gaming or watching TV—that were not associated with increased substance use lack the peer interaction central to social media and messaging platforms, further suggesting that peer influence is a key factor.
In response to the study, researchers suggest schools could help by rolling out media literacy programs to teach kids how digital content influences their behavior—like normalizing substance use. Parents can also play a proactive role by setting boundaries around screen time, discussing the risks of substance use, and modeling healthy digital habits. Moreover, researchers say that warning labels informing parents, educators, and adolescents of the dangers of screen use may be beneficial in reducing substance use associated with screen use.