…the takeaway from our synthesis of the strongest available evidence is that social media restrictions alone may not successfully address the mental health crisis.

Researchers and policymakers also need to explore other potential causes and solutions. Other factors under active investigation include the changing academic pressures young people face, as well as inequality, job insecurity, housing stress, climate change and substance use.

Of course, increases in mental health problems rarely boil down to one cause, but are likely due to a complex interaction of such factors.

There is also growing interest among researchers in young people’s increasing awareness and evolving concepts of mental health and mental illness. A young person today may seek a diagnosis for levels of distress that, in previous decades, might have gone undetected. This potentially affects how young people self-report mental health, as well as the treatment they receive.

Australia’s social media restrictions for under-16 year olds are an important opportunity to test the impact on young people’s mental health. However, we cannot assume they will stem the tide of growing mental health problems.