Question: Are we underestimating digital media harm?
Answer: It depends on how you cut the data.
The debate continues to rage in a new slingshot statistical fight between researchers.
In the blue corner, we have University of Oxford researchers Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski who have published research in the influential journal Nature using an advanced correlational analysis called specification curve analysis (SCA) with large US survey datasets (n = 355,358) to show that social media use is no more linked to wellbeing than eating potatoes.
the association of well-being with regularly eating potatoes was nearly as negative as the association with technology use (0.9x, YRBS) and wearing glasses was more negatively associated with well-being (1.5x, MCS).
Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski 2019
YRBS = Youth Risk and Behaviour Survey
MCS = Millennium Cohort Study
In the red corner, we have another group of influential psychologists – Jean Twenge, Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Joiner and William Keith Campbell who have now recut and re-analysed the data and published their analysis in the same journal to demonstrate how similar correlational analyses can be used to show that social media use is more linked to wellbeing than taking heroin – for girls.
One could just as easily conclude that social media use is more important for well-being than hard drug use, exercise and obesity… For girls, social media use is far more important than exercise, or even than heroin use.
Jean Twenge, Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Joiner and William Keith Campbell 2020
As you’d guess, the comparison between heroin and social media use for girls has garnered media attention and produced a minor storm in a Twitter-cup, and prompted a response from the social-media-is-as-harmful-as-potatoes camp.
Lies, damned lies and statistics
Beyond the take-out that there are lies, damned lies and statistics – especially correlation-does-not-mean-causation statistics, what can we learn from this social media and potatoes vs heroin debate?
First, research like this needs to be understood in the context of the researchers’ previous research and points of view. Both the blue and red corners are presenting data that supports existing positions. This doesn’t make it wrong, but contextualising it within a body of research helps interpretation.
How, not how much
Second, this research perhaps shows the limits of statistical squiggle-babble squabbles about associations between loosely and variably defined variables. Until we understand the ‘how’, the ‘how much’ may be of limited value. What I think we need more granular research on the potential causal mechanisms the may – or may not – underpin any association between aspects of wellbeing outcomes and specific technology use.
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Hello! Thank you for this article! I think that it’s really important to talk about such things. Anybody else has that eerie feeling of being into social media so much? It has become a lifestyle, a life choice. It’s like you don’t realize it is shaping your life already, keeping you from seeing what truly matters in your life. I don’t like that feeling that I am being a slave to these things. I better exercise caution and self-control.
Mobile phones really need to be vigilant, especially as children play with mobile phones for longer and longer, and it is difficult to control themselves. Parents can help limit their children’s time and monitor their children’s phone.
I know personally when the internet goes down for more than an afternoon – I feel like I’m missing something, and the hours can really drag. But I’ve never found that those feelings didn’t subside after a day or two- and then I just turn my attention to more traditional things like books, tv, and movies – (and I actually find my attention span for engaging with those things increases)
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