They do acknowledge in the article itself that it is correlation and that it could be reverse causation:
> “Those who feel worse may turn to social media for solace or community,” Dr Amy Orben, research fellow at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, said of the research.
“It’s not a vacuum, it works both ways."
But the actual article headline is the typical clickbait interpretation of a scientific study.
> “Those who feel worse may turn to social media for solace or community,” Dr Amy Orben, research fellow at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, said of the research.
“It’s not a vacuum, it works both ways."
But the actual article headline is the typical clickbait interpretation of a scientific study.