Social Media And Mental Health: Does It Have Harmful Effects 2024?

It’s late, you’re tired after a long day, and without thinking, you grab your phone to check Instagram. Next thing you know, an hour’s gone by, and you’re still scrolling. 

If that’s ever happened to you — you’re not alone. About 72%^[1] of Americans use Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. With how stressed everyone is about time, it’s even more surprising that the average adult spends over 2.5 hours^[2] on social media daily. 

Young adults are online the most, with over half checking apps like Instagram and Snapchat several times a day.^[3] With their brains still developing and the need for peer approval at its highest during this time, many parents are wondering how much time online is healthy. 

Since most of the research on social media and mental health is still in its early stages, the question remains; does it do more harm than good?

Overall, each individual can be affected differently. It’s important to note, though, that the majority of studies report a tendency towards a mostly negative impact. This makes it all the more important to constantly observe how it affects you while setting limits to ensure a negative impact doesn’t take over. One study,^[7] for example, noted that less than 10 minutes spent online a day reduces the usual feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety that most people feel afterward. 

Social Media Use And Mental Health Among Young Adults

Social media and mental health statistics show that over 80%^[1] of young adults use it frequently. The primary reason they say they love social media is to connect and socialize, the second is to learn new information, and the third is just to feel entertained. 

While most may report a neutral effect,^[8] about a third of teens also say they feel overwhelmed by the drama on social media, with another third saying it makes them feel left out of their friends’ activities. Another third say they feel pressure to post content for likes and comments. In total, 23%^[8] say social media makes them feel worse about their life, particularly girls — equalling about 6 million^[9] teen girls across the U.S. 

Since young adults have vulnerable and developing brains, social media can be problematic since it’s easy to become dependent on it for social validation when peer approval is most important. It’s a crucial time to ensure they have other means of entertainment and approval through in-person activities, such as sports and hobbies.

Positive Sides Of Social Media

While many studies point out the negative effects of social media, there is also research looking at its potential positives, such as:

Increased Social Capital, Support, And Engagement

With the option to have a wide span between different groups and social circles, your ability to access information, support, and resources can increase. Maintaining friendships can also be easier, with over 90% of social media users saying they connect with friends daily. For adolescents, peer support and approval are critical, and social media can support these needs.

Space For Identity Development And Self-Expression

With many people feeling unsafe opening up to their families or social circles about their innermost thoughts and feelings, the online world can provide a safe space for self-identity^[10] exploration and expression. It could be a teen feeling stuck in their family’s fundamentalist attitudes or religion and needing a safe space to explore their sexual identity. Or, it could be someone in an abusive marriage needing support they can keep hidden from their spouse. 

It can also offer inspiration and a space to showcase new talents and hobbies, like photography, painting, decorating, or just meeting others with similar interests. You can learn new skills, share thoughts and ideas with a supportive community, and create new like-minded friends. There are also professional groups where like-minded career-oriented individuals can meet formally or informally to share different aspects of their work life.

Improved Access To Healthcare

People seek more information online^[11] before going to a doctor in person. With the ease of social media at your fingertips, accessing a doctor^[12] or other legitimate health support online could become much easier. This can help decrease the number of people ignoring their physical or mental ailments, leading to worsening symptoms.  

Most people with depression,^[13] for example, never seek professional help. Also, those suffering from chronic illnesses^[14] are more likely to develop depression. Having healthcare resources available through social media could help make them more accessible to those with difficulty finding or affording help. Since untreated or mistreated depression is one of the leading causes of suicide, the potential for healthcare through social media is great. 

Of course, it also requires great thought from app developers and medical professionals alike. More than just quick texts is needed, along with open communication about sensitive information on a safe platform.

What About The Downsides Of Social Media?

Almost everyone can be affected negatively by social media at one point or another. However, whether the net result is positive or negative depends on many factors. If you take some time to notice how you feel before, during, and after using social media and see these signs, it’s a sign that it might be time to take a step back for a while. 

Lower Self-Esteem

Some things may occur in social media to cause you to think less of yourself. Things to watch out for include:

• Feeling pressured to be, look or do certain things to fit in.
• Becoming self-conscious and feeling like you’re never doing enough, or you can’t be yourself, or that yourself isn’t enough. 

Loneliness, Depression, And Anxiety

You may start experiencing a fear of missing out or FOMO,^[7] which can lead to loneliness, anxiety,^[15] or depression^[16] after seeing others with what you desire, such as: 

• Close friends or families spending time together.
• People on luxurious vacations and travels.
• Influencers and friends with the latest fashions and looks.
• Thinking other people have perfect bodies or lives. 

Cyberbullying

Almost 60%^[17] of teens experience some form of cyberbullying, including:

• Offensive name-calling or false rumors.
• Receiving explicit images they didn’t ask for. 
• Having their own explicit images shared without asking.
• Someone trying to find out personal information, such as where they live, what they’re doing, etc. 
• Physical threats.

Disrupted Sleep

Watch for these side effects of too much social media:

• Feeling upset, anxious, lonely, or depressed and having worsened quality of sleep^[18] after evening usage.
• Going to bed later due to light and emotional stimulation.

Time Lost On Other Activities

Things that can become lost in the maze of online stimulation:

• Self-care.
• Hobbies.
• Connecting in person.
• Going outdoors more.
• Working or studying. 

Signs Social Media Is Affecting Your Mental Health

It’s no secret that social media can be addictive.^[19] If you’re noticing any of the symptoms^[20] below, it might be time to take a step back and reassess how and why you want to use social media.

1. Spending more time on social media than you’d like.
2. Feeling you must hide how often you use social media from others. 
3. Problems at school, work, or personal relationships because of your usage.
4. Using it to escape emotions like boredom, anxiety, or depression.
5. Mental preoccupation; spending time offline thinking about it or having difficulty concentrating on other tasks.
6. Neglecting self-care or your personal life. 
7. Feeling more isolated and lonely^[21] after using the apps.
8. Feeling less overall life satisfaction,^[22] self-esteem, and well-being after going online. 
9. Comparing your life to others and experiencing FOMO, which may lead to jealousy and depression.^[23] 
10. Wanting to see friends less in person and more online doesn’t give the same health benefits. 
11. Noticing symptoms of withdrawal,^[24] such as anxiousness and lowered mood, when unable to go online or use your social media accounts. Continuously believing it will help make you feel better but finding it usually makes you feel worse. 

The Bottom Line

What to know about social media and mental health is that, like everything, there are good sides and bad. Take some time to assess its benefits, drawbacks, and signs negatively affecting you. If you’re noticing it has a net negative impact on your life, it might be time to set boundaries and start using them less. 

Keep in mind that its positives and negatives can change in an instant, depending on what’s going on in your life. Social media can lift you up and encourage you to try new hobbies and get creative. But other times, it might make things worse. For example, if you’re going through a rough time like a breakup, it could trigger more feelings of loneliness or anger when you see other happy couples or if you follow your ex and see things you wish you hadn’t. 

With the ebbs and flows of life, your reactions will let you know what’s working for you and when it isn’t. A long break offline might be just what you need to focus more on work or your personal relationships, with going back online when things are calmer. Check in with your social media usage every few weeks to ensure it’s working for you.

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