Teens spending 30 minutes to 3 hours daily on social media had the highest odds of later alcohol and marijuana use, while a dose-response pattern emerged for tobacco.
Parents, educators, and public health professionals interested in teen substance use prevention.
Teens spending 30 min to 3 hours/day on social media had the highest odds of later marijuana use
What the researchers found
Among 4,769 adolescents followed over multiple years, social media time predicted later substance use. For marijuana and alcohol, the relationship was curvilinear: teens spending 30 minutes to 3 hours daily had the highest odds. For tobacco, the relationship was dose-dependent. For nonmedical drugs, only 3-6 hours daily showed a significant association (nearly 2x odds).
Why it matters
This is one of the first studies to quantify the link between daily social media time and subsequent substance use in a large US adolescent cohort, and the curvilinear pattern for marijuana use suggests moderate social media users may face higher risk than heavy users.
The numbers in context
4,769 adolescents followed from Wave 2 through Wave 5. Over 75% spent at least 30 minutes daily on social media. The 30-minute to 3-hour group had the highest odds for alcohol and marijuana use. The 3-6 hour group had nearly 2x odds for nonmedical drug use. A dose-response pattern was observed for tobacco.
How the study worked
Longitudinal analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study following 4,769 adolescents aged 12-17 who reported no substance use at baseline across multiple waves. Generalized Estimating Equation models adjusted for demographic and time-varying covariates.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported social media time and substance use may be imprecise. The PATH study may not capture all social media platforms equally. The curvilinear finding for marijuana needs replication and mechanistic explanation.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: large longitudinal cohort with statistical adjustment, but reliant on self-reported social media time and substance use.
When this study was published
2025 study using PATH study data across multiple waves.
The bigger picture
As both social media use and cannabis accessibility increase among teens, understanding how digital environments relate to substance initiation could inform prevention programs that meet young people where they spend their time.
Questions still open
- Why does the marijuana association peak at moderate rather than heavy social media use? Does the content viewed on social media matter more than time spent? Could social media-based interventions reduce teen substance initiation?
Common questions
Did more social media always mean more marijuana use?
Could social media cause teen drug use?
Read the original research
Time Spent on Social Media and the Risk of Substance Use Among US Adolescents.
Journal of adolescence, 97(5), 1314-1322
Citation
Li, Xiao; Vaughn, Michael; Xian, Hong; Qian, Zhengmin. (2025). Time Spent on Social Media and the Risk of Substance Use Among US Adolescents.. Journal of adolescence, 97(5), 1314-1322. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12498
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