The friend your child only knows from WhatsApp: What a study of 3,000 teenagers found

A study from Stockholm University of 3,034 15-year-olds found that messaging with close friends online is linked to better mental well-being, while communication with virtual-only friends is linked to lower well-being, especially among girls and adolescents from less affluent families.

A new study from Stockholm University, which examined more than 3,000 15-year-olds in Sweden, found that active messaging with close friends online is linked to a better sense of well-being, while communication with friends the teenager only knows from the screen is linked to lower mental well-being. The study was based on data from an international health survey conducted in Swedish schools at two time points, 2017/18 and 2021/22. Students reported the intensity of online contact with close friends, large groups, and virtual-only friends, alongside questions about mental well-being. The negative association was particularly prominent among girls and adolescents who perceive their family as less financially secure. The lead researcher, Prof. Viviane S. Straatmann, emphasized that not only the amount of communication matters but also the identity of the interlocutors. However, the study is a one-time survey and therefore shows correlation rather than causation; it is possible that lonely teenagers seek online contact. The practical message for parents: ask not only 'how much time' but also 'with whom'.