You may have come across headlines associating social media with feelings of sadness and depression. As social media usage increases, happiness seems to decrease. However, recent research indicates these findings might be more complex than they appear. While it’s true that feelings of envy and depression are linked to heavy social media use, there is evidence to suggest that social media use isn’t necessarily causing these feelings. Your mindset may play the most significant role in how social media affects your wellbeing. Individuals who feel in control of their social media usage, rather than feeling “used” by it, typically derive more benefits from online interactions.
Social media includes a wide range of platforms: social networking sites, discussion forums, bookmarking and sharing content, spreading news, exchanging media like photos and videos, and microblogging. These platforms attract a diverse audience, from people of all ages to large businesses. For some, social media serves as a way to connect with others they might not meet otherwise. In the United States, 39% of people report having online-only friends. For older individuals, this online interaction is particularly crucial for enhancing feelings of connection and wellbeing. Interestingly, however, social media interactions with family do not increase older people’s happiness. Conversely, younger adults report feeling happier with more frequent social media interactions with family members. For teens, social media is especially useful for strengthening connections and expanding their social networks.
Given the significant role social media plays in our lives, many researchers have sought to determine whether it makes us happier. Research methods have varied, including surveys asking direct questions or analyzing the positive or negative tone of the content posted. A 2023 survey indicated that increased social media use is linked to decreased life satisfaction and happiness. Another study revealed that spending less time on social media correlates with improved work satisfaction, engagement, and positive mental health – leading to higher motivation and better mental wellbeing at work.
Social media comparisons to others can lead to feelings of envy and depression. Yet, evidence suggests that depression might be the cause, rather than the effect, of social comparison and envy. This highlights the importance of one’s perception of social media. People who perceive themselves as using social media, rather than being “used” by it, tend to experience its benefits without suffering its negative effects.
Interviews with young people aged 15-24 about social media indicate that positive mental health in this age group is influenced by three factors. Studies also explore the emotions expressed by frequent social media users. The “happiness paradox” suggests that most people believe their social media friends appear happier than themselves. This perception is paradoxical due to the mathematical dynamics of social media friendship networks. In one study, analysis of Twitter data with recorded locations showed that residents of cities in the U.S. who tweeted more often expressed less happiness. Conversely, happiness is reportedly four times more common than sadness in Instagram direct messages.
Some factors related to decreased mental health are not solely tied to social media use. A recent study indicates that a decline in wellbeing is partly connected to overall digital media use rather than social media specifically. This can be attributed to sleep disruption, reduced face-to-face social interaction or physical activity, social comparison, and cyberbullying – none of which are exclusive to social media.
However, social media platforms often rely on recommendation algorithms that can immerse users in “rabbit holes” of increasingly extreme content, causing a distorted worldview and sense of place. It’s crucial to maintain a diverse and balanced online information intake.
Interestingly, social media interactions are not the sole influence on our mental state. Rainfall affects the emotional content of social media posts for both the users experiencing the rain and parts of their extended network (even if they do not experience rain directly). This implies that our emotions are influenced by the mood of the posts we see. The encouraging news is that positive posts are the most impactful, with each happy post inspiring nearly two additional happy updates from a user’s friends.