<![CDATA[Background: Menarche marks the onset of reproductive capability in females and is occurring at increasingly younger ages. Recent studies suggest that digital media exposure may influence the timing of puberty. Objective: To evaluate the association between social media or internet exposure and age of menarche among junior high school girls in Padang, Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 105 eighth-grade students selected using proportional random sampling. Data on social media usage patterns—including onset age, daily duration, and exposure to pornographic content—were collected via structured questionnaires. Chi-square tests were applied for statistical analysis. Results: Early onset of social media use was significantly associated with earlier menarche (p=0.001). Longer daily usage also correlated with earlier onset (p=0.005). Additionally, exposure to pornographic content showed a strong association with earlier menarche (p=0.003). Conclusion: High exposure to digital media—especially involving adult content—may accelerate menarche through neuroendocrine disruption and psychosocial stress. These findings emphasize the need for parental supervision and health education to manage adolescent screen time and promote reproductive health awareness.]]>
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