How social media affects your mental health

What role does social media play  in depression? 

One of the biggest differences in the lives of today's teens and young adults compared to previous generations is that they spend far less time connecting in person with their peers  and spend more time connecting electronically, primarily via social networks. Some experts see the rise in depression as evidence that the connections social media users make electronically are less emotionally fulfilling and leave them feeling socially isolated. Benefits of  social interaction,” says Alexandra Hamlet, PsyD, a clinical psychologist. "The more superficial it is, the less likely it is to make you  feel connected, which is something we all need. Indeed, one exception to the correlation with Social media depression  is that girls use social media frequently, but also engage in high levels of face-to-face social interaction. Twenge's study showed that  girls who interact intensively with each other both offline and via social media do not show the increase in depressive symptoms seen in girls with less face-to-face interaction. And there are some teens who can't connect with their peers offline because they're geographically isolated  or don't feel accepted in their local schools and communities. For these children, electronic connectivity can save their lives.

Less healthy activity

Another potential source of depression can be what teens aren't doing when they're spending time on social media, including physical activity and things that create a sense of accomplishment, like learning new skills and developing talents . When you spend a lot of time on your phone, you have less time for activities that can build trust, sense of accomplishment, and connection," explains Dr. hamlets Kids who spend a lot of time with  devices don't get paid much for making them feel good, he adds. "Yes", every time you get a notification,  a like on a picture, or a follow request, you get a little rush of dopamine. But these things are addictive without being satisfying.

Sleep deprivation and depression

Some of the effects of social media use on mood can be indirect. For example, one of the most common causes of depression in teenagers is lack of sleep, which can be caused or exacerbated by social media.