Pop-up messages warning of the harms of social media could help reduce the time young people spend on these platforms, according to a new study published in JAMA Health Forum. The findings come as European policymakers and health experts grapple with rising concerns over the mental health impact of digital platforms on adolescents and young adults.
The study, led by Anna Grummon, an assistant professor of paediatrics at Stanford University, tested 14 different warning messages on over 1,000 participants aged 13 to 29. The warnings covered topics such as depression, anxiety, poor body image, sleep disruption, and addiction. One example read: “Using social media causes sleep problems. This is bad for your health.” Another stated: “Social media is associated with significant mental health harms for children and young adults.”
Participants were asked two questions after seeing each warning: how much it discouraged them from using social media, and how much it increased their awareness of the harms. The messages that resonated most were those highlighting mental health risks, particularly depression and anxiety. The addiction warning was the least effective.
“With substances like tobacco and alcohol, we find, on average, that well-designed warning labels change behavior,” Grummon said. But social media is a different kind of product, she noted. “Where you just put the warning on the product and it lives there,” for social media, the warnings have to be “basically pop-ups.”
The study's findings align with a broader European push to address youth digital well-being. For instance, Estonia has launched an expert panel to tackle digital mental health risks among young people. Meanwhile, a separate study has linked teen social jet lag to higher anxiety, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
Why mental health warnings work best
While the data does not explain why mental health warnings outperformed others, Grummon offered a hypothesis: “If I were to speculate, I would say that these are harms that resonate with people. People may think, ‘That’s right, I can see that happening to my friends or to me,’ and these are outcomes people care about.”
The study also found that participants consistently reported that the warnings would reduce their social media use. This suggests that such pop-ups could be a practical tool for parents, educators, and platform designers seeking to encourage healthier digital habits.
However, the research is not without limitations. The study relied on self-reported intentions rather than actual behavior change. Still, the authors argue that warning labels have a proven track record with other products, and social media could benefit from a similar approach.
As European countries consider regulations like the Digital Services Act, which aims to make online platforms more accountable, the idea of mandatory health warnings on social media is gaining traction. The findings offer a concrete, evidence-based intervention that could complement existing measures.
For now, the researchers hope their work will inspire further investigation and pilot programs. “This could be yet another tool in the toolbox aimed at managing youth’s social media time more healthily,” Grummon said.
