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Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Article written by: Loreen Lu

Article designed by: Loreen Lu & Palak Tiwari


In today’s digital age, our life is surrounded by devices. Whether that be Facebook, Instagram, Discord, Twitter, or TikTok, millions of people worldwide spend a significant part of their life online. But while social media can connect us to others in ways we didn’t expect, its effects on mental health have been a growing concern. In this post, we will explore how social media impacts mental wellbeing, backed by important stats and steps to mitigate this issue.

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Social Media Usage throughout the world

We use social media for school, work, and entertainment. At least 17-18 years of our lives are spent online, which translates to about 47 hours per week and 101 days annually. It is also estimated that we spend nearly half of our waking hours online–42%! That’s quite a number. Pew Research shows that 95% of U.S. adults use the internet, with a notable increase from 52% in 2000. 95% is ultimately around 245.4 million people in the U.S. As of April of 2024, Statista has reported around 5 billion social media users worldwide. While Oberlo reports around 5.42 billion people using social media this year, increasing half a billion within just a year. With these statistics, we can see the huge population using social media and the amount of time the population spends on social media. The influence of social media is crazy, but how do these vastly impactful platforms change our mental health?

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Positive Impacts of Social Media

Of course, there are ways that social media can impact our mental health positively, such as online support networks. According to a study by Psychology Today, virtual communities can provide social support, belonging, and resilience’, and Psychology Today 2022 says that 43% of people who seek mental health support online report feeling less isolated. The online community can also be used for awareness and advocacy, and it could be a powerful tool to show your part of the story on the internet for greater awareness on a subject. Some trends, like the current USCMind trend, where people join in to spread awareness of mental health issues. The #BellLetsTalk, an canadian mental health initiative, has led to greater public talk about mental health, reducing stigma and increasing accessibility to resources. For example, a hotline number popping up when you search for something suicidal or mental health-related.


Despite the positive effects, there are always going to be negative effects of social media such as anxiety and depression. Research has shown that excessive media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression. According to a Yale Medicine study on American teens (ages 12-15), those who used social media over three hours a day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, such as depression or anxiety. According to the Child Mind Institute, “A 2017 of over half a million eighth through 12th graders found that the number exhibiting high levels of depressive symptoms increased by 33 percent between 2010 and 2015. In the same period, the suicide rate for girls in that age group increased by 65 percent.” Social comparison and low self-esteem is also a common issue that people face when they are online according to ScienceDirect, This was the result of a study that showed positive association between fear of missing out, social comparison, and problematic social media use, and negative correlation between fear of missing out and problematic social media use, along with self-esteem issues. And according to Common Sense Media, 8 out of 10 teens say that social media pressures them to present themselves a certain way. That’s quite a number that’s like 1000 students out of a 1250 member school. And last of all, sleep disruption is a major consequence of irresponsible social media use, due to the toll it can have on our body and the amount of time that cuts into our sleep. The addictive nature of social media can lead to late-night scrolling, which disrupts sleep cycles. Sleeping is a big part of our physical health as well, it aids us through a mental and physical reset, plus helping our bodies grow. According to Common Sense Media, 1 in 10 teens have reported getting more than 7 or more hours of sleep per night, approximately 9%, or at least an hour of physical activity, around 13%. According to the Sleep Foundation, U.S. adults spend 3.5 hours on social media before bed each day (survey), and 74.7% of social media use occurs before bed (survey). It’s important to have enough sleep as not getting enough sleep can lead to chronic illnesses, heart diseases, kidney disease, high bloos pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. These negative impacts are enough for us to learn to stay off social media for quite a while.


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To prevent such issues, media platforms have also taken steps to reduce pressure and social comparison online. Instagram has updated its platform in 2021 that allows you to hide your number of likes, which reduces pressure and the need for user validation. In addition, they also added a Wellness Hub, which includes resources for users to access mental health information and hotlines. TikTok has also added a “time well spent” feature that encourages taking breaks and offering warnings about excessive screen time. Facebook has partnered with many mental health organizations, such as Forefront and Now Matters Now, for users who might need related resources. These resources include suicide prevention tools. However, despite the many efforts by big social media companies, many argue that these measures aren’t enough to counteract the deeper physiological effects that social media can have. While for others they say though it may not seem like much but this is a big step forward for a bunch of people that had previously no help on social media.


Social Media can have a big impact on our mental health, so what are some ways that we can protect ourselves? We can set time limits and use tools like screen time trackers to limit our social media usage, especially before bed, so that it doesn’t affect our sleep. We can follow accounts that make us happy or positive. Make your feed include only accounts that promote positivity, education, and mental well-being. Remember to take breaks from social media and engage in real-world activities to improve your mental health.


Social media can offer a sense of connection, but it can also pose significant risks to our mental health, especially when used excessively. Understanding these impacts helps us take steps to create a stronger and healthier relationship with technology. This understanding can help us mitigate the negative effects of mental health and foster better, more supportive online environments.

Remember, balance is key. Stay informed, set boundaries, and prioritize your mental well-being when using social media.


Sources

“Social Media, Teen Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide.” Yale Medicine, https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/social-media-teen-mental-health-a-parents-guide.

“Is Social Media Use Causing Depression?” Child Mind Institute, https://childmind.org/article/is-social-media-use-causing-depression/.

Social Networks – Statistics & Facts. Statista, https://www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-networks/#topicOverview.

How Does Social Media Affect Sleep? Sleep Foundation, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/how-does-social-media-affect-sleep.


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