Among eight types of screen time studied, social media, texting, and video chatting were the only modalities associated with cannabis experimentation in 11-12 year olds one year later, while TV, videos, and gaming were not.
Parents managing children's screen time, pediatricians advising families, school-based prevention programs.
Social media and texting predicted cannabis experimentation; TV and video games did not
What the researchers found
Each additional hour of social media (AOR 1.20) and texting (AOR 1.18) was associated with higher odds of any substance experimentation one year later. Social media and texting were specifically associated with cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine experimentation, while TV/movies, videos, video games, and general internet use were not. Video chatting was linked to cannabis and nicotine experimentation.
Why it matters
This study challenges the idea that "screen time" is a monolithic risk factor. The finding that interactive social screens (social media, texting, video chat) drive the substance use association while passive screens (TV, video games) do not has important implications for how parents and policymakers approach screen time guidelines.
The numbers in context
n=8,006; 47.9% female; 41.6% racial/ethnic minority; social media AOR 1.20 (95% CI 1.14-1.26) per hour; texting AOR 1.18 (95% CI 1.12-1.24) per hour; video chatting AOR 1.09 (95% CI 1.03-1.16) per hour for any substance use.
How the study worked
Prospective cohort analysis of ABCD Study data (n=8,006 early adolescents aged 11-12), using logistic regression to examine associations between eight types of screen time at Year 2 and substance use experimentation at Year 3, adjusting for covariates and baseline substance use.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported screen time is likely imprecise. Cannot determine what content adolescents encounter on social media or in texts. One-year follow-up only captures initial experimentation. The distinction between screen types may blur as platforms converge (e.g., video games increasingly include chat features).
How to read the evidence
Moderate: Large prospective cohort from the ABCD Study differentiating eight screen modalities, though self-reported measures and single-year follow-up are limitations.
When this study was published
Published in 2025 using ABCD Study data.
The bigger picture
This study is part of a growing body of ABCD research distinguishing between types of screen use rather than treating all screens equally. The pattern that social/communicative screen activities carry more risk than passive consumption aligns with theories about peer influence and social norming.
Questions still open
- What specific content or interactions on social media and text messages drive the substance use association? Would these associations hold with objectively measured screen time? Do these screen-substance associations differ by demographic groups?
Common questions
Why might social media increase substance use risk but TV does not?
Should parents restrict all screen time to prevent substance use?
Read the original research
Prospective association between screen use modalities and substance use experimentation in early adolescents.
Drug and alcohol dependence, 266, 112504
Citation
Nagata, Jason M; Shim, Joan; Low, Patrick; Ganson, Kyle T; Testa, Alexander; He, Jinbo; Santos, Glenn-Milo; Brindis, Claire D; Baker, Fiona C; Shao, Iris Y. (2025). Prospective association between screen use modalities and substance use experimentation in early adolescents.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 266, 112504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112504
Explore the wider topic
- How to Talk to Your Teenager About Weed (Without Losing Them)
- My Kid's Friends Smoke Weed: A Parent's Guide
- I Smoke Weed But Don't Want My Kids To: Navigating the Hypocrisy
- Quitting Weed as a Parent: Why It Is the Hardest and Most Important Quit
- Quitting Weed as a Teen or Young Adult
- My Kid Is Smoking Weed: A Parent's Guide