How Has Social Media Impacted Users' Mental Health During Covid-19?

May 6

There’s no doubt that the rise of the internet and social media has changed the way we communicate, interact and live our day-to-day lives. Over the past year alone, social media user numbers have increased by more than 13% to a global user total of more than 4.2 billion at the start of 2021.

But what this increased usage and reliance on social media means for users’ mental health is a topic that is less clear and still widely disputed, never more so than in the era of Covid-19. So what does the data show? How is social media impacting users’ mental health? SocialDay takes a closer look...

Social media addiction is on the rise

First of all, it’s clear that addiction to social media is a very real issue. Popular Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma brought to light many of the ways in which social media platforms have perpetuated their users’ addiction, like introducing features such as the ‘like’ button and sending targeted notification. Research in 2017 estimated that social media addiction affected more than 210 million people globally, and this figure probably comes as no surprise to social media users - particularly the digital natives reading this.

But in true Netflix documentary style, the extent of the impact of social media on users’ mental health has been sensationalised. A study released in May 2021 by the Oxford Internet Institute of more than 430,000 10 to 15-year-olds - the demographic of users exposed to social media the most readily - suggests there is little to no association between technology use and mental health problems.

While it’s true that rates of mental illness are on the rise in high-income countries, the correlation between increasing social media use and these increasing mental illness rates is very weak. In fact, research into social media and young people’s mental health in 2019 found that, though some evidence suggests social media use can result in young people developing conditions such as anxiety and depression, young people are increasingly using social media to gain emotional support to prevent and address mental health issues, too.

the many factors affecting social media use and mental health

There’s also lots of factors that play into each individual’s relationship with social media and its effect on mental health. A 2020 study into the relationship between social media use and social and mental wellbeing found that routine social media use - for example, using it as part of everyday routine and responding to content that others share - is positively associated with social well-being and mental health. On the other hand, emotional connection to social media - for example, checking apps excessively out of fear of missing out (FOMO) - is negatively associated with social well-being and mental health. Perhaps not much of a surprise there.

We also know that research shows having a strong social network is associated with positive mental health and well-being - thus, routine social media use may compensate for diminishing face-to-face social interactions in people’s increasingly busy and disconnected lives. This is something we can all appreciate more than ever during the pandemic, where most of us have had to rely on social media as our main source of social connection.

How has Covid changed our relationship with social media?

Of course, most people reading this will admit they’ve been using their phones and social media significantly more during lockdown - one study suggests 48% of people now spend more time browsing than when the first lockdown began in March 2020. And though that may seem like a negative, in the same study, more people actually reported experiencing positive feelings (57%) than negative ones (38%) towards social media during the pandemic. When asked how social media has made them feel in general, the most popular answer (40% of participants) was ‘connected’.

Though in this particular study more people reported experiencing positive feelings than negative ones, those who did say they had experienced negative emotions indicated news about Covid-19 (65%) and information that might not be true (54%) (AKA misinformation or fake news) were top of the list of content making them feel anxious, sad or fearful.

Putting social media aside, the arrival of Covid has affected both adults and young people’s mental health for many reasons - from a change in routine to a lack of social contact. In a survey of 2,111 young people by charity YoungMinds, more than 3 in 4 reported feeling worse in their mental health since coronavirus. In this study, social media was seen as helpful to 31% of people surveyed, and unhelpful to 36%.

And it’s not just Covid-19 and social media playing a role in the mental health crisis we’re facing - the situation is far more complex and nuanced. A report by the Education Policy Institute and The Prince’s Trust found that heavy social media use was just one factor alongside others including a lack of exercise and family income, contributing to damaged mental health and low self-esteem - particularly in girls 14 years and older. Again, social media was also acknowledged as a tool used by young people to find solace or community.

So, is it down to users to manage their relationships with social media?

What does all of this research tell us? Well, social media can be negative for users’ mental health, including that of young people, however it can also be an incredibly powerful tool for combating mental illness and forging supportive communities. While there is a lot to be said about cultivating positive social media environments for ourselves - whether that be through unfollowing accounts that no longer serve you, limiting your screen time or engaging with content that makes you feel positive - the addictive nature of social media makes this no mean feat. And people want greater protections from the platforms they use.

Research by Soul Analyse and OnePoll last month found that two thirds of UK adults with a social media account believe social media companies have a duty to protect the mental health of people who use their platforms. 53% of respondents felt social media platforms are not doing well enough when it comes to safeguarding the wellbeing of users, and more than half of those people calling for mental health protection felt platforms should suggest tips on how to access helplines underneath posts that might be triggering, or point towards relevant communities that can offer support.

So the take home message for both brands, creators and users? Use social media in a way that serves you, and provide content that you yourself would find positive, purposeful and beneficial to your mental wellbeing.

Key points

There is little to no data to support the idea that increasing social media use is causing higher rates of mental illness
Social media has different effects on the mental health of its users depending on how they use it
Social media has played an increasingly key role in building and maintaining relationships and communities during Covid-19
Heavy social media use, lack of exercise and family income are all examples of contributing factors to low self-esteem and poor mental health in young people
Most people believe social media platforms have a duty to protect the mental health of their users