Social Media and Mental Health

Social media is defined as “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content” (Maryville University, 2019). Its rapid growth has brought rapid sociological and commercial changes to the world. Social media usage has been on the rise since the beginning of the 21st century, with its evolution especially prominent during the ongoing pandemic. As the pandemic pushed more people online looking for a way to stay connected, social media engagement jumped. As of January 2022, there are over 3.96 billion social media users and the average person has between 5-7 social media networks they jump between per month (Barnhart, 2022).

It has been shown that the earlier that teens begin using social media, the greater impact these platforms have on their mental health. This effect has been seen especially in females. McLean Hospital explored displays of aggression in both female and male teenagers and found that males tend to physically express aggression while females subtly exclude others and may engage in hurtful comments between others. Social media increases the opportunity for these harmful interactions through cyberbullying distorting reality. Through platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok, users are able to use so-called “beauty filters'' to distort appearances. Unrealistic, filtered photos are a scroll away at any time. As social media continues to grow, so do apps that alter physical appearances. These apps quickly provide users the opportunity to “wipe” away any blemishes, whiten their teeth and slim their waist at the swipe of a thumb. In today’s world, it is not only celebrities who are able to look “perfect” - but anyone can. The prominence of a “filtered life” makes it extremely difficult to tell what is real and what isn’t. It is easy to perceive anyone’s “highlight reel” of life and assume they are living the perfect life. Not only are teens affected, adults are also striving to appear flawless. In the past several years, cosmetic surgeries have been steadily on the rise with clients who want to look exactly like their filtered Snapchat and Instagram photos.

So what brings users back to social media platforms? The reinforcing nature of social media activates the reward center within our brains. Dopamine, a chemical in the brain, is often released when engaging in enjoyable activities such as scrolling on TikTok or viewing all the users that “liked” our photos. Platforms are designed to be addictive and the algorithm often plays directly into our intrinsic need for “validation”. This human need for approval often stems from childhood when we aim to please significant people in our life such as our caregivers and peers. This helps play into our “self concept” - a psychological concept that “refers to how someone thinks about, evaluates or perceives themselves”. A person’s self image is affected by several factors such as physical appearance, social roles, personality, and how others perceive you. McLean Hospital developed a theory that compares social media to slot machines. This theory explains that when the outcome is predictable, users are more likely to repeat that behavior. Slot machine players don’t know whether they will get money by playing the game. Similarly, users do not know how many likes a photo may get, who may like the photo or if they may “blow up” on the internet. This “unknown outcome and possibility of a desired outcome” consistently brings users back. Another theory explores user gratification, emphasizing the possibility of “self discovery, entertainment, social enhancement and maintaining interpersonal connections” (Srivastava, 2020).

Social media has been linked to increased depression, addiction, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. A national survey compared young adults that use between 0-2 social media platforms to those that use between 7-11 platforms. This study found that those who use between 7-11 have a substantially increased chance of experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms. A lower validation response on social media may perpetuate a person’s feeling of rejection and poor self esteem. Furthermore, once social media use becomes a part of lifestyle it becomes part of a person’s daily routine. Several studies have linked compulsive behavior and anxiety to social media use. A new term, “phantom vibration syndrome” has been explored, defined as a “perceived vibration from a mobile phone that is not vibrating” (Srivastava, 2020). This has commonly been seen as a symptom of anxiety in those “obsessed” with social media. Furthermore, cyberbullying has adverse effects on mental health leading to a loss of confidence and self worth. Victims may experience sleeplessness, increased suicidal ideations, decreased motivation and increased perceived judgement from others.

Overall, social media has numerous benefits if used with caution. It has created thousands of jobs in a new career field and paved the way for commerce, business and information marketing technology. Therefore, it is imperative that users optimize its use while trying to mitigate its harmful effects.

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