Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health
By Jasmin Portaz, M.A., LPC, ATR
June 30, 2026
The rewards, the risks, and what can be done to create a safer space online.
It sometimes seems that the whole world is on social media, no matter how old, how introverted, how uninterested they may seem. In the US an estimated 93% of people are on some form of social media. Between YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, Nextdoor, Twitch, Pinterest, or LinkedIn, it might seem impossible to find someone who isn’t active on at least one of these platforms. In this digital era, many find this space to be where they engage in most of their social transactions, find out what’s happening in the world, make many if not most of their purchases, and even find love. There are so many advantages to living in this digital world. But along with the advantages comes serious, impactful, and potentially harmful consequences. And while it may be unreasonable for us to completely disconnect from social media, it would behoove us to take a step back, analyze risk and reward, and be honest with ourselves about the impact these platforms have on our mental and emotional well-being.
POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
There are so many amazing things that have come out of social media platforms. Never have those around the world so easily been able to follow the lives of those they love across seas and nations. Information comes in moments after an event occurs, offering access to reports on disasters, politics, and global events, leading to the ability to offer both emotional and financial support from afar. Many find validation along with a big dopamine hit from positive feedback, likes, and connection from friends, followers, and others going through similar experiences. Finding love can be scary, daunting, difficult, and can feel impossible if we don’t have spaces and opportunities to meet people organically. Roughly 30% of adults in the United States have used dating apps and approximately 10% of all adult relationships were started online. On a macro level, social media can be incredibly unifying, provide access to crucial information, break down global and geopolitical barriers, and drive powerful waves of activism. As we look at our own lives and our engagement with social media, however, it’s important to take stock of how we are impacted by our social media usage and to assess the ways in which we consume social media. Does social media truly keep us more connected or lead to disconnection? Is the information being fed to us keeping us informed or feeding us unverified or simply false information? Have we step backed and truly asked, what is social media doing to our mental health? Maybe it’s time we asked a few more questions and got a few more answers.
RISKS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE
Within the US, approximately 85% of adults engage with some form of social media. For many, it is part of their daily life, averaging between 2-3 hours of usage. While some of the content they are engaging with may be positive, often people find themselves doomscrolling, arguing, or feeling bad about themselves due to unrealistic comparisons. People often use social media as a way to disconnect from everyday life, relax, and enjoy some entertainment. But it is far too easy to get caught in a wave of negative content, lose hours of your day, and abandon responsibilities, social commitments, and creativity. Hiding behind the anonymity provided by social media, many people feel safe, comfortable, and perhaps even empowered, to say things online that they would never say to someone’s face, leading to hate speech, blackmail, extreme bullying, and even death threats. Recognizing the negative exposure that we invite into our consciousness through social media is not to be taken lightly.
While social media usage can be an issue for all ages, teens are especially susceptible and at risk of the negative repercussions. 95% of teens, ages 13-17, report using social media. Many experts and leading voices on the topic argue that it is best for teens to wait until they are at least 16 years old to join any social media platform. While it’s getting harder and harder to police this activity, a parent’s first role is to keep their child safe, and the world of social media is often a very unsafe place for teens. It’s hard enough being a teen IRL (in real life). Over 50% of teens within the US have reported experiencing cyberbullying. Those that have been the victim of cyberbullying are 1½-2 times as likely to attempt suicide or engage in self-harm.
Additionally, studies have found that those struggling with mental illness often use social media as a way to connect, feel less alone, share their stories, offer support to others, and seek advice. However, social media can often exacerbate mental health issues, leading to greater struggles and potentially seriously significant and possible detrimental consequences.
The negative impacts for all of these groups may include but are not limited to:
Lower self-esteem and body image comparisons
Depression and major depressive episodes
Anxiety
Feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out)
Heightened expectation of unrealistic lifestyles and experiences
Increase in self-harm and suicidal thoughts
Addictive behaviors and dopamine hooks
Spreading of misinformation
Greater isolation and feelings of anger toward groups that are different
Cyberbullying
Eating disorders
Greater loneliness due to fewer in-person interactions
A MORE POSITIVE APPROCH TO SOCIAL MEDIA
This blog is not intended to make you feel bad about your social media usage nor try to convince you to entirely disengage from social media. Its aim is to bring awareness to the very real and very significant issues associated with over-usage. For those that wish to continue using social media, there are ways to actively create a safer, healthier way to interact and scroll. Here are some possible tools to implement:
Set time-limits for usage (there are many apps that will do this for you)
Check in with your algorithm and work to remove negative content
Question the content you read and research and verify news reports and rumors on trustworthy sites such as Snopes
Prioritize in-person socialization when possible
Unfriend and unfollow people who make you feel bad about yourself or who spread misinformation or hate
Periodically question why and when you are scrolling
Check in with your mental health and take social media breaks for a few days when in a negative mental space
Delete apps on your phone and only scroll on the computer
HOW THERAPY CAN HELP
Therapy works best when we are truly honest with our therapist and ourselves about our thoughts, behaviors, and, of course, our feelings. Your therapist should never judge you for your social media usage, no matter how great or out of control it may be. Instead, your therapist can help you recognize the implications of your social media usage and work with you to better understand reasons behind the use and ways it may be impacting your social, mental, and even physical health. Your therapist can also be your accountability partner, checking in, gently holding you accountable, reminding you of your progress, and empathizing with the difficulties. Finally, your therapist may be able to push back on some of the negative information, help you push back on some of the negative thoughts you have due to usage, and help you better identify what is useful and what you may want to let go of. You may just find that much of what you’re looking for online, you can find in sessions in a much safer, more supportive, and personally tailored atmosphere.
Warmly,
HELPFUL LINKS
Emerge Psychology Group
American Psychological Association - Social Media and the Internet
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Social Media Use and Impact on Mental Health
National Library of Medicine - Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice
Stanford University - Social Media Addiction and Mental Health: The Growing Concern for Youth Well-Being
UC Davis Health - Social Media’s Impact on Our Mental Health and Tips to Use it Safely
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, always seek professional help immediately. Please call 911 or the suicide prevention lifeline at 988 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate care.
DISCLAIMER
The content of these webpages and blogs and information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Seek professional help immediately if you are experiencing a mental health crisis or any other medical condition.