The impact of social media on mental health has garnered significant attention in recent years, with various studies highlighting both negative and positive effects. A substantial body of research indicates that excessive social media use is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, particularly among adolescents and young adults. For instance, Yamini and Pujar found that increased social media usage correlates with online harassment, poor sleep, low self-esteem, and negative body image, all of which contribute to mental health difficulties (Yamini & Pujar, 2022). Similarly, Hou et al. demonstrated that social media addiction negatively affects mental health by lowering self-esteem, which serves as a mediating factor in this relationship (Hou et al., 2019). This is further supported by Rustamov, who noted that as social media addiction increases, mental well-being decreases, particularly among individuals with psychological fragility (Rustamov, 2023).
Moreover, Hammad's research highlighted a direct relationship between excessive social media use and symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety, emphasizing the broader implications of social media on mental health (Hammad, 2023). The systematic review by Seabrook et al. also corroborates these findings, indicating that social networking sites can exacerbate feelings of depression and anxiety, particularly when users engage in negative social comparisons (Seabrook et al., 2016). This is echoed by Fardouly et al., who found that appearance comparisons on social media are linked to negative mental health outcomes among preadolescents, suggesting that even younger users are not immune to these effects (Fardouly et al., 2020).
Conversely, some studies suggest that social media can also play a beneficial role in mental health promotion. For example, Santoso and Musdalifah argued that social media can serve as a tool for raising awareness about mental health issues, potentially improving understanding and attitudes towards mental health (Santoso & Musdalifah, 2019). Additionally, Niu et al. found that positive comments and supportive interactions on social media can foster favorable attitudes towards mental health services, thereby encouraging help-seeking behavior (Niu et al., 2020). This duality in social media's impact underscores the complexity of its relationship with mental health.
Furthermore, the findings from Kelly et al. indicate that the nature of social media use—whether active or passive—can significantly influence mental health outcomes, with active engagement often leading to more positive results compared to passive consumption (Kelly et al., 2018). This suggests that the context and manner in which social media is used are critical factors in determining its impact on mental health.
In summary, while there is substantial evidence linking excessive social media use to negative mental health outcomes, particularly through mechanisms such as social comparison and reduced self-esteem, there are also potential benefits when social media is used positively. The challenge lies in navigating these complexities to harness the positive aspects while mitigating the negative effects.
References:
- Fardouly, J., Magson, N., Rapee, R., Johnco, C., & Oar, E. (2020). The use of social media by australian preadolescents and its links with mental health. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 76(7), 1304-1326.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22936
- Hammad, M. (2023). Social media addiction and its relationship to symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety in deaf and hard-of-hearing students. International Journal of Membrane Science and Technology, 10(2), 317-323.
https://doi.org/10.15379/ijmst.v10i2.1245
- Hou, Y., Xiong, D., Jiang, T., Song, L., & Wang, Q. (2019). Social media addiction: its impact, mediation, and intervention. Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 13(1).
https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2019-1-4
- Kelly, Y., Zilanawala, A., Booker, C., & Sacker, A. (2018). Social media use and adolescent mental health: findings from the uk millennium cohort study. Eclinicalmedicine, 6, 59-68.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2018.12.005
- Niu, Z., Hu, L., Jeong, D., Brickman, J., & Stapleton, J. (2020). An experimental investigation into promoting mental health service use on social media: effects of source and comments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 7898.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217898
- Rustamov, E. (2023). Aggression mediates relationships between social media addiction and adolescents’ wellbeing. The Open Psychology Journal, 16(1).
https://doi.org/10.2174/0118743501251575230925074655
- Santoso, A. and Musdalifah, F. (2019). Mental health promotion through social media (study of government and non-profit organization’s twitter account in indonesia)., 264-270.
https://doi.org/10.32698/gcs.01108
- Seabrook, E., Kern, M., & Rickard, N. (2016). Social networking sites, depression, and anxiety: a systematic review. Jmir Mental Health, 3(4), e50.
https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.5842
- Yamini, P. and Pujar, L. (2022). Effect of social media addiction on mental health of emerging adults. ijee, 76-80.
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijee.2022.58416