The DSM-5 had several changes in diagnosis that could explain the sharp rise in his graphs. That we simply got a view of how bad our society’s mental health is, rather than it increasing at a dramatically higher rate than pre-2012.
Diagnosis around women’s mental health has also become much better in recent years. The amount of gaslighting around disorders and “hysteria” in women historically is troubling and completely unethical.
I find Gabor Mate’s work much more enlightening in understanding why mental health is such an issue in the modern world. I highly recommend his books if you are curious.
Gabor’s definition of addiction is that it is a coping mechanism to seek relief from pain, often with negative consequences. Therefore social media does not explain the pain. It’s an effect not a cause, despite how it can contribute to feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.
Instead it is worth understanding how our youth are raised, and the trauma their parents carry onto them despite their best intentions and effort.