A 2024 University of Melbourne study examined the relationship between social media use and life satisfaction in 2,400 Australian adults aged 18-35. Initial analysis revealed that participants using social media more than three hours daily reported life satisfaction scores 0.4 standard deviations below light users—a substantial difference. However, when researchers separated 'active engagement' (creating content, direct messaging, video calls) from 'passive consumption' (scrolling without interaction), the picture changed. The negative association held only for passive consumption. Heavy active users showed satisfaction scores statistically indistinguishable from light users, despite spending equivalent total hours on the platforms. A subgroup who reported using social media primarily to maintain contact with close friends and family showed satisfaction scores slightly above non-users.
Which of the following can be most reliably inferred from the passage?