Broadband Internet Access and Adolescent Mental Health in the U.S.

Broadband internet has become a critical component of U.S. infrastructure, but policymakers are increasingly concerned that the widespread adoption of this technology has adversely affected adolescent mental health. 

To test this hypothesis, this study used 2009–2019 National and State Youth Risk Behavior Survey data and leverage the nationwide rollout of broadband internet. 

Findings:

• Adolescents in states with greater broadband internet access reported spending more time online. 
• Aa one-standard-deviation increase in broadband internet access was associated with a 9.3–16.5-percent increase in adolescent suicide ideation. 
• The results are most pronounced for adolescent girls. 

Greater broadband internet access was associated with 

• increases in cyberbullying and body dissatisfaction among adolescent girls 
• a reduction in the likelihood that adolescent boys reported getting an adequate amount of sleep.