# Teen messaging and well-being: Who is on the other end matters

Source: [Earth.com](https://www.earth.com/lifestyle/teen-messaging-and-well-being-who-is-on-the-other-end-matters/) · 2026-11-09 · Earth & Climate
Page: https://themorning.science/story/teen-messaging-and-well-being-who-is-on-the-other-end-matters-e02b7782d3bf6a7c
Kind: research · Impact: low

## In brief

- A survey of 3,034 Swedish 15-year-olds examined teen messaging habits and well-being.
- Teens who messaged close friends or their wider circle several times a day or more scored higher on a well-being test than teens who messaged less often.
- The finding shifts the focus from how many hours teens spend on phones to who they are messaging.

## Why it matters

It suggests that research and advice on teen screen use may need to distinguish between the social partners teens communicate with, not only the time spent messaging.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-09: Earth.com publishes article on the survey of Swedish 15-year-olds

## Coverage

- [Teen messaging and well-being: Who is on the other end matters](https://www.earth.com/lifestyle/teen-messaging-and-well-being-who-is-on-the-other-end-matters/) — Earth.com, 2026-11-09

Tags: adolescents, well-being, social media, digital media, survey research

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science