The increasing reliance on and use of social media puts a large number of Americans at an increased risk for feeling anxious, depressed, lonely, envious, and ill over social media use. But several studies indicate that social media impacts mental health in a number of ways. This has some researchers wondering about the long-term effects.
Social Media Makes People Feel Good
Social media has a tendency to reinforce use
- People quickly become hooked on checking their statuses for comments and likes as well as perusing other people’s posts
- Using social media sometimes activates the brain’s reward center by releasing dopamine, also known as the feel-good chemical
Fear of Missing Out
Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram exacerbate the fear that you’re missing something or that other people are living a better life than you are.
Impulse Control Issues
Excessive social media use can lead to impulse control issues, especially if you access your social networks using a smartphone
Social Media Distracts You
If you find that your social media use is impacting your relationships or is distracting you from work or school, it may be problematic.
- Re-evaluate your use and detox from social media and spend some time offline to safeguard your mental health.
Social Media Use May Contribute to Depression
Social media has been linked to depression, anxiety, and loneliness
- One 2017 study found that young people who use social media more than two hours per day are much more likely to categorize their mental health as fair or poor compared to occasional social media users
- A large-scale study of young adults in the U.S. found that occasional users of social media are three times less likely to experience symptoms of depression than heavy users
You Use Social Media to Avoid Negative Emotions
Social media also could be an issue if you tend to use it to fight boredom or to deal with loneliness.
- Additional signs that social media may be having a negative impact on your life and your mental health
- Your symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness are increasing
- You are spending more time on social media than with your real-world friends and family members
- Comparison of yourself unfavorably
- Being trolled or cyberbullied by others online
- A lack of time for self-care activities
Social Media May Hurt Your Self-Esteem
Social media can cause you to experience feelings of inadequacy about your life and your appearance.
Social Media Can Lead to Self-Absorption
Sharing endless selfies can create an unhealthy self-centeredness that causes you to focus on crafting your online image rather than making memories with your friends and family in real life.
A Word From Verywell
If you’re spending a significant amount of time on social media and you’re beginning to notice feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, and loneliness that are impacting your life and your relationships, it may be time to re-evaluate your online habits.
Social Media Boosts Self-Esteem
Social media can boost self-esteem especially if a person is viewed favorably online or gets a number of likes or interactions on their content.
- It can be particularly helpful for people with social anxiety who struggle to interact with people in person.
Social Media May Be Used As an Unhealthy Coping Mechanism
Social media can become an unhealthy way of coping with uncomfortable feelings or emotions
Signs Social Media Is Impacting Your Mental Health
Use self-monitoring to assess how your social media use is impacting your life
- How you feel when you don’t use social media as well as how you feel after using it
- Using social media less than you normally do can lead to significant decreases in loneliness and depression
