Social media may trigger an array of negative emotions in users that contribute to or worsen their depression symptoms. This has prompted mental health experts to investigate whether the enormous popularity of social media plays a role in depression and how to limit your time on social media to help you feel better.
Defining Depression
Clinical depression or major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by ongoing feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities that an individual once enjoyed
- Depression can be mild or severe and make it difficult for those with the condition to concentrate, sleep, eat well, make decisions, or complete their normal routines
- People with depression may contemplate death or suicide, feel worthless, develop anxiety or have physical symptoms such as fatigue or headaches
The Facts on Social Media and Depression
Social media has never been more popular
- More than half of the world’s population is active on these social networking sites that roll out nonstop news, much of it negative
- People who check Facebook late at night are more likely to feel depressed and unhappy
- The less time people spend on social media, the less symptoms they feel
Bad News and ‘Doomscrolling’
One in five Americans now gets their news from social media
- This means frequent exposure to bad news, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, political strife, and celebrity deaths
- The habit of binging bad news on social media sites or elsewhere online is known as “doomsc scrolling,” and it can adversely affect one’s mental health, leading to development or heightening of anxiety or depression symptoms
- A 2018 Lancet Psychiatry study found that those who logged onto Facebook before bedtime were 6% likelier to have major depressive disorder and rated their happiness level 9% lower than those with better sleep hygiene
- Doomscrolling locks the public into a “vicious cycle of negativity”
Causation or correlation?
Some studies have found a correlation between social media use and depression
- A landmark study found that the less people used social media, the less depressed and lonely they felt
- This indicates a relationship between lower social media usage and emotional wellbeing
- The study marked the first time scientific research established a causal link between these variables
Safely Using Social Media
Set a timer when you’re on social media or install an app on your phone or computer that tracks how long you’ve spent on a networking site.
- Plan real-world activities that help you focus on your immediate surroundings and circumstances.
Less Social Media, Less FOMO
A 2015 University of Missouri study found that regular Facebook users were more likely to develop depression if they felt feelings of envy on the social networking site.
- Social media can also give users a case of “FOMO” if they were invited on a friend’s vacation but couldn’t go, or were not invited at all. It can lead them to question their friendships or self-worth.
Why Young People Are at Risk
Social media has given bullies a new way to torment their victims
- With just one click, bullies can circulate a video of their target being ridiculed, beaten up, or otherwise humiliated
- While many schools have anti-bullying policies and rules about online student conduct, it can still be difficult for educators and parents to monitor abusive behavior on social media
