Title: The Complex Links Between Social Media and Mental Health | Psychology Today
Headings: The Complex Links Between Social Media and Mental Health
The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
The Complex Links Between Social Media and Mental Health
Research shows social media can improve or harm your mental health.

Content: As a result, miscommunication is more common than in face-to-face interactions. Some people may use social media to replace in-person interactions, which can lead to lower quality social connections. Not surprisingly, research demonstrates that how people use language and express themselves on social media provides clues about their mental health status. People who post positive messages and have high-quality interactions are less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression compared to people who did not use social media or have more negative interactions on these platforms. Research has identified some specific behaviors that contribute to or detract from overall mental health. One study found that people who interact with former romantic partners on social media are more likely to experience anxiety or depression compared to those who do not. Another study found that when people with serious depression used Facebook over a three-month period, they experienced fewer symptoms compared to similar participants who did not use Facebook. In addition, when study participants became “friends” with their psychiatrist, they showed significantly faster improvement in their symptoms. Studies found the tendency to compare oneself to others on social media—whether you see yourself in a more positive or more negative light—is a significant risk factor for depression and anxiety. In addition, people with depression were more likely to rate themselves as being inferior to others on social media compared to those without depression.