Problematic social media use linked to depression symptoms

Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMAug 11 2023

Receiving therapy for problematic social media use can be effective in improving the mental wellbeing of people with depression, finds a new study by UCL researchers.

The research, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found that social media use interventions could help adults for whom social media use has become problematic or interferes with their mental health.

Problematic use is when a person's pre-occupation with social media results in a distraction from their primary tasks and the neglect of responsibilities in other aspects of their life.

Previous research has suggested that social media use can become problematic when it starts to interfere with a person's daily life and leads to poor mental wellbeing, including depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness.

To address these issues, and improve users' mental health, social media use interventions have been developed and evaluated by researchers. Such techniques include abstaining from or limiting use of social media, alongside therapy-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

The researchers analyzed 23 studies which featured participants from across the globe, between 2004 and 2022. They found that in more than a third of studies (39%), social media use interventions improved mental wellbeing.

Improvements were particularly notable in depression (low mood), as 70% of studies saw a significant improvement in depression following the intervention.

Therapy-based interventions were most effective – improving mental wellbeing in 83% of studies, compared to a 20% of studies finding an improvement where social media use was limited and 25% where social media was given up entirely.

Mental health issues are on the rise, as is the number of people who use social media.

Health and care professionals should be aware that reducing time spent on social media is unlikely to benefit mental wellbeing on its own.

Instead, taking a more therapy-based approach and reflecting on how and why we are interacting with social media and managing those behaviors could help improve mental health."

Dr Ruth Plackett, Lead Author, UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health

Study author and GP Dr Patricia Schartau (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health), added: "As primary care physicians, we should proactively explore social media use and its effects on mental health in patients who present with anxiety and/or low mood in order to give those patients the opportunity to benefit from treatment including some of the more effective interventions outlined in our review."

In 2022 it was estimated that 4.59 billion people globally used at least one form of social media and the sites have dramatically changed how people communicate, form relationships and perceive each other.

While some studies report that social media can be beneficial to users and provide them with increased social support, other evidence links social media with depression, anxiety and other psychological problems – particularly in young people.

The researchers hope that their findings will help to develop guidance and recommendations for policymakers and clinicians on how best to manage problematic social media use.

However, further research is needed in order to investigate who may benefit most from social media use interventions.

Dr Plackett holds a Fellowship (award number MH013) funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Schools Mental Health Programme. This research is also independent research supported by the NIHR ARC North Thames. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Study limitations

Current experimental research is of low quality, with issues of selection bias making it difficult to generalize the findings.

Further experimental and longitudinal research is needed with representative samples to investigate who may benefit most from social media use interventions.