SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH

Positive and Negative impacts of social media on mental health

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Abstract: Teenagers increasingly find it hard to imagine their existence without social media. Practitioners must
be able to determine risk, and social media might be a new factor to account for. Though there is scant empirical
evidence for the assertion, teenage and professional opinion strongly informs the view that there is an
association between social media and mental health. Privacy issues, cyber bullying, and negative impacts on
education and mental health are all risks of this population's use of social media. Ethical use of social media,
however, can increase opportunities for connection and dialogue, improve self-esteem, enhance health, and
access to important medical information. In the face of growing evidence of the negative impact of social media
on teenage mental health, there remains a lack of empirical studies of how teenagers understand social media, or
more specifically as a corpus of wisdom, or how they could use broader contemporary media discourses to make
themselves heard. Youths consume cell phones and other types of media in great numbers, leading to habitual
sleep deprivation, which negatively impacts cognitive functioning, academic performance, and socio-emotional
adjustment. Based on data from a range of cross-sectional, longitudinal, and empirical studies, Smartphone and
social media usage among adolescents correlate with a rise in mental distress, self-harm behaviours, and
sociality. Clinicians can assist teenagers and their families in minimizing the risks of social media and phone use
by employing open, nonjudgmental, and developmentally sensitive strategies, such as education and everyday
problem-solving. Social media can negatively impact our overall wellbeing by fuelling anxiety, depression,
loneliness and FOMO (fear or missing out). These issues are especially prevalent in teens and young adults.

Keywords: Social media, Privacy, Cyber bullying, Evidence, Anxiety, Depression, FOMO.
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INTRODUCTION
Social media has emerged as a vital aspect of everyday life, shaping the ways individuals connect, share
information, and engage with the world.For many people dealing with the difficulties of mental illness, social
media has become an integral part of their lives. Web and mobile platforms that enable people to connect with
others in a virtual and share, co-create, or exchange different types of digital content, such as messages,
information, images, or videos, are collectively referred to as social media.
Social creatures are what humans are. To succeed in life, we require the company of people, and the quality of
our relationships greatly affects our happiness and mental well-being. Having a social network can help you
avoid loneliness, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, increase your sense of self-worth, and even extend your
life. On the other hand, your mental and emotional well-being may be seriously jeopardised if you don't have
strong social ties.
People often find themselves dedicating too much time to social media. The need for validation and attention is
too prominent for a person. They tend to be too emerged in the virtual world, i.e, sharing bits and pieces of their
life, waiting for others to “like” there activities. Social media's addictive qualities cause dopamine to be
released, which activates the brain's reward system. This "feel-good chemical" is connected to enjoyable
pursuits. Our friends and family can "like" what we publish, which gives us a dopamine boost. However, our
sense of self and sufficiency may suffer if we don't receive that boost or acceptance. That’s why, when they fail
to achieve that, emotions like sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness greatly affects their mental
health. They often forget how important it is toimprove their online habits and seek a more balanced approach.
In the 1990s, social psychologist Roy Baumeister initially suggested the displaced behavior theory. Baumeister
suggested that self-control is a limited resource that can be drained over time and that when self-control
resources are low, people are more likely to engage in impulsive or self-destructive conduct. This can lead to a
cycle of bad behaviors and outcomes, as individuals may engage in behaviors that bring short respite but
eventually add to their stress and difficulties.

BACKGROUND

Social media has certainly become a huge part of everyone’s life across the world and it has grown
tremendously over the last 20 years, expanding and evolving with changing times. It started its journey with
platforms such as Friendster and MySpace grasping attention from users but things really took off with mobile
apps like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram in the 2010s. With the widespread usage of smartphones and
access to internet spread, more and more users joined the social media wave. By 2020, social media had become
a global phenomenon, with billions of users, particularly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Social media
platforms have been thriving globally ever since, providing people with opportunities to connect with people
across the world with just a click. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed people into quarantine that resulted in
accelerating this shift, people around the world started conversing and connecting with people to dwindle the
stress, loneliness and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, through the only means available, that being the
online platforms. It helped people to stay connected with family and friends. As people spent more time at
home, social media provided an outlet for entertainment, such as watching videos, listening to music, or
following trends and challenges. It allowed people to escape the stresses of the pandemic for a while. Platforms
like TikTok and YouTube took the centre stage, skyrocketing their popularity in the entertainment industry.
Today, over 4.8 billion people worldwide use social media, with short-form video content and influencer culture
dominating the space.As social media continues to influence how we communicate, shop, and learn, it’s clear
that its impact is far-reaching and worth studying further.
Platforms provide a range of functionalities, such as social networking, entertainment, news consumption, and
information distribution. Social media has the ability to cultivate social relationships, offer emotional support,
and enable the creation of online communities. Overuse, social comparison, cyberbullying, and addiction may
adversely affect mental health.

OBJECTIVES

Currently, the use of social media by teenagers is among their most noticeable traits. Maintaining social
connections with others is a common occurrence, whether at home, in school, or during social events, and
teenagers are frequently engaged with their peers through social media platforms. Teenagers are attracted to
social networking platforms as they enable them to share photos, graphics, and videos on these sites. It also
enables teenagers to make friends, share ideas, explore new interests, and experiment with different forms of
self-expression. Users of these platforms are able to like and comment on posts freely, and they can also share
them without any limitations. Nowadays, teenagers often share derogatory comments on social media platforms.
Teenagers often participate in trolling for fun, unaware of the possible negative effects. Trolling on these
platforms targets body shaming, personal skills, language use, and lifestyle choices, among other aspects. The
consequences of trolling can lead to anxiety, symptoms of depression, stress, a sense of isolation, and suicidal
ideation. The writers discuss how social media affects the well-being of teenagers by reviewing current
literature and offering intervention and preventive strategies at the individual, family, and community levels.

POSITIVE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The human mind is a very fragile aspect. In the era of social media, this fragility is often tested.Psychological
reactions tend to vary widely depending on individual experiences, emotional resilience, and external
influences. These external influences can make or break an individual’s psychological state of mind. Social
media- being one of the most prominent external influences- has the power to influence an individual’s
cognitive state. It can have numerous beneficial impacts on an individual mental health. Social media platforms
help in fostering social connections and reduce loneliness. Its ability to connect people across distances helps
Individuals who feel isolated by offering them ways to maintain relationships and build new ones. It helps in
reducing feelings like loneliness and anxiety that is closely linked to depression and various other mental health
issues. It also helps in accessing emotional support by providing individuals a safe space to share their feelings,
experiences, thoughts and opinions. There has been a significant increase in the number of online support
groups and communities on various platforms that helps individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, chronic
illness and grief. This has helped individuals to share their experiences, offering empathy and understanding
from people battling similar struggles. These online support groups have been proved to be incredibly effective,
comforting, validating and it has helped people across the world to feel less alone in their experiences.
Social media has played a crucial role in raising awareness about mental health through campaigns and sharing
personal stories and experiences. Expert advices on coping from mental illness are widely shared across the
platforms. People speaking up about their own struggles, traumas and experiences has helped in reducing stigma
and has encouraged people to have open discussions about the underlying psychological issues. It has not only
promoted that the idea of seeking help is normal but also necessary.
Social media has been proven to be a space for many people, especially young adults, to express themselves. It
has become an outlet for individuals to convey themselves through writing, art, photography or fashion. This
has promoted healthy identity development and resulted in boost of self esteem and confidence when positive
feedback is received. It helps individual to find individuals and communities who align with their beliefs and
values. Social media has granted easier access to professional helps and resources by providing professionals
and experts a platform to share coping strategies and mental wellness tips. Social media has provided
individuals a voice, a platform to advocate for themselves and others. People all over the World feel empowered
by sharing their mental health journeys, break stereotypes and challenge stigma. This has nurtured a sense of
empowerment that has helped individuals to increase their self-worth and be an inspiration for others to speak
out against problems deep rooted in the society. While social media has helped individuals in making their life
easier by providing necessary facilities, it also helps individuals to unwind and relax through entertaining and
uplifting content, alter their mood with mood boosting contents. It can provide a healthy distraction from stress
or negative emotions. This helps individual to temporarily boost mood and improve their emotional resilience.
Social media holds substantial potential to support and nurture mental wellbeing when used moderately and
mindfully.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS

Social media has made human life easier and interesting, it has provided opportunities, helped people stay in
touch with their loved ones, access vast amount of information And data with a single click, it’s important to
realise that constant engagement with these platforms can also come at a cost. Although, It has completely
transformed how people interact with the world, it has also put people in harms way. According to researchers,
mental health professionals and users themselves, increased amount of time on these platforms has resulted in
rising anxiety, low self-esteem due to judgements and trolls sleep deprivation and emotional burnouts. For many
people, the pressures of online life—such as comparing oneself to others, dealing with cyberbullying, or feeling
the need to always be "on"—can take a serious toll on emotional and mental well-being.
One of the most common negative impacts of social media has always been social comparisons. People often
find themselves comparing their life with others, harbouring negative and self destructive thoughts towards
themselves. Social media fuels their need to compete, compare and best others.
People often post the best parts of their lives, highlighting their achievements, their travel experiences and
picture perfect moments. For those scrolling through, especially teens and young adults, this can lead to
unrealistic expectations and feelings of inadequacy.Over time, comparing one’s real life to someone else’s
curated content can chip away at self-esteem and harbour feelings of worthlessness.
Several studies have suggested that social media has a strong influence on mental health as high usage of these
platforms have resulted in symptoms of anxiety and depression. With every swipe and scroll on these platforms,
the human mind is influenced, new informations are instilled, no matter negative or positive, useful or not. The
constant pressure to keep up with trends, the need for social validations has proven to be mentally exhausting. It
instills an emotional strain that ultimately heightens feelings of sadness, restlessness or overwhelm.
Social media has instilled the”fear of missing out” also known as FOMO . Seeing people reach a milestone,
travel, attend events and be successful often makes an individual feel like he’s missing out on something. This
feeling causes social anxiety, envy and dissatisfaction or disappointment with one’s own life.
Excessive use of social media can lead to disturbance in sleep cycle and affect one’s sleep pattern. Lack of sleep
is a strong link to mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Social media platforms are addictive in nature,
it is designed to keep users be endlessly engaged with scrolling and staying on the application. Addiction of
such platforms often hinders people from important tasks and real life responsibilities.
Ironically, social media is built to connect people, nevertheless excessive use can lead to feeling of isolation.
Real interactions have more depth rather than online interactions. While conversing with people virtually does
help with loneliness it cannot reach the emotional depth of real life interactions and cannot replace in-person
interactions. Social media has opened up new spaces for communication, but it has also made it easier for
bullying and harassment to occur. Social media being a digital platform has made cyber bullying too easy for
people, it can happen anytime and anywhere, making it much harder for victims to escape. Hurtful messages,
public shaming and spreading false information are some ways people are targeted online. When people feel
attacked or unsafe online, it can deeply affect their self-esteem and mental well-being, leading them to withdraw
from social situations both online and offline. The emotional toll of cyberbullying often lingers long after the
incident itself.
From the pressure to present a perfect life to the mental strain of constant engagement, the negative impacts on
mental health are real and growing. Recognising these challenges allows us to set healthier boundaries, take
intentional breaks, and use social media in ways that support rather than harm our well-being.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Acc to Deepa M and Dr. V. Krishna Priya, The study explored how social media use affects students' mental
health. It found that most students spend over four hours a day on multiple social networking sites. This heavy
use was linked to higher levels of depression and anxiety. Students who felt more anxious were often more
active online than in real life. In short, spending too much time on social media—and juggling too many
platforms—can take a real toll on students’ mental well-being.

According to Dr. Ramandeep Kaur* & Hilal Bashir, Adolescents are using social media more than ever, and
while it offers clear benefits like better communication, learning opportunities, and access to health information,
it also brings serious mental health risks. These include issues like depression, cyberbullying, online harassment,
distraction, emotional fatigue, and even harmful behaviors like sexting. Because of this, mental health
professionals, schools, and families must understand both the positives and the dangers of social media use. To
protect adolescent well-being, it's important to monitor risky online behavior and include social media impacts
in mental health assessments. Schools and parents should work together to raise awareness through education
programs, counseling sessions, and creative alternatives to screen time—like music, sports, and art. Positive role
models, strict age limits for apps, required parental permissions, and time restrictions can help guide safe and
healthy usage. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a balanced digital life for teens, where social media enhances—
not harms—their mental health.

According to Philippe Verduyn, Nino Gugushvili, Ethan Kross, The impact of social network sites on mental
health depends on whether they are active or passive. Active use can increase social connection, positively
affecting mental health. Passive use, however, can negatively affect mental health, particularly when it leads to
feelings of envy or inferiority. Further research is needed to understand the subcategories of active and passive
use, as well as additional psychological processes like distraction, multitasking, information overload, and social
displacement, to better understand the impact of social network sites on mental health.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This research was conducted using instruments such as primary and secondary data collecting methods,
researchers have attempted to gather an increasing amount of relevant information. Primary data is original
information gathered directly by the researcher, often through the use of a newly developed, standardized
questionnaire tailored specifically for the investigation. This data is then analyzed using statistical techniques to
uncover meaningful insights. In this case, primary data is collected through face-to-face interactions and google
forms that we circulated to people, gathering responses about their interactions and usage of social media. This
research has helped us to gain first hand data and understanding about how individuals feel affected by social
media in their day to day life.

REFERENCES

1. Dr. Ramandeep Kaur* & Hilal Bashir*, “Impact of Social Media on Mental Health of
Adolescents”.

2. Philippe Verduyn1, Nino Gugushvili1,2, Ethan Kross, “The impact of social network sites on mental
health: distinguishing active from passive use”

3. Deepa M and Dr. V. Krishna Priya, “IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTALHEALTH OF