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URGENT: Accuracy correction for Black Dog Institute research - news bulletin

Black Dog Institute

Good afternoon, 

Black Dog Institute is requesting urgent amendments to any afternoon or PM news bulletins which may have misrepresented research by Black Dog Institute.

For example, we have seen a few news bulletins run the following: 

Incorrect:

New research has confirmed the link between social media and a decline in mental health of Aussie teenagers, The Black Dog Institute finding the more time they spend on their devices, the higher the symptoms of depression are.

It would be correct to say:

New research confirms helpful and harmful aspects of social media use among Aussie teenagers. Black Dog Institute finds active use - connecting with friends - lowers depression, while passive scrolling to view other people’s content is linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety.

To clarify, this is because: The part you have quoted from Professor Werner-Seidler’s research is based on cross-sectional data, which cannot be used to confirm a decline/cause. Therefore, this is a correlation, not causation.

Contact details:

Please contact Paige Pollard on 0455 100 277 or media@blackdog.org.au