The truth about social media use and mental health

Elena curls up in her bed, the darkness surrounding her, save for the light of her iPhone screen. The clock ticks past midnight as she scrolls through her Instagram feed, lost in the breathtaking photos of her social media "friends" and favorite models.

Fancy dresses, holiday resorts, they all seemed to be living the good life. She looks through the comments. Cheers and laughter.

Everyone seems happy, Except Elena. No one is commenting on her posts, because she has none.

And so she switches to Twitter (X). Everyone was talking about something, no matter how silly. There were engagements, banter, and conflicts.

Elena had never posted nor commented under the tweets of others, afraid no one would resonate with her views. Worried she had nothing to say as interesting or thought-provoking as the influencers.

She felt invisible, unheard, disconnected from the world happening around her.

"I'm just not as good as them," sighs Elena.

This is her daily experience.

And there is Sophie from the other side of the world who tweets virtually all her thoughts and experiences.

She is a regular girl like everyone else. But she gets engagement as much as she "likes" and comments under the posts of other users. The more she interacts with the world around her, albeit online, the more connected she feels, boosting her sense of belonging.

Like Elena, this goes on day after day.

Both ladies are heavy social media users. But why is the mental health of Elena all the worse, and Sophie brims with positive energy, thanks to the same platforms?

Why do we say social media is harmful?

It is not social media. It is how you use it.

While Elena uses social media passively, Sophie is tremendously active on the platforms.

By interacting with other people online and indulging in similar activities as they did, Sophie satisfies an innate need all humans share: social connection.

We are all social creatures. We thrive when we feel connected to others. And many studies have shown how social connection can be integral to managing depression.

In contrast, a lack of social connection can be a breeding ground for depression, social anxiety, and stress.

Think about it: after a stressful day at work, don't you just feel better after sharing your day's experiences with someone? It is a healing balm we all need as humans.

We all need one another. Wherever that connection happens is of little consequence.

This reinforces how destructive self-isolation can be.

Unlike Sophie, Elena allowed inferiority complex to creep in because she falsely believed everyone else was in a world of their own. A world in which she did not belong. A place beyond her worth.

Well, you might be thinking: this is just one case out of many. Why generalize?

You see, it's all backed by research.

In three separate studies, researchers found that heavy passive social media use was consistently associated with lower social connection and well-being. It was the direct opposite for heavy active social media users.

In essence, heavy social media use is not inherently harmful to your mental health. As you have seen, it can be beneficial.

It's all about how you use it.

It is easy to feel inferior when we are constantly bombarded by gorgeous pictures of happy faces in magnificent places.

But what you may not realize is that behind those happy faces are people just as regular as you are. And you may only realize this when you actively indulge in those same activities.

Post your best pictures. Look happy. Hop into the discussion.

The more interactions and feedback you receive, the less special those things become.

Then you realize it was just your mind playing tricks on you. You are not any less fascinating. You only self-isolated.

Worst part is, it is a feedback loop. The more isolated and depressed you feel, the less inclined you are to interact with others. This fuels your depression further. A vicious cycle.

It's a wide world we live in. No one was designed to be alone. Everyone has a place they fit in.

You are amazing. You just have to find something that makes you feel alive. If you have always felt invisible and depressed, you must become active, even when it feels like the last thing you need.

So, if you've always held the belief that social media use is inherently bad, it is time to have a rethink. Be mindful of how you use it and the content you expose yourself to. Avoid the negativity. And you should be fine.

I will wrap up with this: there are indeed negative impacts of social media use. Like everything else. Cars are great. But they increase the risk of accidents. And lives can be lost in the blink of an eye. But should we avoid driving cars or boarding planes? Of course not.

It's the same with social media use and mental health. Use it to your advantage. Control it. Don't let it control you.