The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

August 6, 2023 Finley Delouche

Social media has become an integral part of most people's lives. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok allow us to stay connected, express ourselves, and be entertained. However, social media use also has significant effects on mental health, both positive and negative. In this blog post, we'll explore the ways in which social media impacts mental health and steps people can take to use social media in a healthier way.

How Social Media Affects Mood

One of the most noticeable effects of social media is its ability to influence our mood. Social media gives us constant access to news, information, and interactions - both good and bad. This can make it more difficult to unplug and truly relax. It also means we're more exposed to negativity online, like bad news stories, cyberbullying, arguments in comment sections, and the curated "highlight reels" of other people's lives. This constant influx of stimuli and comparison can lead to anxiety, depression, loneliness, and FOMO (fear of missing out).

On the other hand, social media also allows us to connect with friends, join groups, and engage with uplifting content. This can have positive effects like making us feel encouraged, understood, informed, and connected. The key seems to be regulating consumption so users spend more time exposed to mood-boosting content while limiting interactions with stressful or envious content.

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Social Media and Sleep

Sleep is crucial for both physical and mental health. Unfortunately, social media has been linked to poor sleep quality and shorter sleep duration. The lure of notifications and the fear of missing out lead many users to bring mobile devices into the bedroom, making it harder to unwind. Exposure to blue light from screens before bed suppresses melatonin and delays sleep onset. Loss of sleep can exacerbate anxiety, depression, poor concentration, and more.

Setting limits on social media use in the evening and keeping devices out of the bedroom can help. Stopping usage 30–60 minutes before bedtime allows the brain to transition into sleep mode. Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep should be a priority over late night social media scrolling.

Social Media and Self-Esteem

For many users, social media has significant effects on self-esteem and body image. Social platforms tend to show carefully curated versions of peoples’ lives that promote appearances, success, travel, and fun. This sets unrealistic expectations and makes it easy to compare ourselves negatively to others. Platforms also provide constant opportunities for rejection (e.g., unanswered messages, declined friend requests, lack of ‘likes’ and comments). For teens and young adults in particular, these factors can be detrimental to self-esteem.

Being mindful of how social media affects self-image is important. Limiting time spent comparing oneself to others and focusing instead on real-life relationships and pursuits can help. Seeking professional counseling may be warranted if low self-esteem from social media causes severe distress or dysfunction.

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Social Media and Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are very common mental health conditions. For those predisposed to anxiety, social media can make symptoms worse. Frequent social media use is linked to increased anxiety levels and anxiety symptoms. There are a few factors that may explain this connection:

Exposure to distressing news/content - Newsfeeds are filled with anxiety-provoking content designed to grab attention. Clicking on distressing stories can trigger anxious thoughts and emotions.
Pressure to get attention & interact - Many platforms are built on notifications, comments, replies, etc. This can create social pressure and anxiety, especially for teens and those sensitive to rejection.
Unrealistic portrayals of others’ lives - Social media shows idealized versions of peoples’ lives. Comparing oneself to these curated highlight reels fosters anxious social comparisons.
FOMO (fear of missing out) - Social media breeds a constant fear of being left out of experiences, conversations, and connections. This generates anxious feelings and compulsive checking.

Setting healthy limits on social media use, opting for quality connections over quantity, and using tools to filter out anxiety-provoking content can help manage these sources of stress for anxious individuals.

Social Media and Depression

There are established links between high social media usage and symptoms of depression. Several factors may explain this relationship:

Replacing in-person interaction – Spending lots of time interacting online reduces more nourishing in-person social connections. This can foster loneliness and depression.
Upsetting content – Newsfeeds frequently contain upsetting content. Constant exposure could trigger depression in vulnerable users.
Social comparisons – Many users carefully curate their online image. Comparing oneself to these highlight reels fosters feelings of inadequacy.
Cyberbullying – Bullying online can lead to depression, especially in children and teens.
Disrupted sleep – Social media use can displace sleep, and poor sleep is linked to clinical depression.
Addiction – Problematic use and compulsive checking of social media are common. This addictive behavior is a symptom of underlying issues like depression, anxiety, isolation, and low self-esteem.

For those struggling with depression, it may be helpful to limit time on social platforms that trigger depressive thoughts, be mindful of upward social comparisons, and prioritize real world connections and treatment from a professional.

Social Media and Eating Disorders

Social media use has been linked with disordered eating and negative body image, especially among teen girls. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with curated, idealized images of thin, beautiful models and influencers. This constant exposure promotes the thin ideal body type and fuels social comparison. Hashtags even allow users to search for and share content related to disordered eating behaviors.

Those vulnerable to eating disorders may internalize this content, leading to body dissatisfaction, extreme dieting, and disordered patterns. The manipulative nature of social media images and the tendency to glorify disordered habits online pose risks. Eating disorder recovery is exceptionally difficult in the age of social media. Staying informed on these issues and fostering healthy relationships with food and one's body is crucial, especially for younger users.

Social Media and Suicide

Finally, social media has been linked to self-harm and suicidal thoughts in a minority of teenagers. While the vast majority of young people use social media without issue, vulnerable users may encounter content related to self-harm, bullying, or suicide that normalizes or promotes these behaviors.

Pro-suicide forums and distressing viral content can be found online, as can cyberbullying that encourages victims toward self-harm. For depressed or bullied teenagers, this content may trigger suicidal ideation and actions. Parents should be aware of this risk and monitor their children’s social media activity for any warning signs of suicidal thoughts. Professional help should be sought immediately if a child is at risk of self-harm.

Healthy Social Media Use

While social media does carry mental health risks, it can be used in a healthy way with forethought and limits. Here are some tips:

Limit overall usage - Take regular social media breaks. Set a time limit per day.
Avoid use before bed – Don’t let social media interfere with sleep, which is crucial for mental health.
Deactivate sometimes – Take a few days off now and then. This helps reset expectations.
Avoid comparisons – Remember that posts are carefully curated. Don’t compare yourself.
Follow selectively – Tailor your feed to feature more uplifting, informative accounts.
Fact check – Verify information and don't succumb to fear-mongering.
When upset, disengage - Don't use social media passively when you’re down or anxious.
Favor real-life connections – Prioritize in-person interactions with loved ones.
Seek help if needed - For severe distress related to social media, seek guidance from a mental health professional.

The mental health impacts of social media use are complex. With awareness and some adjustments, we can use these platforms in moderation, limit risks to wellbeing, and take steps to protect and support mental health - both online and offline.

Conclusion

Social media has transformed the way we live and interact. With the many benefits of staying connected and expressive online come significant mental health risks as well. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can negatively impact mood, self-esteem, sleep, and body image. They magnify anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts in vulnerable users.

Being mindful of these risks and using social media selectively, in moderation, and in line with mental health needs is crucial. Social media will likely only grow as a force in our lives. Taking an eyes-wide-open approach and putting emotional wellbeing first as platforms evolve will allow us to maximize benefits while minimizing harm.