What Is the Link Between Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health? | Psychology Today

The utilization of social media such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook has increased dramatically in recent years. This has become especially intense among adolescents, teens, and young adults. Indeed, a recent study indicates that 80 percent of young people use social media on a daily basis, with almost 50 percent using it for over two hours per day.

What is the impact of such heavy social media usage on the mental health of young people? This is a pressing question for psychiatric researchers, who have conducted rigorous studies on the topic. These studies produce consistent findings: Heavy utilization of social media is associated with poorer mental health.

For example, a large-scale research study of young adults indicated that heavy social media users are almost three times more likely to be depressed than occasional users. Another study of young adults showed that recent Facebook use worsens "how people feel moment to moment and how satisfied they are with their lives."

In Canada, researchers analyzed data from over 10,000 adolescents, finding that young people who use social media more than two hours per day are much more likely to rate their mental health as "fair" or "poor" compared with occasional users.

Why is heavy usage linked to poor mental health?

A number of interlinked factors can help explain the relationship between social media usage and adverse mental health. To start, some research shows that the so-called "passive use" of social media may be particularly bad for mental health. Passive use refers to the practice of quietly observing other people's social media profiles and pictures—sometimes known as "Facebook stalking."

One study shows that this can lead to envy and resentment, while another indicates that passive use provokes and intensifies a negative emotional experience known as Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). This can lower self-esteem and well-being.

Indeed, most people on social media portray themselves and their lives in an unrealistically flattering manner. What you see on social media are heavily sanitized and filtered versions of reality. The fleeting irregular highlights are often presented as the norm, while the everyday humdrum struggles (common to all people) are carefully omitted.

This leads some passive viewers to make faulty social comparisons, falsely concluding that others are leading much more fulfilling, exciting, and happier lives. This can invidiously gnaw at the viewer's psyche, making them feel inferior and inadequate. Again, this can worsen overall mental health.

Such passive use can prompt more active use of social media, which has also been linked to poor mental health. Active use refers to the practice of regularly posting pictures, videos, or comments. In doing so, many young people engage in strenuous impression management, filtering reality with the purpose of seeking the approval and admiration of others. This search for external validation is sometimes known as "fishing for likes."

Some research indicates that feeling compelled to portray a "my fun-filled life" version of reality can come at a severe psychological cost. It can be very damaging to a young person's self-esteem if posts and photos receive few likes or comments. The whole process may lead young people to question their value to others, sometimes resulting in an unhealthy self-scrutiny of body image, physical appearance, and general lifestyle. This can even lead to self-doubt and self-loathing.

In worst-case scenarios, active use can lead to ridicule or attack, rather than compliments or praise. Taken to extremes, this can result in the well-known phenomena of cyber-bullying, which has been associated with suicidal behavior in recent years.

What can be done to mitigate the harmful effect of social media usage?

First, more should be done to raise awareness of its potentially damaging effects so people can make informed choices regarding online behavior.

Second, adults can start positive discussions with youth about self-acceptance, noting the dangers of social comparison and approval-seeking.

Third, a literal unplugging might be necessary, with modems or devices switched off during certain periods of time or in certain spaces, either self-imposed or externally imposed.

Finally, let's not forget that social media is in many respects anti-social. Let's ensure the real social world plays just an important part in our lives as the virtual social world.