New-Media Screen Time Is Not (Necessarily) Linked to Depression: Comments on Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, and Martin (2018)

Abstract

In this commentary, we raise seven methodological concerns regarding Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, and Martin (2018), among which are inaccurate research measurements, negligible correlations between the main variables, insufficient and inadequate statistical analyses, and problematic interpretation of the results. In fact, the negligible associations between screen activities and depression, their decrease when demographic variables are controlled, and their fading away to nil among boys challenge the article’s title and conclusions, according to which increases in depressive symptoms are attributed to increases in new-media screen use. This conclusion cannot be deduced from the reported results and could be misleading to the general public.