it depends what you call social media.  i unironically built a ton of confidence talking to girls on neopets and later gaiaonline prior to stepping into talking to actual girls in high school. i don't know if i would have developed the confidence and would have remained a complete shut-in introvert without those "no-risk" social interactions.  i think the real shame is today "social media" isn't a way to meet new people - it is used to solidify being connected and concretes your irl and internet persona together this limiting your actual reach outside of insta thots and valid clout chasers who seek no real human connections- but rather just want attention.
United States