• Anxiety
• Stress

6 Ways Social Media Can Affect Your Mental Health

Medically reviewed and edited by Debra England, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, NBC-HWC

Social media has become an essential part of our daily lives, helping us to stay connected to the world around us.

But constantly being online can have detrimental effects on our mental health.

Acknowledging the complex relationship between mental health and social media improves our awareness of potential issues and promotes mindful usage for better mental health.

In this article, we’ll look at how constantly being online can affect your mental health, the potential causes of these issues, and tips for avoiding an unhealthy relationship with social media.

The Social Media Dilemma

It’s well-known that social media can have benefits and disadvantages for our well-being.

On the one hand, many social media platforms have become an essential part of creating relationships and building communities.

They help users maintain connections with distant friends and family, find like-minded individuals, and join communities with shared experiences.

Social media can also be a platform for mental health awareness and other educational content, offering valuable information, professional advice, and support.

However, the nature of social media — which encourages constant connection and comparison — can have a significant negative impact on mental health.

The curated highlights of people’s posts can lead to unhealthy comparisons, feelings of inadequacy, and low self-esteem.

On social media, increased exposure to cyberbullying and harassment can heighten feelings of anxiety.

If left unchecked, these factors can contribute to serious mental health issues, such as chronic stress, anxiety, and depression.

Positive Ways That Social Media Can Affect Mental Health

Connection and community building

One of the most valuable aspects of social media is its ability to help individuals form connections with people across the world.

This connection goes beyond staying in touch with loved ones; it also allows you to find and build communities with like-minded people.

These communities can foster a sense of self-worth, offer support networks, and share valuable resources on important topics.

Research shows that using social media sites to foster connections can also decrease loneliness and promote a sense of belonging.

Self-expression

Social media allows users to share their thoughts, creativity, and experiences. This can be therapeutic and it provides a sense of recognition.

These platforms can also help you explore your personal identity and cultural background, contributing to your overall self-development.

Receiving validation from like-minded people can improve your confidence and self-esteem, which contributes to a better sense of self. Access to information

When using social media, you’ll have unlimited access to information on almost anything.

This can help you learn about different topics, improve your skills, and discover professionals in your field of interest.

For individuals who may not have access to a variety of resources in their immediate environments, social media can be a helpful tool.

Ways Social Media Can Harm Your Mental Health

Comparison and envy

The curated nature of content shared on social media often sets an unrealistic benchmark for personal success, appearance, and happiness.

This constant exposure to people’s ‘perfect’ lives can cause some users to feel inadequate, leading to low self-esteem and envy.

In fact, studies have shown that over 90% of social media users regularly compare themselves to others online, causing feelings of jealousy.

Over time, it may become more difficult to distinguish between reality and social media, which can distort your perspective of your own life.

This can make everyday accomplishments seem insignificant, cultivating a perpetual sense of falling short, which may contribute to mental and emotional health issues.

Increased exposure to bullying and harassment

Social networking sites expose you to a large audience who may not always agree with what you post. This increases the risk of being subjected to cyberbullying and harassment.

Research indicates that nearly 64% of young Americans and 41% of adults have experienced cyberbullying.

There are no immediate repercussions for this type of behavior and this can, unfortunately, encourage people to leave rude comments without thinking of the consequences.

Victims of cyberbullying may experience a range of negative emotions, including increased feelings of anxiety and depression.

In extreme cases, they may even become suicidal. Studies also show that victims of cyberbullying are almost twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to non-victims.

Addiction

Social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible.

This can lead to addictive behavior — or social media addiction — where users constantly check their feeds and waste a significant amount of time online.

Emerging research shows that unhealthy social media habits are already harming adolescent health, affecting almost 40% of young adults.

Over time, this can disrupt sleep, reduce physical activity, and interfere with face-to-face interactions, which may contribute to poor mental health.

What Causes Unhealthy Social Media Use

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

The fear of missing out — or FOMO — is a feeling that others might be having enjoyable experiences while you’re not there.

This feeling may drive people to constantly check their social media to stay updated with friends’ activities, leading to excessive screen time that can contribute to addictive behavior.

FOMO can heighten feelings of inadequacy and missing out on social experiences, leading to anxiety, stress, and dissatisfaction with your own life.

Relying on social media as a security blanket

For many people, social media can act as a security blanket that provides comfort and an escape from reality.

This dependency can develop when individuals use social media to avoid dealing with uncomfortable emotions, situations, and interactions.

As users become more absorbed in their online worlds, they may start neglecting real-life relationships and experiences.

This can increase feelings of loneliness or depression, and may even contribute to the development of conditions like social anxiety.

Underlying issues

Unhealthy social media use may be a symptom of deeper, underlying psychological issues.

Individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or loneliness may turn to social media for validation or to distract themselves from their problems.

However, this temporary sense of relief doesn’t address the cause of these issues and excessive social media use can worsen them over time.

Tips for Looking after Your Mental Health While Using Social Media

Set healthy boundaries

Setting healthy boundaries when it comes to using social media apps is essential for taking care of your mental health.

This can include:

• Limiting screen time by using apps that make it difficult to access social media

• Checking social media at designated times to avoid constant scrolling

• Turning off nonessential notifications to reduce the urge to check your phone

• Engaging on social media with a clear purpose in mind, such as catching up with friends

If you find yourself on social media too much, it might also be a good idea to consider a digital break.

Spending time offline can help you reset and improve your mental well-being to create a healthier relationship with social media.

Be critical of your consumption

Remember that what you see on social media is a curated and idealized representation of someone’s life.

Being critical of these accounts and unfollowing them if they make you feel bad about yourself can help you use social media more mindfully.

Instead of following users that may leave you feeling inadequate, choose to keep up with accounts that inspire you and offer diverse perspectives on various topics.

You can also join groups or communities focused on emotional support, positivity, and shared interests.

Where Can You Learn More About Healthy Lifestyle Habits?

If you’re concerned about how social media affects your mental health or you want to learn more about maintaining your well-being, LifeMD is here to help.

LifeMD can connect you to a team of medical professionals who can assist you with information on mental health and provide guidance on managing your social media use — all from the comfort of your own home.

Make an appointment with LifeMD to learn more, today.

Debra England, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, NBC-HWC

Debra has been working with patients for 15 years. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a national board-certified health and wellness coach who takes a whole-person approach to care. She utilizes a blend of conventional, functional, integrative, and lifestyle medicine interventions. Debra’s experience spans across chronic illness, pain, fatigue, and stress management, as well as rheumatology, orthopedics, traumatic brain injury/post-concussion care, urgent care, telemedicine, and mental health specialties. In her free time, Debra enjoys skiing, the Great Outdoors, music, and family time.

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