Does Social Media Cause Depression?
Many users pay a high price for the instant connections social media provides, begging the question, does social media cause depression? Recent research seems to link excessive social network usage to many mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Social media also is associated with reduced attention span, sleep difficulties, and hyperactivity.
With an estimated four billion people using social media worldwide, social media depression has become a front-burner issue for mental health professionals. It’s also one of the main focuses for graduate students in a Master of Arts in Psychology program with a concentration on media psychology.
The Popularity of Social Media
In just a few decades, social media has gone from a novelty to a necessity for billions of people around the world. It’s hard to believe that something that didn’t exist before the late 20th century now connects 60% of the global population.
The most popular sites include the following:
Facebook: 3.0 billion
YouTube: 2.5 billion
WhatsApp: 2.2 billion
Instagram: 2.0 billion
WeChat: 1.3 billion
TikTok: 1.1 billion
Facebook Messenger: 1.0 billion
Most of these top platforms are based in the United States, showcasing the country’s major role in the digital world. But it’s not just the US leading the charge. Platforms like Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit, Twitter, and Quora also rank among the top 20 social media sites globally.
China also plays a big part with popular platforms like WeChat, QQ, and the video-sharing app Douyin, each with hundreds of millions of users. Europe and Japan aren’t left out either, with VK and LINE drawing millions of active users.
The Connection Between Social Media and Depression
The above numbers look great from a business perspective. But psychologists and mental health professionals may find them alarming. More than half the world now exposes itself daily to an experience known to cause mental health challenges. All this is happening in a relatively short time.
What Is Depression?
To understand the impact of social media, it’s important first to know the definition of depression. The Mayo Clinic defines depression (major depressive disorder) as a “mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” It can impact how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It can lead to problems with concentration, sleeping, eating well, decision-making, and doing daily routines. At its worst, depression can lead to feelings that life is not worth living.
Depression is not a weakness or something people can “snap out” of, but a condition that requires long-term treatment.
Social Media Depression
Recent research validates the idea of social media depression. Most studies have focused on separating causation from correlation. The former indicates social media increases the risk of mental health issues. The latter indicates that depressed and lonely people are more likely to be on social media. In this case, social media platforms are a symptom of depression, not the cause.
The most recent studies point to causation. A 2015 survey of 736 college students found that Facebook triggers feelings of envy and that envy leads to symptoms of depression. A 2019 study from the United Kingdom found that people who checked Facebook late at night lost sleep and were more likely to feel depressed and unhappy.
The University of Pennsylvania Study
In 2018, the University of Pennsylvania hosted the most impactful research into the nexus between social media and depression. The study involved splitting a group of 143 students into two groups for three weeks. One group continued normal social network activities. The second limited their access to social media to just 30 minutes a day (10 minutes each on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat).
Everyone involved used iPhones. Researchers tracked phone usage data to ensure each group participated as planned. In just three weeks, the group that used less social media had better mental health outcomes. As such, the research study suggests that less time on social media led to fewer feelings of unhappiness and depression.
FOMO
Researchers titled the University of Pennsylvania study: “No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression.” FOMO refers to Fear of Missing Out. FOMO in social media causes people to constantly check and recheck their social network feeds to avoid missing anything.
People also check their feeds because getting a “like” and other experiences on social media releases dopamine into the brain. People get this “feel-good” chemical naturally through exercise and is also released with recreational drugs and gambling.
“Studies have shown that the constant stream of retweets, likes and shares from these sites affect the brain’s reward area to trigger the same chemical reaction as other drugs, such as cocaine,” according to the Addiction Center.
A Master Degree in Media Psychology
An online Master’s Degree in Psychology with a Concentration in Media Psychology trains you to tackle critical issues like social media-induced depression and the spread of “fake news.” This 100% online program opens doors to diverse careers in media industries, including television, radio, and film studios, as well as marketing and advertising. You can also work with schools and organizations to create educational content focused on media psychology.
Does social media cause depression? Research shows a strong link. As social media-related mental health issues rise, the demand for experts in media psychology grows. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in this field, a master’s degree in media psychology can set you on the path to a rewarding and influential career.
