Social Media and Mental Health

How does social media affect mental health?

Social media can have both positive and negative effects on mental health. While it can help you connect with friends and work contacts, raise awareness on important issues, and find peer support, overusing social media can take a toll on your mental wellbeing and happiness. Excessive social media use can trigger feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation, and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

A fear of missing out (FOMO) can keep you returning to social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram over and over again throughout the day. The constant alerts and notifications can adversely impact your concentration and focus, disturb your sleep, and make you a slave to your phone.

Much like a gambling compulsion or an addiction to drugs or alcohol, social media use can create psychological cravings. When you receive a like, a share, or a favorable reaction to a post, it can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, the same “reward” chemical that follows winning on a slot machine, for example, or lighting up a cigarette. The more you’re rewarded, the more time you want to spend on social media, even if it becomes detrimental to other aspects of your life.

Many of us are also prone to using social media as a “security blanket”. Whenever we’re in a social situation and feel anxious, awkward, or lonely, we turn to our phones and log on to social media. But this only isolates us even further, triggering a negative, self-perpetuating cycle:

• You feel lonely, depressed, anxious, or stressed, so you use social media more often as a way to relieve boredom or feel connected to others.
• Using social media more often, though, negatively affects your mood, increasing feelings of dissatisfaction and loneliness.
• These worsening symptoms cause you to use social media even more, and so the downward spiral continues.

If you’re spending an excessive amount of time on social media and feelings of sadness, frustration, or loneliness are impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance.  

How does each social media platform influence mental health?

The mental health consequences of social media might depend on which platform you are using. For instance, a 2025 review of research found that Instagram could contribute to depression, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem in adolescents. This can result from problems like cyberbullying and comparison culture—comparing your body image and life experiences to those of people you’re following.

On the other hand, a 2024 study found that using X (formally Twitter) to stay informed could potentially lead to increased feelings of outrage. This is likely because the algorithm prioritizes content that generates replies and reposts, and that sort of content tends to make you feel anger and disgust.

How you use social media can also determine its impact on your mood. Generally, it’s possible that passive activities like “doomscrolling”—scrolling through endless negative news stories—can lead to more mental health issues than using platforms to chat and connect with others.

Mental health impact of social media

Since it’s a relatively new technology, there’s little research to establish the long-term consequences, good or bad, of social media use. However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. For instance, a study on 6,595 adolescents found that spending more than three hours a day on social media can double the risk of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.

Heavy social media use can also mask other underlying problems, such as stress, unhappiness, or boredom. If you spend more time on social media when you’re feeling down, lonely, or bored, you may be using it as a way to distract yourself from unpleasant feelings or self-soothe your moods. However, there are more effective and healthier ways to manage your moods.

What negative experiences does social media promote?

Inadequacy about your life or appearance. Even if you know that images you’re viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what’s going on in your own life. When you’re scrolling through a friend’s airbrushed photos of their tropical beach holiday or reading about their exciting new promotion at work, it can prompt feelings of envy and dissatisfaction.

Fear of missing out (FOMO) and social media addiction. While the fear of missing out or FOMO has been around far longer than social media, sites such as Facebook and Instagram seem to exacerbate feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives than you are. The idea that you’re missing out on certain things can impact your self-esteem, trigger anxiety, and fuel even greater social media use, much like an addiction. FOMO can compel you to pick up your phone every few minutes to check for updates, or compulsively respond to each and every alert—even if that means taking risks while you’re driving, missing out on sleep at night, or prioritizing social media interaction over real world relationships. 

Isolation. One study found that high usage of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram increases rather decreases feelings of loneliness. Conversely, the study found that reducing social media usage can actually make you feel less lonely and isolated and improve your overall wellbeing.

Depression and anxiety. Human beings need face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to-eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Cyberbullying. Research suggests that about 59 percent of U.S. teens have experienced bullying online. Social media platforms such as Twitter can be hotspots for spreading hurtful rumors, lies, and abuse that can leave lasting emotional scars.

Self-absorption. Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-centeredness and distance you from real-life connections.

Signs that social media is impacting your mental health

Everyone is different and there is no specific amount of time spent on social media, or the frequency you check for updates, or the number of posts you make that indicates your use is becoming unhealthy. Rather, it has to do with the impact time spent on social media has on your mood and other aspects of your life, along with your motivations for using it.

For example, your social media use may be problematic if it causes you to neglect face-to-face relationships, distracts you from work or school, or leaves you feeling envious, angry, or depressed. Similarly, if you’re motivated to use social media just because you’re bored or lonely, or want to post something to make others jealous or upset, it may be time to reassess your social media habits.

What are indicators of adverse effects of social media on my mental health?

• Spending more time on social media than with real world friends. Using social media has become a substitute for a lot of your offline social interaction. Even if you’re out with friends, you still feel the need to constantly check social media, often driven by feelings that others may be having more fun than you.
• Comparing yourself unfavorably with others on social media. You have low self-esteem or negative body image. You may even have patterns of disordered eating.
• Experiencing cyberbullying. Or you worry that you have no control over the things people post about you.
• Being distracted at school or work. You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends’ posts.
• Having no time for self-reflection. Every spare moment is filled by engaging with social media, leaving you little or no time for reflecting on who you are, what you think, or why you act the way that you do—the things that allow you to grow as a person.
• Engaging in risky behavior in order to gain likes, shares, or positive reactions on social media. You play dangerous pranks, post embarrassing or nonconsensual material, cyberbully others, or access your phone while driving or in other unsafe situations.  
• Suffering from sleep problems. Do you check social media last thing at night, first thing in the morning, or even when you wake up in the night? The light from phones and other devices can disrupt your sleep, which in turn can have a serious impact on your mental health.
• Worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression. Rather than helping to alleviate negative feelings and boost your mood, you feel more anxious, depressed, or lonely after using social media.

How to safely use social media

How you use social media matters. While connecting virtually doesn’t have the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact, there are still ways in which social media can support your well-being and have a positive rather than damaging impact. The key is to be intentional in your use.

Don’t scroll aimlessly just to kill time. We’ve all done it: You log on just to see how many likes you have or to check if you’re missing out on anything, and then disappear down a social media rabbit hole, spending hours aimlessly scrolling, often through unpleasant or disturbing content. Instead, have a purpose for logging on to social media, whether it’s to connect with a friend, share new photos, or find entertainment. Setting reminders to take a break can help.

Actively engage. Some studies suggest that passive social media use—where you simply view images and read messages, rather than engaging with other users—may be more likely to increase negative feelings such as loneliness and dissatisfaction. So, post your own content, comment on others’ posts, and send messages to your contacts.

Be selective about who you connect with. Try to follow people who inspire you or leave you with positive feelings. If someone posts inflammatory content, expresses views you disagree with, or posts material that makes you feel bad about yourself, unfollow them. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you have to accept every friend request or accumulate followers.

Remember what you’re seeing isn’t reality. Have you ever viewed someone’s social media feed and made negative comparisons about your own life? No one’s life is ever as perfect as it seems on social media. We all deal with heartache, self-doubt, and disappointment, even if we choose not to share it online. What you’re seeing is what someone wants you to see.

Question information. Social media can also be a hive of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and negativity. Always double check sources before believing or forwarding posts that make controversial claims, especially if they’re likely to cause distress to others.

Protect yourself. Use strong passwords for your social media accounts and update them regularly. Make use of privacy settings so you can choose how your profile and posts are shared. Be careful about the personal information you share, including pinning your location. Avoid social media scams, such as messages that encourage you to click on malicious links or invest in cryptocurrency. 

Worried about social media and your mental health?

If you feel that your social media use has become an addiction, or it’s fueling your levels of anxiety, depression, FOMO, or sense of isolation, the following tips can help you modify your habits and change how you use social media:

Tip 1: Reduce time online

A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. Even just being more mindful of your social media use can have beneficial results on your mood and focus.  

While 30 minutes a day may not be a realistic target for many of us—let alone a full “social media detox”— we can still benefit from reducing the amount of time we spend on social media.

1. Use an app to track how much time you spend on social media each day. Then set a goal for how much you want to reduce it by.
2. Turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as when you’re driving, in a meeting, at the gym, having dinner, spending time with offline friends, or playing with your kids. Don’t take your phone with you to the bathroom.
3. Don’t bring your phone or tablet to bed. Turn devices off and leave them in another room overnight to charge.
4. Disable social media notifications. It’s hard to resist the constant buzzing, beeping, and dinging of your phone alerting you to new messages. Turning off notifications can help you regain control of your time and focus.
5. Limit checks. If you compulsively check your phone every few minutes, wean yourself off by limiting your checks to once every 15 minutes. Then once every 30 minutes, then once an hour. There are apps that can automatically limit when you’re able to access your phone.
6. Try removing social media apps from your phone so you can only check Facebook, Instagram and the like from your tablet or computer. If this sounds like too drastic a step, try removing one social media app at a time to see how much you really miss it.

For more tips on reducing your overall phone use, read Smartphone Addiction.

Tip 2: Change your focus

Next time you go to access social media, pause for a moment and clarify your motivation for doing so.

Are you using social media as a substitute for real life? Is there a healthier substitute for your social media use? If you’re lonely, for example, invite a friend out for coffee instead. Feeling depressed? Take a walk or go to the gym. Bored? Take up a new hobby. Social media may be quick and convenient, but there are often healthier, more effective ways to satisfy a craving.

Are you an active or a passive user on social media? Passively scrolling through posts or anonymously following the interaction of others on social media doesn’t provide any meaningful sense of connection. Being an active participant, though, will offer you more engagement with others.

Does social media leave you feeling inadequate or disappointed about your life? You can counter symptoms of FOMO by focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack. Make a list of all the positive aspects of your life and read it back when you feel you’re missing out on something better.  

Tip 3: Spend more time with offline friends

We all need the face-to-face company of others to be happy and healthy. At its best, social media is a great tool for facilitating real-life connections. But if you’ve allowed virtual connections to replace real-life friendships in your life, there are plenty of ways to build meaningful connections without relying on social media.

Set aside time each week to interact offline with friends and family. Try to make it a regular get-together where you always keep your phones off.

If you’ve neglected face-to-face friendships, reach out to an old friend, an online friend, or an acquaintance and meet up for a coffee or lunch. Lots of other people feel just as uncomfortable about making new friends as you do—so be the one to break the ice. If you both lead busy lives, offer to run errands or exercise together.

Join a club or volunteer. Find a hobby, creative endeavor, or charitable activity you enjoy and meet like-minded individuals.

Don’t let social awkwardness stand in the way. Even if you’re an introvert, there are proven techniques to overcome shyness and build friendships.

Interact with strangers. Look up from your screen and connect with people you cross paths with on public transport, at the coffee shop, or in the grocery store. Simply smiling or saying hello will improve how you feel—and you never know where it may lead.

Tip 4: Express gratitude

Feeling and expressing gratitude about the important things in your life can be a welcome relief to the resentment, animosity, and discontent sometimes generated by social media.

Take time for reflection. Try keeping a gratitude journal or using a gratitude app. Keep track of all the great memories and positives in your life—as well as those things and people you’d miss if they were suddenly absent from your life. If you’re more prone to venting or negative posts, you can even express your gratitude on social media—although you may benefit more from private reflection that isn’t subject to the scrutiny of others. 

Practice mindfulness. Experiencing FOMO and comparing yourself unfavorably to others keeps you dwelling on “if onlys” that prevent you from having a life like those you see on social media. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to be fully engaged in the present moment, lessen the impact of FOMO, and improve your overall mental wellbeing.

Help others. Just as human beings are hard-wired to seek social connection, we’re also hard-wired to give to others. Volunteering not only enriches your community and benefits a cause that’s important to you, but it also makes you feel happier and more grateful.

Helping a child or teen with unhealthy social media use

Childhood and the teenage years can be filled with developmental challenges and social pressures. For some kids, social media has a way of exacerbating those problems and fueling anxiety, bullying, depression, and issues with self-esteem.

Rather than simply confiscating your child’s phone, you can help them use TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms in a more responsible way.

Monitor and limit your child’s social media use. Parental control apps can help limit your child’s data usage or restrict their phone use to certain times of the day. You can also adjust privacy settings on the different platforms to limit their potential exposure to bullies or predators.

Talk to your child about underlying issues. Problems with social media use can often mask deeper issues. Is your child having problems fitting in at school? Are they suffering from shyness or social anxiety? Are problems at home causing them stress?

Enforce “social media” breaks. For example, you could ban social media until your child has completed their homework in the evening, not allow phones at the dinner table or in their bedroom, and plan family activities that preclude the use of phones or other devices. To prevent sleep problems, always insist phones are turned off at least one hour before bed.

Teach your child how social media is not an accurate reflection of people’s lives. They shouldn’t compare themselves or their lives negatively to others on social media. People only post what they want others to see. Images are manipulated or carefully posed and selected. And having fewer friends on social media doesn’t make your child less popular or less worthy.

Encourage exercise and offline interests. Get your child away from social media by encouraging them to pursue activities that involve real-world interaction. Exercise is great for relieving anxiety and stress, boosting self-esteem, and improving mood—and is something you can do as a family. The more engaged your child is offline, the less their mood and sense of self-worth will be dependent on how many friends, likes, or shares they have on social media.