Social Media: Loneliness and Depression

As discussed in the last post, social media can be a positive influence and outlet for users. However, there is a “dark side” to social media. While social media can be used to connect with others and give users a sense of belonging and connection it can also increase feelings of loneliness and symptoms of depression.

There is a lot of research and studies conducted on these negative effects (i.e. loneliness and depression) of social media platforms. When looking at the top five social media platforms (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat) they all vary in level of effect on users. Instagram, in particular, is considered the most harmful according to the #StatusOfMind survey. In this survey, YouTube ranked highest in positive effects and was the only one to not be associated with increases in symptoms of depression.

So why can social media increase a user’s loneliness and symptoms of depression? Well, it seems to stem from when a user compares themselves to other users. What #StatusOfMind reports as “compare and despair.” When an individual continues to compare themselves to others on social media, and doesn’t know or remember that social media is a constructed expression of a person’s life, they can begin to feel inadequate, lesser, and lose self-confidence. When using social media, especially excessively, users can begin to feel left out or experience a psychological phenomenon known as FOMO (fear of missing out). These experiences lead to feelings of loneliness which in turn can lead to or exacerbate symptoms of depression.

Depression is a very serious mental disorder that is characterized by psychological symptoms such as a sad or apathetic mood, loss of interest, feelings of worthlessness and loneliness, difficulty thinking and concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide, as well as physical symptoms such as changes in appetite or sleeping patterns, slowed movements and speech, and increased fatigue. It is easy to see how the over use of social media can increase these symptoms over time.

Another reason why social media can lead to increases in loneliness and depression lies in cyber-bullying and negative interactions. A study conducted in 2014 found that the types of interactions occurring while on social media played a huge role in whether users were negatively affected by social media. Again, a caveat of all of this research seems to hinge on HOW and WHY a user engages with social media making it very important to consider your own reasons for engaging with social media and to consider how you are engaging with others on social media. Well that’s all I got for today, Till next time, xoxo.

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