argumentative essay on negative effects of social media

Feb 15, 2023

6 Example Essays on Social Media | Advantages, Effects, and Outlines

Got an essay assignment about the effects of social media we got you covered check out our examples and outlines below.

Social media has become one of our society's most prominent ways of communication and information sharing in a very short time. It has changed how we communicate and has given us a platform to express our views and opinions and connect with others. It keeps us informed about the world around us. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn have brought individuals from all over the world together, breaking down geographical borders and fostering a genuinely global community.

However, social media comes with its difficulties. With the rise of misinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy problems, it's critical to utilize these platforms properly and be aware of the risks. Students in the academic world are frequently assigned essays about the impact of social media on numerous elements of our lives, such as relationships, politics, and culture. These essays necessitate a thorough comprehension of the subject matter, critical thinking, and the ability to synthesize and convey information clearly and succinctly.

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We will provide various examples of social media essays so you may get a feel for the genre.

6 Examples of Social Media Essays

Here are 6 examples of Social Media Essays:

The Impact of Social Media on Relationships and Communication

Introduction:.

The way we share information and build relationships has evolved as a direct result of the prevalence of social media in our daily lives. The influence of social media on interpersonal connections and conversation is a hot topic. Although social media has many positive effects, such as bringing people together regardless of physical proximity and making communication quicker and more accessible, it also has a dark side that can affect interpersonal connections and dialogue.

Positive Effects:

Connecting People Across Distances

One of social media's most significant benefits is its ability to connect individuals across long distances. People can use social media platforms to interact and stay in touch with friends and family far away. People can now maintain intimate relationships with those they care about, even when physically separated.

Improved Communication Speed and Efficiency

Additionally, the proliferation of social media sites has accelerated and simplified communication. Thanks to instant messaging, users can have short, timely conversations rather than lengthy ones via email. Furthermore, social media facilitates group communication, such as with classmates or employees, by providing a unified forum for such activities.

Negative Effects:

Decreased Face-to-Face Communication

The decline in in-person interaction is one of social media's most pernicious consequences on interpersonal connections and dialogue. People's reliance on digital communication over in-person contact has increased along with the popularity of social media. Face-to-face interaction has suffered as a result, which has adverse effects on interpersonal relationships and the development of social skills.

Decreased Emotional Intimacy

Another adverse effect of social media on relationships and communication is decreased emotional intimacy. Digital communication lacks the nonverbal cues and facial expressions critical in building emotional connections with others. This can make it more difficult for people to develop close and meaningful relationships, leading to increased loneliness and isolation.

Increased Conflict and Miscommunication

Finally, social media can also lead to increased conflict and miscommunication. The anonymity and distance provided by digital communication can lead to misunderstandings and hurtful comments that might not have been made face-to-face. Additionally, social media can provide a platform for cyberbullying , which can have severe consequences for the victim's mental health and well-being.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the impact of social media on relationships and communication is a complex issue with both positive and negative effects. While social media platforms offer many benefits, such as connecting people across distances and enabling faster and more accessible communication, they also have a dark side that can negatively affect relationships and communication. It is up to individuals to use social media responsibly and to prioritize in-person communication in their relationships and interactions with others.

The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation and Fake News

Social media has revolutionized the way information is shared and disseminated. However, the ease and speed at which data can be spread on social media also make it a powerful tool for spreading misinformation and fake news. Misinformation and fake news can seriously affect public opinion, influence political decisions, and even cause harm to individuals and communities.

The Pervasiveness of Misinformation and Fake News on Social Media

Misinformation and fake news are prevalent on social media platforms, where they can spread quickly and reach a large audience. This is partly due to the way social media algorithms work, which prioritizes content likely to generate engagement, such as sensational or controversial stories. As a result, false information can spread rapidly and be widely shared before it is fact-checked or debunked.

The Influence of Social Media on Public Opinion

Social media can significantly impact public opinion, as people are likelier to believe the information they see shared by their friends and followers. This can lead to a self-reinforcing cycle, where misinformation and fake news are spread and reinforced, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

The Challenge of Correcting Misinformation and Fake News

Correcting misinformation and fake news on social media can be a challenging task. This is partly due to the speed at which false information can spread and the difficulty of reaching the same audience exposed to the wrong information in the first place. Additionally, some individuals may be resistant to accepting correction, primarily if the incorrect information supports their beliefs or biases.

In conclusion, the function of social media in disseminating misinformation and fake news is complex and urgent. While social media has revolutionized the sharing of information, it has also made it simpler for false information to propagate and be widely believed. Individuals must be accountable for the information they share and consume, and social media firms must take measures to prevent the spread of disinformation and fake news on their platforms.

The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health and Well-Being

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of people around the world using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay connected with others and access information. However, while social media has many benefits, it can also negatively affect mental health and well-being.

Comparison and Low Self-Esteem

One of the key ways that social media can affect mental health is by promoting feelings of comparison and low self-esteem. People often present a curated version of their lives on social media, highlighting their successes and hiding their struggles. This can lead others to compare themselves unfavorably, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

Another way that social media can negatively impact mental health is through cyberbullying and online harassment. Social media provides a platform for anonymous individuals to harass and abuse others, leading to feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression.

Social Isolation

Despite its name, social media can also contribute to feelings of isolation. At the same time, people may have many online friends but need more meaningful in-person connections and support. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression.

Addiction and Overuse

Finally, social media can be addictive, leading to overuse and negatively impacting mental health and well-being. People may spend hours each day scrolling through their feeds, neglecting other important areas of their lives, such as work, family, and self-care.

In sum, social media has positive and negative consequences on one's psychological and emotional well-being. Realizing this, and taking measures like reducing one's social media use, reaching out to loved ones for help, and prioritizing one's well-being, are crucial. In addition, it's vital that social media giants take ownership of their platforms and actively encourage excellent mental health and well-being.

The Use of Social Media in Political Activism and Social Movements

Social media has recently become increasingly crucial in political action and social movements. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have given people new ways to express themselves, organize protests, and raise awareness about social and political issues.

Raising Awareness and Mobilizing Action

One of the most important uses of social media in political activity and social movements has been to raise awareness about important issues and mobilize action. Hashtags such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, for example, have brought attention to sexual harassment and racial injustice, respectively. Similarly, social media has been used to organize protests and other political actions, allowing people to band together and express themselves on a bigger scale.

Connecting with like-minded individuals

A second method in that social media has been utilized in political activity and social movements is to unite like-minded individuals. Through social media, individuals can join online groups, share knowledge and resources, and work with others to accomplish shared objectives. This has been especially significant for geographically scattered individuals or those without access to traditional means of political organizing.

Challenges and Limitations

As a vehicle for political action and social movements, social media has faced many obstacles and restrictions despite its many advantages. For instance, the propagation of misinformation and fake news on social media can impede attempts to disseminate accurate and reliable information. In addition, social media corporations have been condemned for censorship and insufficient protection of user rights.

In conclusion, social media has emerged as a potent instrument for political activism and social movements, giving voice to previously unheard communities and galvanizing support for change. Social media presents many opportunities for communication and collaboration. Still, users and institutions must be conscious of the risks and limitations of these tools to promote their responsible and productive usage.

The Potential Privacy Concerns Raised by Social Media Use and Data Collection Practices

With billions of users each day on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, social media has ingrained itself into every aspect of our lives. While these platforms offer a straightforward method to communicate with others and exchange information, they also raise significant concerns over data collecting and privacy. This article will examine the possible privacy issues posed by social media use and data-gathering techniques.

Data Collection and Sharing

The gathering and sharing of personal data are significant privacy issues brought up by social media use. Social networking sites gather user data, including details about their relationships, hobbies, and routines. This information is made available to third-party businesses for various uses, such as marketing and advertising. This can lead to serious concerns about who has access to and uses our personal information.

Lack of Control Over Personal Information

The absence of user control over personal information is a significant privacy issue brought up by social media usage. Social media makes it challenging to limit who has access to and how data is utilized once it has been posted. Sensitive information may end up being extensively disseminated and may be used maliciously as a result.

Personalized Marketing

Social media companies utilize the information they gather about users to target them with adverts relevant to their interests and usage patterns. Although this could be useful, it might also cause consumers to worry about their privacy since they might feel that their personal information is being used without their permission. Furthermore, there are issues with the integrity of the data being used to target users and the possibility of prejudice based on individual traits.

Government Surveillance

Using social media might spark worries about government surveillance. There are significant concerns regarding privacy and free expression when governments in some nations utilize social media platforms to follow and monitor residents.

In conclusion, social media use raises significant concerns regarding data collecting and privacy. While these platforms make it easy to interact with people and exchange information, they also gather a lot of personal information, which raises questions about who may access it and how it will be used. Users should be aware of these privacy issues and take precautions to safeguard their personal information, such as exercising caution when choosing what details to disclose on social media and keeping their information sharing with other firms to a minimum.

The Ethical and Privacy Concerns Surrounding Social Media Use And Data Collection

Our use of social media to communicate with loved ones, acquire information, and even conduct business has become a crucial part of our everyday lives. The extensive use of social media does, however, raise some ethical and privacy issues that must be resolved. The influence of social media use and data collecting on user rights, the accountability of social media businesses, and the need for improved regulation are all topics that will be covered in this article.

Effect on Individual Privacy:

Social networking sites gather tons of personal data from their users, including delicate information like search history, location data, and even health data. Each user's detailed profile may be created with this data and sold to advertising or used for other reasons. Concerns regarding the privacy of personal information might arise because social media businesses can use this data to target users with customized adverts.

Additionally, individuals might need to know how much their personal information is being gathered and exploited. Data breaches or the unauthorized sharing of personal information with other parties may result in instances where sensitive information is exposed. Users should be aware of the privacy rules of social media firms and take precautions to secure their data.

Responsibility of Social Media Companies:

Social media firms should ensure that they responsibly and ethically gather and use user information. This entails establishing strong security measures to safeguard sensitive information and ensuring users are informed of what information is being collected and how it is used.

Many social media businesses, nevertheless, have come under fire for not upholding these obligations. For instance, the Cambridge Analytica incident highlighted how Facebook users' personal information was exploited for political objectives without their knowledge. This demonstrates the necessity of social media corporations being held responsible for their deeds and ensuring that they are safeguarding the security and privacy of their users.

Better Regulation Is Needed

There is a need for tighter regulation in this field, given the effect, social media has on individual privacy as well as the obligations of social media firms. The creation of laws and regulations that ensure social media companies are gathering and using user information ethically and responsibly, as well as making sure users are aware of their rights and have the ability to control the information that is being collected about them, are all part of this.

Additionally, legislation should ensure that social media businesses are held responsible for their behavior, for example, by levying fines for data breaches or the unauthorized use of personal data. This will provide social media businesses with a significant incentive to prioritize their users' privacy and security and ensure they are upholding their obligations.

In conclusion, social media has fundamentally changed how we engage and communicate with one another, but this increased convenience also raises several ethical and privacy issues. Essential concerns that need to be addressed include the effect of social media on individual privacy, the accountability of social media businesses, and the requirement for greater regulation to safeguard user rights. We can make everyone's online experience safer and more secure by looking more closely at these issues.

In conclusion, social media is a complex and multifaceted topic that has recently captured the world's attention. With its ever-growing influence on our lives, it's no surprise that it has become a popular subject for students to explore in their writing. Whether you are writing an argumentative essay on the impact of social media on privacy, a persuasive essay on the role of social media in politics, or a descriptive essay on the changes social media has brought to the way we communicate, there are countless angles to approach this subject.

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Science News

Social media harms teens’ mental health, mounting evidence shows. what now.

Understanding what is going on in teens’ minds is necessary for targeted policy suggestions

Most teens use social media, often for hours on end. Some social scientists are confident that such use is harming their mental health. Now they want to pinpoint what explains the link.

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By Sujata Gupta

February 20, 2024 at 7:30 am

In January, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta, appeared at a congressional hearing to answer questions about how social media potentially harms children. Zuckerberg opened by saying: “The existing body of scientific work has not shown a causal link between using social media and young people having worse mental health.”

But many social scientists would disagree with that statement. In recent years, studies have started to show a causal link between teen social media use and reduced well-being or mood disorders, chiefly depression and anxiety.

Ironically, one of the most cited studies into this link focused on Facebook.

Researchers delved into whether the platform’s introduction across college campuses in the mid 2000s increased symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. The answer was a clear yes , says MIT economist Alexey Makarin, a coauthor of the study, which appeared in the November 2022 American Economic Review . “There is still a lot to be explored,” Makarin says, but “[to say] there is no causal evidence that social media causes mental health issues, to that I definitely object.”

The concern, and the studies, come from statistics showing that social media use in teens ages 13 to 17 is now almost ubiquitous. Two-thirds of teens report using TikTok, and some 60 percent of teens report using Instagram or Snapchat, a 2022 survey found. (Only 30 percent said they used Facebook.) Another survey showed that girls, on average, allot roughly 3.4 hours per day to TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, compared with roughly 2.1 hours among boys. At the same time, more teens are showing signs of depression than ever, especially girls ( SN: 6/30/23 ).

As more studies show a strong link between these phenomena, some researchers are starting to shift their attention to possible mechanisms. Why does social media use seem to trigger mental health problems? Why are those effects unevenly distributed among different groups, such as girls or young adults? And can the positives of social media be teased out from the negatives to provide more targeted guidance to teens, their caregivers and policymakers?

“You can’t design good public policy if you don’t know why things are happening,” says Scott Cunningham, an economist at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Increasing rigor

Concerns over the effects of social media use in children have been circulating for years, resulting in a massive body of scientific literature. But those mostly correlational studies could not show if teen social media use was harming mental health or if teens with mental health problems were using more social media.

Moreover, the findings from such studies were often inconclusive, or the effects on mental health so small as to be inconsequential. In one study that received considerable media attention, psychologists Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski combined data from three surveys to see if they could find a link between technology use, including social media, and reduced well-being. The duo gauged the well-being of over 355,000 teenagers by focusing on questions around depression, suicidal thinking and self-esteem.

Digital technology use was associated with a slight decrease in adolescent well-being , Orben, now of the University of Cambridge, and Przybylski, of the University of Oxford, reported in 2019 in Nature Human Behaviour . But the duo downplayed that finding, noting that researchers have observed similar drops in adolescent well-being associated with drinking milk, going to the movies or eating potatoes.

Holes have begun to appear in that narrative thanks to newer, more rigorous studies.

In one longitudinal study, researchers — including Orben and Przybylski — used survey data on social media use and well-being from over 17,400 teens and young adults to look at how individuals’ responses to a question gauging life satisfaction changed between 2011 and 2018. And they dug into how the responses varied by gender, age and time spent on social media.

Social media use was associated with a drop in well-being among teens during certain developmental periods, chiefly puberty and young adulthood, the team reported in 2022 in Nature Communications . That translated to lower well-being scores around ages 11 to 13 for girls and ages 14 to 15 for boys. Both groups also reported a drop in well-being around age 19. Moreover, among the older teens, the team found evidence for the Goldilocks Hypothesis: the idea that both too much and too little time spent on social media can harm mental health.

“There’s hardly any effect if you look over everybody. But if you look at specific age groups, at particularly what [Orben] calls ‘windows of sensitivity’ … you see these clear effects,” says L.J. Shrum, a consumer psychologist at HEC Paris who was not involved with this research. His review of studies related to teen social media use and mental health is forthcoming in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research.

Cause and effect

That longitudinal study hints at causation, researchers say. But one of the clearest ways to pin down cause and effect is through natural or quasi-experiments. For these in-the-wild experiments, researchers must identify situations where the rollout of a societal “treatment” is staggered across space and time. They can then compare outcomes among members of the group who received the treatment to those still in the queue — the control group.

That was the approach Makarin and his team used in their study of Facebook. The researchers homed in on the staggered rollout of Facebook across 775 college campuses from 2004 to 2006. They combined that rollout data with student responses to the National College Health Assessment, a widely used survey of college students’ mental and physical health.

The team then sought to understand if those survey questions captured diagnosable mental health problems. Specifically, they had roughly 500 undergraduate students respond to questions both in the National College Health Assessment and in validated screening tools for depression and anxiety. They found that mental health scores on the assessment predicted scores on the screenings. That suggested that a drop in well-being on the college survey was a good proxy for a corresponding increase in diagnosable mental health disorders. 

Compared with campuses that had not yet gained access to Facebook, college campuses with Facebook experienced a 2 percentage point increase in the number of students who met the diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depression, the team found.

When it comes to showing a causal link between social media use in teens and worse mental health, “that study really is the crown jewel right now,” says Cunningham, who was not involved in that research.

A need for nuance

The social media landscape today is vastly different than the landscape of 20 years ago. Facebook is now optimized for maximum addiction, Shrum says, and other newer platforms, such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, have since copied and built on those features. Paired with the ubiquity of social media in general, the negative effects on mental health may well be larger now.

Moreover, social media research tends to focus on young adults — an easier cohort to study than minors. That needs to change, Cunningham says. “Most of us are worried about our high school kids and younger.” 

And so, researchers must pivot accordingly. Crucially, simple comparisons of social media users and nonusers no longer make sense. As Orben and Przybylski’s 2022 work suggested, a teen not on social media might well feel worse than one who briefly logs on. 

Researchers must also dig into why, and under what circumstances, social media use can harm mental health, Cunningham says. Explanations for this link abound. For instance, social media is thought to crowd out other activities or increase people’s likelihood of comparing themselves unfavorably with others. But big data studies, with their reliance on existing surveys and statistical analyses, cannot address those deeper questions. “These kinds of papers, there’s nothing you can really ask … to find these plausible mechanisms,” Cunningham says.

One ongoing effort to understand social media use from this more nuanced vantage point is the SMART Schools project out of the University of Birmingham in England. Pedagogical expert Victoria Goodyear and her team are comparing mental and physical health outcomes among children who attend schools that have restricted cell phone use to those attending schools without such a policy. The researchers described the protocol of that study of 30 schools and over 1,000 students in the July BMJ Open.

Goodyear and colleagues are also combining that natural experiment with qualitative research. They met with 36 five-person focus groups each consisting of all students, all parents or all educators at six of those schools. The team hopes to learn how students use their phones during the day, how usage practices make students feel, and what the various parties think of restrictions on cell phone use during the school day.

Talking to teens and those in their orbit is the best way to get at the mechanisms by which social media influences well-being — for better or worse, Goodyear says. Moving beyond big data to this more personal approach, however, takes considerable time and effort. “Social media has increased in pace and momentum very, very quickly,” she says. “And research takes a long time to catch up with that process.”

Until that catch-up occurs, though, researchers cannot dole out much advice. “What guidance could we provide to young people, parents and schools to help maintain the positives of social media use?” Goodyear asks. “There’s not concrete evidence yet.”

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• Negative Effects of Social Media on Health Words: 1166
• Social Media in Moderation Words: 1444
• Effects of Social Media and Internet Words: 601
• Impact of Social Media in Education Words: 1988
• Case Communication in Social Media Networks Words: 647
• The Power of Social Media Words: 2322
• The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers Words: 562
• Social Media and Modern Society Words: 1281
• Social Media Impact on Activism Words: 1152
• Social Media in Business Across the Globe Words: 1399
• The Effects of Social Media on People Words: 869
• Social Media: Annotated Bibliography Words: 1064
• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health Words: 1367
• Becoming Distant on Social Media Words: 572
• Social Media and Traditional News Media Words: 600
• Impact of Social Media on Adolescence Words: 372
• Effect of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health Words: 3538
• Social Media Impact on Teenagers in the UAE Words: 2242
• Social Media’s Multifaceted Impact on Mental Health Words: 1270

Social Media: Negative Impacts

Introduction, intrusive advertising, bullying/harassment, privacy threats, works cited.

Social media is a natural phenomenon of modern hi-tech life. The impact of virtual communication is significant as people are often willing to pay more attention to online interaction. Besides, due to the development of technology, social media plays the role of platforms not only for communication but also fir effective advertising and entertainment. Digital content that is published in various groups has a large target audience, which allows influencing people and providing demand for specific goods or services. However, the controversy of the benefits of social media lies in the potentially negative impacts they have. In addition to using specialized web resources for communication, many Internet users utilize them as tools for bullying, intimidation, humiliation, and even violence. An opportunity to remain anonymous opens up significant prospects for cybercriminals, which complicates the task for law enforcement agencies. As a counterargument, today, there are various means of account verification and support services that are ready to ensure the safety of communication on social media and provide users with protection from scammers or blackmailers. Nevertheless, people who are well versed in the digital field can bypass such locks easily. Among the real negative effects that social media have, one can note intrusive advertising, bullying and harassment, privacy threats, fake news, and violence. Social media are gradually losing the function of communication tools and gaining the status of platforms that allow posting any content, including illegal and immoral materials.

Advertising on social media has become so intrusive and widespread that it has ceased to have its promotional function and often causes users more negative emotions than interest. At the same time, it is hard to get rid of advertising completely since many creators of digital content sign contracts with advertisers, and profit depends directly on the activity of the public. However, in case of excess advertising, people feel annoyed and ignore certain offers deliberately. According to Shareef et al., “irritation due to any advertisement can distract consumers from receiving the intended meaning of the statement, and thus can have a negative effect on the value of the advertising” (p. 61). Such a statement is logical because, in their quest for profit, advertisers provoke a natural reaction from the target audience to condemn the excess of promoting content. Customer perception largely depends not only on the essence of specific offers but also on the way marketers deliver them. Therefore, in case of intrusiveness, advertising content on social media causes rejection and is often blocked by users. Shareef et al. confirm this and argue that the context of marketing materials may be more important as a driver to convince the public of the value of specific goods or services (p. 66). The objectivity of such an idea is due to the fact that initially, social media were not intended for advertising, and only the creativity of marketers can be an effective way to attract public attention. Finally, Shareef et al. mention viral marketing as one of the methods of intrusive advertising on social media and note that this form of promotion are relevant only among a narrow target audience. In other words, the more annoying the advertisement is, the lower is the chance to attract a wide range of new consumers. Nevertheless, intrusive advertising is significantly less dangerous than bullying or harassment, which are found in modern social media.

The anonymity factor that may persist when interacting on social media is one of the reasons for bullying that some Internet users are forced to experience. A sense of impunity for aggressive behavior and insults towards another person exacerbate the situation. Moreover, bullying is a trend that is common in children’s communication on social media, which poses a serious threat to the fragile psyche of young users. According to Canty et al., online bullying is a unique phenomenon that has expanded in the virtual space due to the emergence of means to preserve anonymity and, in particular, the ability to go unpunished (p. 52). These factors are most obvious reasons why children, who are often humiliated by their peers on social media, become self-absorbed and cannot figure out the wrongdoers. Harassment is a similar problem, which, however, is characteristic of the adult population and often has a sexual background. Chadha et al. state that modern digital technologies “amplify attacks on gender-based and sexual minorities,” thereby acting as negative consequences of progress (p. 241). This statement assumes that the context of harassment is not limited to one topic. In addition, as findings show, virtual space is a favorable environment for this phenomenon:

Online communities and social media platforms offer many benefits, but they also have become breeding grounds for an assortment of sexist and misogynist behaviors. Importantly, the harassment behaviors evident today differ from off-line and pre-social media-era harassment, given the affordances of these networked spaces, including – but not limited to – the visibility and persistence of content, the anonymity/pseudonymity of users, the spreadability of content, and the multimediality of smartphones (Chadha et al, p. 250).

As a result, the openness of online communication creates a favorable environment for harassment and affects user behavior. Chadha et al. mention requests for personal data and addresses as easy consequences of harassment and note that people who have faced with real threats see this phenomenon as an extremely dangerous and aggressive trend (p. 243). This conclusion is logical because, despite different environments, online and real-life harassment have a common background. In this regard, the issues of privacy and accompanying risks are negative consequences of social media.

Privacy threats are fraught not only with identity theft but also with other problems that may entail anonymous bullying or blackmail. Today, for users of social media, communication options are not limited solely to correspondence. Interlocutors can comment on each other, share links, and perform other actions that go beyond a particular platform. As a result, as Aghasian et al. note, “the distribution of information in real world is almost local, the publically shared information in online social media can be retrieved on the internet anytime, anywhere and by anyone” (p. 13118). The significance of this statement is that virtually no one can be fully protected, and precautions should be taken. Aghasian et al. argue that users should be able to protect their personal data not only from intruders but also from familiar people who can become intermediaries in the leak of information (p. 13118). Those people who face privacy threats may lose their money or valuable digital content through negligence by providing their data to third parties. Due to the widespread use of virtual interaction, various leakage channels are discussed:

For example, a user normally share his/her personal information in Facebook which may pose a privacy risk. This user may share his/her occupation history and background in another site such as LinkedIn. His/her job information has again its own privacy risk, but a combination of the information from two social media accounts can pose the user to higher risk as more information is revealed. Consequently, by considering the overall information from multiple source, a more accurate quantification of the privacy disclosure score can be obtained. (Aghasian et al, p. 13118)

In addition to individual data leakage channels, the forms of privacy risks themselves are numerous. Aghasian et al. mention the threat of government data theft, the disclosure of confidential information about trade transactions, and even religious secrets (13119). Such a variety of risks explains the need for comprehensive protection. Social media, in turn, are a favorable environment for such fraud since the predominant number of Internet users have accounts at least at one specialized site. Wherein, according to Aghasian et al., “one of the challenges in addressing privacy concerns is how to measure the privacy of a user participating in multiple social networks” (p. 13129). The increasing role of social media in people’s lives inevitably leads to threats to personal data, especially if they are stored on different platforms. However, not all negative aspects of virtual communication are aimed at interacting with a particular person, and the example of fake news distributed online is a confirmation.

Social media are becoming the most common sources of news, including both entertaining content and serious political and economic reports, which, however, are not always reliable. One of the main reasons is the desire to attract a large target audience. The greater the news resonance is, the greater is the potential success of a particular media platform. For example, Shu et al. give the following statistics: “62 percent of U.S. adults get news on social media in 2016, while in 2012, only 49 percent reported seeing news on social media” (p. 22). This ratio proves that even the adult population of the country began to use virtual platforms more often. In addition, this growth may be due to the wider use of social media by numerous agencies that have individual accounts. The authors emphasize that fake news as a negative consequence of digital communication is disseminated most actively through social media due to an opportunity to create a public outcry quickly (Shu et al, p. 23). News groups fight for the target audience in any way possible, which entails publications based on unverified or false facts. Spohr explains the reasons and argues that “the producers and curators of fake news content are able to monetize their content through advertising platforms from Facebook and Google” (p. 156). This conclusion is logical since material gain is the most objective explanation for such publications. In addition, the researcher notes that fake news creates a resonance that, regardless of whether it is positive or negative, serves as a means of popularization (Spohr, p. 150). Therefore, the ability to influence the masses opens up prospects for fraudulent actions, although fake news cannot do such harm as violence, which is another negative effect of social media.

Despite the fact that violence in its natural sense cannot be realized online, the manifestations of violent acts through social media are possible. This phenomenon is similar to cyberbullying, but it involves strict measures of intimidation or harassment, while bullying can be superficial. Today, particular attention is paid to youth virtual violence, as children and adolescents are vulnerable groups. As Tripathi notes, “most children and adolescents (65-91%) report little or no involvement in violence over social media platforms” (2). At the same time, the author argues that time spent online is one of the factors on which the risk of violence depends (Tripathi, p. 3). In other words, the longer and more actively a child interacts with other users, the higher is the threat of psychological violence. This statement is reasonable and carries an open message about the need to reduce the access of young users to free online communication. Also, gender-based online violence is another form of bullying, and its consequences can be extremely dangerous from a social perspective:

Gender-based violence online is rampant, ranging from harassment of women who are public figures on social media to stalking intimate partners using purpose-built apps. This is not an issue that can be addressed by individual states alone, nor can it be addressed satisfactorily through legal means. The normalization of misogyny and abuse online both reflects and reinforces systemic inequalities. (Suzor et al, p. 84)

This position on gender-based violence proves the effect that indifference to this problem may cause. According to Suzor et al., most modern social media promote themselves as platforms for expressing individuality and personal opinions, which can be dangerous in conditions of the freedom of speech and anonymity (p. 89). Not only women but also other vulnerable groups can experience the effects of virtual violence, and impunity is one of the most dangerous consequences. The authors are convinced that “deeply entrenched structural features of existing social media platforms often exacerbate the effects of online harassment and abuse” (Suzor et al, p. 94). Thus, social media carry many negative implications, and an opportunity to go unpunished for aggressive or annoying behavior is a severe social omission.

• Aghasian, Erfan, et al. “Scoring Users’ Privacy Disclosure Across Multiple Online Social Networks.” IEEE Access , vol. 5, 2017, pp. 13118-13130.
• Canty, Justin, et al. “The Trouble with Bullying – Deconstructing the Conventional Definition of Bullying for a Child‐Centred Investigation into Children’s Use of Social Media.” Children & Society , vol. 30, no. 1, 2016, pp. 48-58.
• Chadha, Kalyani, et al. “Women’s Responses to Online Harassment.” International Journal of Communication , vol. 14, 2020, pp. 239-257.
• Shareef, Mahmud Akhter, et al. “Social Media Marketing: Comparative Effect of Advertisement Sources.” Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services , vol. 46, 2019, pp. 58-69.
• Shu, Kai, et al. “Fake News Detection on Social Media: A Data Mining Perspective.” ACM SIGKDD Explorations Newsletter , vol. 19, no. 1, 2017, pp. 22-36.
• Spohr, Dominic. “Fake News and Ideological Polarization: Filter Bubbles and Selective Exposure on Social Media.” Business Information Review , vol. 34, no. 3, 2017, pp. 150-160.
• Suzor, Nicolas, et al. “Human Rights by Design: The Responsibilities of Social Media Platforms to Address Gender‐Based Violence Online.” Policy & Internet , vol. 11, no. 1, 2019, pp. 84-103.
• Tripathi, Vivek. “Youth Violence and Social Media.” Journal of Social Sciences , vol. 52, no. 1-3, 2017, pp. 1-7.

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Social Media and Mental Health

This essay will explore the relationship between social media use and mental health. It will discuss how social media can affect psychological well-being, contributing to issues like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The piece will examine both the negative and positive impacts of social media, including its role in fostering connections and community. It will also discuss emerging research in this field, strategies for healthy social media use, and the importance of awareness and education in mitigating potential mental health risks associated with social media. At PapersOwl, you’ll also come across free essay samples that pertain to Mental Health.

How it works

Technology. Are we better off with it or without it? Can we keep up with the problems that it causes? These are the questions that are on everyone’s mind, especially those of us who deal with adolescents. Those of us who basically grew up last century (1950 – 1980) saw a lot of changes in technology. Those changes for the most part were ones that made daily life better. The television, computers, the internet, and different parts of the medical field (surgery, patient care, psychology / psychairy) to name a few.

What people did not realize were the issues and problems that technology could bring about mainly with adolescents and their mental health. “An article in the New York Times points out that texting, which can be incredibly distracting, can take a toll on a teen’s mental health. From a study done by Pew Research Center, teens are texting over 50 texts per day, and one third of teens are texting 100 or more per day. One in seven teens send more than 200 texts. It’s easier, they say, to text than to make a phone call.” Today’s technology is growing in leaps and bounds, much faster than it was during our childhood. Now we have so much social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat – that it is hard to keep up with it.

When we were teenagers and we had a problem at school or with friends – namely bullying – it was usually dealt with quickly (either a physical or verbal fight or our parents meeting with the other teen’s parents or the school getting involved). Nowadays, it is not face to face bullying. Now the bullying is done on social media where the ENTIRE world is made aware of what is going on just down the block. This is where technology causes massive problems. Since, when social media is used, the person spreading the negative information or comments is sitting in front of a computer or looking into the screen of a smart phone and it doesn’t feel real because they are not seeing the impact or hearing what their comments are having on the other person. This is where it is very easy misinterpretations to happen. You don’t know whether the person is serious or just being sarcastic – something that you can if you are face to face.

Nowadays, what with all the positive / negative technology that is available to teenagers, we as adults are having a hard time keeping up with it. While we are better equipped to handle most of what is thrown our way via social media due to our more developed coping mechanisms, teenagers are not able to do the same. What we had growing up (TV (7-9 channels) music (8-track, cassettes, vinyl records) was not necessarily instant gratification. Maybe according to our elders it was (since they had even less technology), but it is nowhere near what adolescents are facing today. Again, while we were teenagers, we had to wait for something (new electronics, new clothing, latest cellphone, a TV show we wanted to see and if we missed it – oh well). Most of the technology now is basically an individual person using it and not a group, which leads to losing social skills.

Today’s teenager has a lot to deal with especially the negative impact of social media. They may deal with low self-esteem, depression and anxiety; a lot of which is normal in a teenager. But this is exacerbated by the immediateness of the different things that are posted on social media. They also deal with sleep deprivation which also affects their mental status as well as their academics. Think back to when you were a kid. You would lie in be reading a book under the covers with a flashlight so that your parents wouldn’t “know” what you were doing. Imagine a never-ending book – social media – something that you can’t put down because of the fear of missing out (FOMO) the next post, tweet, etc. Unfortunately, some teenagers haven’t made the connection between why they feel bad to what is happening online. And then to make matters worse, they don’t tell their parents or guardian, who normally would find somewhere where the teenager could seek help (mental health provider). They instead either seek out their friends, or in most cases a stranger online, which brings them right back to the problem not the solution.

What teenagers have a hard time doing is separating fact from fiction. We as adults also have a hard time doing the same thing, but I believe that we are more prepared to do it. Many teenagers may suffer from “the grass is always greener on the other side”. They read the different profiles that are up in social media and they believe that this is the truth of the person who posted it. They have no way of knowing if this is true or if this is just something that someone posted to make themselves better than what they are. That’s how so many pedophiles and stalkers get what they want. They post a picture of someone that does not even remotely look like them. They create this whole “persona” with like and hobbies, address and school that the adolescent can’t check (or doesn’t want to). Slowly they reel them in and then just dare them to meet somewhere so they can really get to know each other. There has also been a rise on stalking, pedophilia, kidnapping, etc.

Mental health providers are having a difficult time trying to make their teenage patients believe that everything that is posted is not necessarily the truth. Adolescents feel that if it’s posted then it has to be true. Plus, with the rising cost of insurance, many parents cannot provide their children with extended therapy. What many of the providers are suggesting is that parents get more involved with their children’s’ daily lives by having dinner together, shutting off technology for the weekend, checking their work from school, asking questions to ascertain if there are any problems can be nipped in the bud, have parents or adults explain that everything they read is not necessarily the truth. Teenagers have an intense need to be accepted by their social peers. And if they have to exaggerate to do this, then so be it. The only problem is that if they are caught in this lie not just the immediate area friends find out but the whole world does so as well.

Many teenage girls have body issues due to the “perfect” ones they see on Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Some mental health providers have suggested that we as parents limit the use of technology to a couple of hours daily. Easier said than done. When some teenagers have their internet usage limited, some actually have anxiety attacks. Their phone is like an extension of their body and they can’t seem to comprehend the need to disconnect from it. They feel that if they are not paying attention to it continuously then they are missing out on something important. This has been labeled as Internet compulsion since teenagers are unable and unwilling to stay of any form of social media. This affects the same part of the brain that causes gambling, drinking & drug addiction.

The insidiousness of an “addiction” to the internet is that you develop more of a mental dependence to everything online. Researchers have also linked compulsive Internet use to a range of mental health concerns including mental ill-health, low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, social phobia, and even suicidal thoughts. There has been a rise of teen suicide due to excessive use of the internet, what is written on social media and bullying. A number of studies have found associations between increased social media use and the aforementioned issues in addition to sleep problems & eating concerns and teenagers giving in to peer pressure.

The cyberbully starts a systematic abuse of the teen. The same way that the teen cannot “see” who is on the other side of the computer, the cyberbully does not see that what they are saying is being said to a real live person that may or may not be taking what they say as “truth”.

“An analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in August found the suicide rate among teenage girls ages 15 to 19 hit a 40-year high in 2015. Between 2007 and 2015, the rates doubled among girls and rose by more than 30 percent among teen boys.” There has also been an increase in bullies using social media to egg on their victim to committing suicide or carry out a harmful act.

Another problem that adolescents face is that they have no one to talk to because their parents are at work all the time to make ends meet, they are responsible for younger siblings, chores that their parents leave for them, they are part of a single parent family, etc. So, adolescents, without knowing who is on the other side of the computer, confide in someone who shows them that they have time for them. There are also some mental health apps available that teens confide in, but these apps give a cookie cutter diagnosis – every teen with problem A can be helped by doing B. This is not always the case. Teens are individuals, with individual needs and problems. Parents must listen to what their children are saying and what they are “saying by their behavior”.

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Pros & cons: impacts of social media on mental health

• Ágnes Zsila 1 , 2 &
• Marc Eric S. Reyes   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5280-1315 3  

BMC Psychology volume  11 , Article number:  201 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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The use of social media significantly impacts mental health. It can enhance connection, increase self-esteem, and improve a sense of belonging. But it can also lead to tremendous stress, pressure to compare oneself to others, and increased sadness and isolation. Mindful use is essential to social media consumption.

Social media has become integral to our daily routines: we interact with family members and friends, accept invitations to public events, and join online communities to meet people who share similar preferences using these platforms. Social media has opened a new avenue for social experiences since the early 2000s, extending the possibilities for communication. According to recent research [ 1 ], people spend 2.3 h daily on social media. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have become increasingly popular among youth in 2022, and one-third think they spend too much time on these platforms [ 2 ]. The considerable time people spend on social media worldwide has directed researchers’ attention toward the potential benefits and risks. Research shows excessive use is mainly associated with lower psychological well-being [ 3 ]. However, findings also suggest that the quality rather than the quantity of social media use can determine whether the experience will enhance or deteriorate the user’s mental health [ 4 ]. In this collection, we will explore the impact of social media use on mental health by providing comprehensive research perspectives on positive and negative effects.

Social media can provide opportunities to enhance the mental health of users by facilitating social connections and peer support [ 5 ]. Indeed, online communities can provide a space for discussions regarding health conditions, adverse life events, or everyday challenges, which may decrease the sense of stigmatization and increase belongingness and perceived emotional support. Mutual friendships, rewarding social interactions, and humor on social media also reduced stress during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 4 ].

On the other hand, several studies have pointed out the potentially detrimental effects of social media use on mental health. Concerns have been raised that social media may lead to body image dissatisfaction [ 6 ], increase the risk of addiction and cyberbullying involvement [ 5 ], contribute to phubbing behaviors [ 7 ], and negatively affects mood [ 8 ]. Excessive use has increased loneliness, fear of missing out, and decreased subjective well-being and life satisfaction [ 8 ]. Users at risk of social media addiction often report depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem [ 9 ].

Overall, findings regarding the impact of social media on mental health pointed out some essential resources for psychological well-being through rewarding online social interactions. However, there is a need to raise awareness about the possible risks associated with excessive use, which can negatively affect mental health and everyday functioning [ 9 ]. There is neither a negative nor positive consensus regarding the effects of social media on people. However, by teaching people social media literacy, we can maximize their chances of having balanced, safe, and meaningful experiences on these platforms [ 10 ].

We encourage researchers to submit their research articles and contribute to a more differentiated overview of the impact of social media on mental health. BMC Psychology welcomes submissions to its new collection, which promises to present the latest findings in the emerging field of social media research. We seek research papers using qualitative and quantitative methods, focusing on social media users’ positive and negative aspects. We believe this collection will provide a more comprehensive picture of social media’s positive and negative effects on users’ mental health.

Data Availability

Not applicable.

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Acknowledgements

Ágnes Zsila was supported by the ÚNKP-22-4 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

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How Does Social Media Affect Your Mental Health?

Facebook has delayed the development of an Instagram app for children amid questions about its harmful effects on young people’s mental health. Does social media have an impact on your well-being?

By Nicole Daniels

What is your relationship with social media like? Which platforms do you spend the most time on? Which do you stay away from? How often do you log on?

What do you notice about your mental health and well-being when spending time on social networks?

In “ Facebook Delays Instagram App for Users 13 and Younger ,” Adam Satariano and Ryan Mac write about the findings of an internal study conducted by Facebook and what they mean for the Instagram Kids app that the company was developing:

Facebook said on Monday that it had paused development of an Instagram Kids service that would be tailored for children 13 years old or younger, as the social network increasingly faces questions about the app’s effect on young people’s mental health. The pullback preceded a congressional hearing this week about internal research conducted by Facebook , and reported in The Wall Street Journal , that showed the company knew of the harmful mental health effects that Instagram was having on teenage girls. The revelations have set off a public relations crisis for the Silicon Valley company and led to a fresh round of calls for new regulation. Facebook said it still wanted to build an Instagram product intended for children that would have a more “age appropriate experience,” but was postponing the plans in the face of criticism.

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With Instagram Kids, Facebook had argued that young people were using the photo-sharing app anyway, despite age-requirement rules, so it would be better to develop a version more suitable for them. Facebook said the “kids” app was intended for ages 10 to 12 and would require parental permission to join, forgo ads and carry more age-appropriate content and features. Parents would be able to control what accounts their child followed. YouTube, which Google owns, has released a children’s version of its app. But since BuzzFeed broke the news this year that Facebook was working on the app, the company has faced scrutiny. Policymakers, regulators, child safety groups and consumer rights groups have argued that it hooks children on the app at a younger age rather than protecting them from problems with the service, including child predatory grooming, bullying and body shaming.

The article goes on to quote Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram:

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How Harmful Is Social Media?

In April, the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt published an essay in The Atlantic in which he sought to explain, as the piece’s title had it, “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid.” Anyone familiar with Haidt’s work in the past half decade could have anticipated his answer: social media. Although Haidt concedes that political polarization and factional enmity long predate the rise of the platforms, and that there are plenty of other factors involved, he believes that the tools of virality—Facebook’s Like and Share buttons, Twitter’s Retweet function—have algorithmically and irrevocably corroded public life. He has determined that a great historical discontinuity can be dated with some precision to the period between 2010 and 2014, when these features became widely available on phones.

“What changed in the 2010s?” Haidt asks, reminding his audience that a former Twitter developer had once compared the Retweet button to the provision of a four-year-old with a loaded weapon. “A mean tweet doesn’t kill anyone; it is an attempt to shame or punish someone publicly while broadcasting one’s own virtue, brilliance, or tribal loyalties. It’s more a dart than a bullet, causing pain but no fatalities. Even so, from 2009 to 2012, Facebook and Twitter passed out roughly a billion dart guns globally. We’ve been shooting one another ever since.” While the right has thrived on conspiracy-mongering and misinformation, the left has turned punitive: “When everyone was issued a dart gun in the early 2010s, many left-leaning institutions began shooting themselves in the brain. And, unfortunately, those were the brains that inform, instruct, and entertain most of the country.” Haidt’s prevailing metaphor of thoroughgoing fragmentation is the story of the Tower of Babel: the rise of social media has “unwittingly dissolved the mortar of trust, belief in institutions, and shared stories that had held a large and diverse secular democracy together.”

These are, needless to say, common concerns. Chief among Haidt’s worries is that use of social media has left us particularly vulnerable to confirmation bias, or the propensity to fix upon evidence that shores up our prior beliefs. Haidt acknowledges that the extant literature on social media’s effects is large and complex, and that there is something in it for everyone. On January 6, 2021, he was on the phone with Chris Bail, a sociologist at Duke and the author of the recent book “ Breaking the Social Media Prism ,” when Bail urged him to turn on the television. Two weeks later, Haidt wrote to Bail, expressing his frustration at the way Facebook officials consistently cited the same handful of studies in their defense. He suggested that the two of them collaborate on a comprehensive literature review that they could share, as a Google Doc, with other researchers. (Haidt had experimented with such a model before.) Bail was cautious. He told me, “What I said to him was, ‘Well, you know, I’m not sure the research is going to bear out your version of the story,’ and he said, ‘Why don’t we see?’ ”

Bail emphasized that he is not a “platform-basher.” He added, “In my book, my main take is, Yes, the platforms play a role, but we are greatly exaggerating what it’s possible for them to do—how much they could change things no matter who’s at the helm at these companies—and we’re profoundly underestimating the human element, the motivation of users.” He found Haidt’s idea of a Google Doc appealing, in the way that it would produce a kind of living document that existed “somewhere between scholarship and public writing.” Haidt was eager for a forum to test his ideas. “I decided that if I was going to be writing about this—what changed in the universe, around 2014, when things got weird on campus and elsewhere—once again, I’d better be confident I’m right,” he said. “I can’t just go off my feelings and my readings of the biased literature. We all suffer from confirmation bias, and the only cure is other people who don’t share your own.”

Haidt and Bail, along with a research assistant, populated the document over the course of several weeks last year, and in November they invited about two dozen scholars to contribute. Haidt told me, of the difficulties of social-scientific methodology, “When you first approach a question, you don’t even know what it is. ‘Is social media destroying democracy, yes or no?’ That’s not a good question. You can’t answer that question. So what can you ask and answer?” As the document took on a life of its own, tractable rubrics emerged—Does social media make people angrier or more affectively polarized? Does it create political echo chambers? Does it increase the probability of violence? Does it enable foreign governments to increase political dysfunction in the United States and other democracies? Haidt continued, “It’s only after you break it up into lots of answerable questions that you see where the complexity lies.”

Haidt came away with the sense, on balance, that social media was in fact pretty bad. He was disappointed, but not surprised, that Facebook’s response to his article relied on the same three studies they’ve been reciting for years. “This is something you see with breakfast cereals,” he said, noting that a cereal company “might say, ‘Did you know we have twenty-five per cent more riboflavin than the leading brand?’ They’ll point to features where the evidence is in their favor, which distracts you from the over-all fact that your cereal tastes worse and is less healthy.”

After Haidt’s piece was published, the Google Doc—“Social Media and Political Dysfunction: A Collaborative Review”—was made available to the public . Comments piled up, and a new section was added, at the end, to include a miscellany of Twitter threads and Substack essays that appeared in response to Haidt’s interpretation of the evidence. Some colleagues and kibbitzers agreed with Haidt. But others, though they might have shared his basic intuition that something in our experience of social media was amiss, drew upon the same data set to reach less definitive conclusions, or even mildly contradictory ones. Even after the initial flurry of responses to Haidt’s article disappeared into social-media memory, the document, insofar as it captured the state of the social-media debate, remained a lively artifact.

Near the end of the collaborative project’s introduction, the authors warn, “We caution readers not to simply add up the number of studies on each side and declare one side the winner.” The document runs to more than a hundred and fifty pages, and for each question there are affirmative and dissenting studies, as well as some that indicate mixed results. According to one paper, “Political expressions on social media and the online forum were found to (a) reinforce the expressers’ partisan thought process and (b) harden their pre-existing political preferences,” but, according to another, which used data collected during the 2016 election, “Over the course of the campaign, we found media use and attitudes remained relatively stable. Our results also showed that Facebook news use was related to modest over-time spiral of depolarization. Furthermore, we found that people who use Facebook for news were more likely to view both pro- and counter-attitudinal news in each wave. Our results indicated that counter-attitudinal exposure increased over time, which resulted in depolarization.” If results like these seem incompatible, a perplexed reader is given recourse to a study that says, “Our findings indicate that political polarization on social media cannot be conceptualized as a unified phenomenon, as there are significant cross-platform differences.”

Interested in echo chambers? “Our results show that the aggregation of users in homophilic clusters dominate online interactions on Facebook and Twitter,” which seems convincing—except that, as another team has it, “We do not find evidence supporting a strong characterization of ‘echo chambers’ in which the majority of people’s sources of news are mutually exclusive and from opposite poles.” By the end of the file, the vaguely patronizing top-line recommendation against simple summation begins to make more sense. A document that originated as a bulwark against confirmation bias could, as it turned out, just as easily function as a kind of generative device to support anybody’s pet conviction. The only sane response, it seemed, was simply to throw one’s hands in the air.

When I spoke to some of the researchers whose work had been included, I found a combination of broad, visceral unease with the current situation—with the banefulness of harassment and trolling; with the opacity of the platforms; with, well, the widespread presentiment that of course social media is in many ways bad—and a contrastive sense that it might not be catastrophically bad in some of the specific ways that many of us have come to take for granted as true. This was not mere contrarianism, and there was no trace of gleeful mythbusting; the issue was important enough to get right. When I told Bail that the upshot seemed to me to be that exactly nothing was unambiguously clear, he suggested that there was at least some firm ground. He sounded a bit less apocalyptic than Haidt.

“A lot of the stories out there are just wrong,” he told me. “The political echo chamber has been massively overstated. Maybe it’s three to five per cent of people who are properly in an echo chamber.” Echo chambers, as hotboxes of confirmation bias, are counterproductive for democracy. But research indicates that most of us are actually exposed to a wider range of views on social media than we are in real life, where our social networks—in the original use of the term—are rarely heterogeneous. (Haidt told me that this was an issue on which the Google Doc changed his mind; he became convinced that echo chambers probably aren’t as widespread a problem as he’d once imagined.) And too much of a focus on our intuitions about social media’s echo-chamber effect could obscure the relevant counterfactual: a conservative might abandon Twitter only to watch more Fox News. “Stepping outside your echo chamber is supposed to make you moderate, but maybe it makes you more extreme,” Bail said. The research is inchoate and ongoing, and it’s difficult to say anything on the topic with absolute certainty. But this was, in part, Bail’s point: we ought to be less sure about the particular impacts of social media.

Bail went on, “The second story is foreign misinformation.” It’s not that misinformation doesn’t exist, or that it hasn’t had indirect effects, especially when it creates perverse incentives for the mainstream media to cover stories circulating online. Haidt also draws convincingly upon the work of Renée DiResta, the research manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory, to sketch out a potential future in which the work of shitposting has been outsourced to artificial intelligence, further polluting the informational environment. But, at least so far, very few Americans seem to suffer from consistent exposure to fake news—“probably less than two per cent of Twitter users, maybe fewer now, and for those who were it didn’t change their opinions,” Bail said. This was probably because the people likeliest to consume such spectacles were the sort of people primed to believe them in the first place. “In fact,” he said, “echo chambers might have done something to quarantine that misinformation.”

The final story that Bail wanted to discuss was the “proverbial rabbit hole, the path to algorithmic radicalization,” by which YouTube might serve a viewer increasingly extreme videos. There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that this does happen, at least on occasion, and such anecdotes are alarming to hear. But a new working paper led by Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth, found that almost all extremist content is either consumed by subscribers to the relevant channels—a sign of actual demand rather than manipulation or preference falsification—or encountered via links from external sites. It’s easy to see why we might prefer if this were not the case: algorithmic radicalization is presumably a simpler problem to solve than the fact that there are people who deliberately seek out vile content. “These are the three stories—echo chambers, foreign influence campaigns, and radicalizing recommendation algorithms—but, when you look at the literature, they’ve all been overstated.” He thought that these findings were crucial for us to assimilate, if only to help us understand that our problems may lie beyond technocratic tinkering. He explained, “Part of my interest in getting this research out there is to demonstrate that everybody is waiting for an Elon Musk to ride in and save us with an algorithm”—or, presumably, the reverse—“and it’s just not going to happen.”

When I spoke with Nyhan, he told me much the same thing: “The most credible research is way out of line with the takes.” He noted, of extremist content and misinformation, that reliable research that “measures exposure to these things finds that the people consuming this content are small minorities who have extreme views already.” The problem with the bulk of the earlier research, Nyhan told me, is that it’s almost all correlational. “Many of these studies will find polarization on social media,” he said. “But that might just be the society we live in reflected on social media!” He hastened to add, “Not that this is untroubling, and none of this is to let these companies, which are exercising a lot of power with very little scrutiny, off the hook. But a lot of the criticisms of them are very poorly founded. . . . The expansion of Internet access coincides with fifteen other trends over time, and separating them is very difficult. The lack of good data is a huge problem insofar as it lets people project their own fears into this area.” He told me, “It’s hard to weigh in on the side of ‘We don’t know, the evidence is weak,’ because those points are always going to be drowned out in our discourse. But these arguments are systematically underprovided in the public domain.”

In his Atlantic article, Haidt leans on a working paper by two social scientists, Philipp Lorenz-Spreen and Lisa Oswald, who took on a comprehensive meta-analysis of about five hundred papers and concluded that “the large majority of reported associations between digital media use and trust appear to be detrimental for democracy.” Haidt writes, “The literature is complex—some studies show benefits, particularly in less developed democracies—but the review found that, on balance, social media amplifies political polarization; foments populism, especially right-wing populism; and is associated with the spread of misinformation.” Nyhan was less convinced that the meta-analysis supported such categorical verdicts, especially once you bracketed the kinds of correlational findings that might simply mirror social and political dynamics. He told me, “If you look at their summary of studies that allow for causal inferences—it’s very mixed.”

As for the studies Nyhan considered most methodologically sound, he pointed to a 2020 article called “The Welfare Effects of Social Media,” by Hunt Allcott, Luca Braghieri, Sarah Eichmeyer, and Matthew Gentzkow. For four weeks prior to the 2018 midterm elections, the authors randomly divided a group of volunteers into two cohorts—one that continued to use Facebook as usual, and another that was paid to deactivate their accounts for that period. They found that deactivation “(i) reduced online activity, while increasing offline activities such as watching TV alone and socializing with family and friends; (ii) reduced both factual news knowledge and political polarization; (iii) increased subjective well-being; and (iv) caused a large persistent reduction in post-experiment Facebook use.” But Gentzkow reminded me that his conclusions, including that Facebook may slightly increase polarization, had to be heavily qualified: “From other kinds of evidence, I think there’s reason to think social media is not the main driver of increasing polarization over the long haul in the United States.”

In the book “ Why We’re Polarized ,” for example, Ezra Klein invokes the work of such scholars as Lilliana Mason to argue that the roots of polarization might be found in, among other factors, the political realignment and nationalization that began in the sixties, and were then sacralized, on the right, by the rise of talk radio and cable news. These dynamics have served to flatten our political identities, weakening our ability or inclination to find compromise. Insofar as some forms of social media encourage the hardening of connections between our identities and a narrow set of opinions, we might increasingly self-select into mutually incomprehensible and hostile groups; Haidt plausibly suggests that these processes are accelerated by the coalescence of social-media tribes around figures of fearful online charisma. “Social media might be more of an amplifier of other things going on rather than a major driver independently,” Gentzkow argued. “I think it takes some gymnastics to tell a story where it’s all primarily driven by social media, especially when you’re looking at different countries, and across different groups.”

Another study, led by Nejla Asimovic and Joshua Tucker, replicated Gentzkow’s approach in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they found almost precisely the opposite results: the people who stayed on Facebook were, by the end of the study, more positively disposed to their historic out-groups. The authors’ interpretation was that ethnic groups have so little contact in Bosnia that, for some people, social media is essentially the only place where they can form positive images of one another. “To have a replication and have the signs flip like that, it’s pretty stunning,” Bail told me. “It’s a different conversation in every part of the world.”

Nyhan argued that, at least in wealthy Western countries, we might be too heavily discounting the degree to which platforms have responded to criticism: “Everyone is still operating under the view that algorithms simply maximize engagement in a short-term way” with minimal attention to potential externalities. “That might’ve been true when Zuckerberg had seven people working for him, but there are a lot of considerations that go into these rankings now.” He added, “There’s some evidence that, with reverse-chronological feeds”—streams of unwashed content, which some critics argue are less manipulative than algorithmic curation—“people get exposed to more low-quality content, so it’s another case where a very simple notion of ‘algorithms are bad’ doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. It doesn’t mean they’re good, it’s just that we don’t know.”

Bail told me that, over all, he was less confident than Haidt that the available evidence lines up clearly against the platforms. “Maybe there’s a slight majority of studies that say that social media is a net negative, at least in the West, and maybe it’s doing some good in the rest of the world.” But, he noted, “Jon will say that science has this expectation of rigor that can’t keep up with the need in the real world—that even if we don’t have the definitive study that creates the historical counterfactual that Facebook is largely responsible for polarization in the U.S., there’s still a lot pointing in that direction, and I think that’s a fair point.” He paused. “It can’t all be randomized control trials.”

Haidt comes across in conversation as searching and sincere, and, during our exchange, he paused several times to suggest that I include a quote from John Stuart Mill on the importance of good-faith debate to moral progress. In that spirit, I asked him what he thought of the argument, elaborated by some of Haidt’s critics, that the problems he described are fundamentally political, social, and economic, and that to blame social media is to search for lost keys under the streetlamp, where the light is better. He agreed that this was the steelman opponent: there were predecessors for cancel culture in de Tocqueville, and anxiety about new media that went back to the time of the printing press. “This is a perfectly reasonable hypothesis, and it’s absolutely up to the prosecution—people like me—to argue that, no, this time it’s different. But it’s a civil case! The evidential standard is not ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ as in a criminal case. It’s just a preponderance of the evidence.”

The way scholars weigh the testimony is subject to their disciplinary orientations. Economists and political scientists tend to believe that you can’t even begin to talk about causal dynamics without a randomized controlled trial, whereas sociologists and psychologists are more comfortable drawing inferences on a correlational basis. Haidt believes that conditions are too dire to take the hardheaded, no-reasonable-doubt view. “The preponderance of the evidence is what we use in public health. If there’s an epidemic—when COVID started, suppose all the scientists had said, ‘No, we gotta be so certain before you do anything’? We have to think about what’s actually happening, what’s likeliest to pay off.” He continued, “We have the largest epidemic ever of teen mental health, and there is no other explanation,” he said. “It is a raging public-health epidemic, and the kids themselves say Instagram did it, and we have some evidence, so is it appropriate to say, ‘Nah, you haven’t proven it’?”

This was his attitude across the board. He argued that social media seemed to aggrandize inflammatory posts and to be correlated with a rise in violence; even if only small groups were exposed to fake news, such beliefs might still proliferate in ways that were hard to measure. “In the post-Babel era, what matters is not the average but the dynamics, the contagion, the exponential amplification,” he said. “Small things can grow very quickly, so arguments that Russian disinformation didn’t matter are like COVID arguments that people coming in from China didn’t have contact with a lot of people.” Given the transformative effects of social media, Haidt insisted, it was important to act now, even in the absence of dispositive evidence. “Academic debates play out over decades and are often never resolved, whereas the social-media environment changes year by year,” he said. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting around five or ten years for literature reviews.”

Haidt could be accused of question-begging—of assuming the existence of a crisis that the research might or might not ultimately underwrite. Still, the gap between the two sides in this case might not be quite as wide as Haidt thinks. Skeptics of his strongest claims are not saying that there’s no there there. Just because the average YouTube user is unlikely to be led to Stormfront videos, Nyhan told me, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t worry that some people are watching Stormfront videos; just because echo chambers and foreign misinformation seem to have had effects only at the margins, Gentzkow said, doesn’t mean they’re entirely irrelevant. “There are many questions here where the thing we as researchers are interested in is how social media affects the average person,” Gentzkow told me. “There’s a different set of questions where all you need is a small number of people to change—questions about ethnic violence in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, people on YouTube mobilized to do mass shootings. Much of the evidence broadly makes me skeptical that the average effects are as big as the public discussion thinks they are, but I also think there are cases where a small number of people with very extreme views are able to find each other and connect and act.” He added, “That’s where many of the things I’d be most concerned about lie.”

The same might be said about any phenomenon where the base rate is very low but the stakes are very high, such as teen suicide. “It’s another case where those rare edge cases in terms of total social harm may be enormous. You don’t need many teen-age kids to decide to kill themselves or have serious mental-health outcomes in order for the social harm to be really big.” He added, “Almost none of this work is able to get at those edge-case effects, and we have to be careful that if we do establish that the average effect of something is zero, or small, that it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be worried about it—because we might be missing those extremes.” Jaime Settle, a scholar of political behavior at the College of William & Mary and the author of the book “ Frenemies: How Social Media Polarizes America ,” noted that Haidt is “farther along the spectrum of what most academics who study this stuff are going to say we have strong evidence for.” But she understood his impulse: “We do have serious problems, and I’m glad Jon wrote the piece, and down the road I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a fuller handle on the role of social media in all of this—there are definitely ways in which social media has changed our politics for the worse.”

It’s tempting to sidestep the question of diagnosis entirely, and to evaluate Haidt’s essay not on the basis of predictive accuracy—whether social media will lead to the destruction of American democracy—but as a set of proposals for what we might do better. If he is wrong, how much damage are his prescriptions likely to do? Haidt, to his great credit, does not indulge in any wishful thinking, and if his diagnosis is largely technological his prescriptions are sociopolitical. Two of his three major suggestions seem useful and have nothing to do with social media: he thinks that we should end closed primaries and that children should be given wide latitude for unsupervised play. His recommendations for social-media reform are, for the most part, uncontroversial: he believes that preteens shouldn’t be on Instagram and that platforms should share their data with outside researchers—proposals that are both likely to be beneficial and not very costly.

It remains possible, however, that the true costs of social-media anxieties are harder to tabulate. Gentzkow told me that, for the period between 2016 and 2020, the direct effects of misinformation were difficult to discern. “But it might have had a much larger effect because we got so worried about it—a broader impact on trust,” he said. “Even if not that many people were exposed, the narrative that the world is full of fake news, and you can’t trust anything, and other people are being misled about it—well, that might have had a bigger impact than the content itself.” Nyhan had a similar reaction. “There are genuine questions that are really important, but there’s a kind of opportunity cost that is missed here. There’s so much focus on sweeping claims that aren’t actionable, or unfounded claims we can contradict with data, that are crowding out the harms we can demonstrate, and the things we can test, that could make social media better.” He added, “We’re years into this, and we’re still having an uninformed conversation about social media. It’s totally wild.”

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Essay on Social Media for School Students and Children

500+ words essay on social media.

Social media is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days because of its user-friendly features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more are giving people a chance to connect with each other across distances. In other words, the whole world is at our fingertips all thanks to social media. The youth is especially one of the most dominant users of social media. All this makes you wonder that something so powerful and with such a massive reach cannot be all good. Like how there are always two sides to a coin, the same goes for social media. Subsequently, different people have different opinions on this debatable topic. So, in this essay on Social Media, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

Advantages of Social Media

When we look at the positive aspect of social media, we find numerous advantages. The most important being a great device for education . All the information one requires is just a click away. Students can educate themselves on various topics using social media.

Moreover, live lectures are now possible because of social media. You can attend a lecture happening in America while sitting in India.

Furthermore, as more and more people are distancing themselves from newspapers, they are depending on social media for news. You are always updated on the latest happenings of the world through it. A person becomes more socially aware of the issues of the world.

In addition, it strengthens bonds with your loved ones. Distance is not a barrier anymore because of social media. For instance, you can easily communicate with your friends and relatives overseas.

Most importantly, it also provides a great platform for young budding artists to showcase their talent for free. You can get great opportunities for employment through social media too.

Another advantage definitely benefits companies who wish to promote their brands. Social media has become a hub for advertising and offers you great opportunities for connecting with the customer.

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Disadvantages of Social Media

Despite having such unique advantages, social media is considered to be one of the most harmful elements of society. If the use of social media is not monitored, it can lead to grave consequences.

Thus, the sharing on social media especially by children must be monitored at all times. Next up is the addition of social media which is quite common amongst the youth.

This addiction hampers with the academic performance of a student as they waste their time on social media instead of studying. Social media also creates communal rifts. Fake news is spread with the use of it, which poisons the mind of peace-loving citizens.

In short, surely social media has both advantages and disadvantages. But, it all depends on the user at the end. The youth must particularly create a balance between their academic performances, physical activities, and social media. Excess use of anything is harmful and the same thing applies to social media. Therefore, we must strive to live a satisfying life with the right balance.

FAQs on Social Media

Q.1 Is social media beneficial? If yes, then how?

A.1 Social media is quite beneficial. Social Media offers information, news, educational material, a platform for talented youth and brands.

Q.2 What is a disadvantage of Social Media?

A.2 Social media invades your privacy. It makes you addicted and causes health problems. It also results in cyberbullying and scams as well as communal hatred.

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Positive & Negative Effects of Social Media on Teens Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Positive effects of social media, negative effects of social media.

In the twenty-first century, many teenagers spend their free time on social networks, which are an integral part of human life today. Scientists are still arguing about the harm and benefits of social media on teenagers. The environment of modern man, in which socialization takes place, has changed significantly. Nowadays, the younger generation spends more time on social networks.

For teenagers, the social network has become a tool for self-expression. Communication is no longer limited to a certain circle of people with whom the teenager contacts physically. Therefore, the topic raises a serious problem: the socialization of a teenager under the influence of the Internet environment. This paper reveals the positive and negative aspects of the influence of social networks on the younger generation.

Self-Development

Social networks have everything a teenager needs for self-development. Many groups are directly related to studying. In order not to miss new publications, it is enough to enable notifications. The variety of groups in social networks is so great that every teenager will be able to find something for themselves, ranging from culinary recipes to international politics.

There is also a large database of videos and music files on social networks, among which one can find rare or necessary book copies. On the web, teenagers can get information that is significant for education. For example, Facebook is the largest repository of audio, video, and photo materials on many academic subjects that can be listened to, viewed, and downloaded (Nisar et al., 2019). In addition, a social network is a quick transfer or dissemination of information about the school, class, events, and student news.

The network provides an excellent opportunity to promote oneself as a person. Teenagers can try to start their own business or engage in blogging. They can also write books or stories on social networks, try to earn money, or realize their strengths in SMM (Pouwels et al., 2021). Social networks attract with their ability to express themselves, to acquaint everyone with their talents, hobbies, and achievements. Some post the results of their creativity – poems, songs, music, and videos.

Finding Friends

Communication has been simplified to the maximum level; nowadays, the huge distance between people is no longer a hindrance to their communication. It is enough to have a computer or laptop connected to the Internet, and special software that makes it possible to communicate, hear and see each other. Therefore, due to social networks, teenagers can stay in touch with friends who live at a great distance. There is a video call function that only requires the Internet. Teenagers can chat with friends without spending money on the balance.

In social networks, one can easily find people: when registering on a social network, the user provides their first and last name, as well as other data – age, educational institutions, contact phone numbers. This allows teenagers to find any person in a matter of seconds, provided that they have provided reliable information about themselves. However, social networks help not only to be aware of the lives of friends, acquaintances, and classmates.

Teenagers can also look for like-minded people online (Nisar et al., 2019). There are many important groups where people can share their accumulated experience or their views on life. The network makes it possible to find friends, familiar classmates, and insecure teenagers to feel in demand (Pouwels et al., 2021). It makes new acquaintances without fear that there may be nothing to talk about with this person in the future. By joining interest groups, a teenager is not afraid that they might be rejected.

The ability to find friends is also associated with psychological comfort. Teenagers can say much more online than in real life, and not feel uncomfortable at the same time: they have time to formulate thoughts more clearly and express them most accurately (Pouwels et al., 2021). The Internet has the opportunity to follow the life of idols, to know what they are doing and what new things have happened to them. Friends can also watch the user, so one does not need to tell everyone about an important event, it is enough to share it on social networks. Thus, teenagers have the opportunity to realize themselves in the eyes of friends and acquaintances.

Physical & Mental Health

The properties of social networks have a negative impact when a teenager uses them non-stop. The flow of news, the change of emotions, impressions, and the solution of multi-level tasks lead to fatigue and harm to health. The radiation of the monitor has a detrimental effect on the retina of the eyes (Byrne et al., 2018). Many teenagers do not understand that most of the visitors of social networks embellish their reality. Perceiving the virtual image as reality, an inferiority complex is created. This perception affects self-esteem and harms the psyche. As a result, the body gets stressed, and the teenager is at risk of depression.

A constant presence in social networks develops the habit of receiving information in portions of the brain. Several processes are going on at the same time: listening to music, viewing photos, writing comments, and reading news. As a result, there is a decrease in the concentration of attention, and the teenager’s body is harmed (Charoensukmongkol, 2018). The term hyperactivity, well-known in psychology, accurately defines the state of a teenager. They cannot concentrate on one task, useful material is not assimilated, and the effectiveness of education decreases.

Social networks have a significant impact on the psyche of a teenager. A person needs constant recognition as a person for harmonious development. Before the advent of social networks, people had to constantly work on themselves to prove their worth. With the appearance of social media, everything has become simpler: it is enough to post a photo or video and one can collect likes. Having received approval on social networks, the user experiences a kind of euphoria (Byrne et al., 2018). Gradually, the teenager develops an addiction: the first thing their morning starts with is viewing their account. If there is free time during the day, they also constantly visit their page, spending too much time online.

Communication

Teenagers want to use easy ways to have fun, interaction in social networks is reduced to affixing likes, and correspondence is saturated with emoticons and abbreviations. For example, a story about one’s mood shortens to sending a smiley face. This way of communication becomes a habit, becomes the norm, and is used in everyday life. It is difficult for active visitors of social networks to rebuild their relationships into generally accepted forms (Szabla & Blommaert, 2020). This becomes an obstacle to a full-fledged dialogue, since people who are far from computer slang hardly understand such a narrative.

The presentation of information on the Internet occurs in such a way that, having the intention to view the weather forecast, the user is forced to close pop-up windows with advertisements, news blocks, or links to various sites. Many teenagers cannot cope with this task: all this attracts their attention and distracts them from the search (Charoensukmongkol, 2018). A teenager receives a stream of unnecessary information. If they do not control this process and do not block the excess, the brain is overloaded, fatigue accumulates, irritation and the body is harmed.

By texting, people lose the skills of real communication; in social networks, words and feelings that are transmitted through personal contact lose their meaning. It becomes easy to hide experiences or fake emotions (Szabla & Blommaert, 2020). A teenager addicted to social networks misjudges people and does not feel responsible. They become capable of insulting an opponent and causing harm without experiencing any remorse or empathy.

With the development of Internet technologies, the world has changed a lot, and it also changed the way of thinking of young people. Undoubtedly, it is possible to highlight numerous advantages of social networks. These are freely available groups where teenagers can find like-minded people, keep up to date with the latest developments, find a new hobby, develop their skills in some endeavor or relax by browsing interesting communities. However, social networks not only have a positive impact on a teenager but can also cause harm. It is associated with the distortion of reality in social networks, information overload, and a change like live communication. It is impossible to eliminate the negative impact of the use of social networks, however, by maintaining a balance, they can be minimized.

Byrne, E., Vessey, J. A., & Pfeifer, L. (2018). Cyberbullying and social media: Information and interventions for school nurses working with victims, students, and families. The Journal of School Nursing, 34 (1), 28-39.

Charoensukmongkol, P. (2018). The impact of social media on social comparison and envy in teenagers: The moderating role of the parent comparing children and in-group competition among friends. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27 (3), 69-79.

Nisar, T. M., Prabhakar, G., & Strakova, L. (2019). Social media information benefits, knowledge management and smart organizations. Journal of Business Research, 94 (7), 264-272.

Pouwels, J. L., Valkenburg, P. M., Beyens, I., Driel, I. I., & Keijsers, L. (2021). Some socially poor but also some socially rich adolescents feel closer to their friends after using social media. Scientific Reports, 11 (1), 9-13.

Szabla, M., & Blommaert, J. (2020). Does context really collapse in social media interaction? Applied Linguistics Review, 11 (2), 251-279.

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Essay on Impact of Social Media on Teenager

Students are often asked to write an essay on Impact of Social Media on Teenager in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Impact of Social Media on Teenager

Introduction.

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, especially for teenagers. It provides a platform to connect, share, and learn.

Positive Impact

Social media can be beneficial. It helps teenagers to express themselves and connect with friends. It’s also a source of information.

Negative Impact

However, excessive use can lead to issues like cyberbullying, anxiety, and depression. It can also impact their physical health and academic performance.

In conclusion, while social media has its advantages, it’s essential for teenagers to use it responsibly.

250 Words Essay on Impact of Social Media on Teenager

Firstly, social media offers a platform for self-expression and identity formation, critical aspects of adolescent development. Teenagers can explore various facets of their personalities, interests, and values. Moreover, it provides an avenue for social interaction and friendship formation, connecting teenagers globally.

On the flip side, the pervasive nature of social media can lead to addictive behaviors, impacting teenagers’ mental health. The constant need for validation through likes and comments can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem. Furthermore, cyberbullying is a significant concern, with its effects often devastating, leading to depression or even suicidal thoughts.

Role of Digital Literacy

To mitigate the negative impacts, it’s crucial to foster digital literacy among teenagers. They need to be educated about responsible social media use, privacy settings, and how to handle cyberbullying.

In conclusion, while social media offers significant benefits to teenagers, it also poses considerable risks. It’s a double-edged sword that can either enhance or hinder adolescent development. Therefore, it’s crucial to provide teenagers with the necessary tools and education to navigate this digital landscape safely and responsibly.

500 Words Essay on Impact of Social Media on Teenager

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, shaping our interactions, relationships, and the way we perceive the world. However, its impact on teenagers, who are at a critical stage of their development, is a topic of intense debate and concern.

The Positive Impact

Moreover, social media helps teenagers build connections and socialize, especially those who may be introverted or socially anxious. It offers a space where they can engage in discussions, participate in online communities, and build friendships beyond geographical boundaries.

The Negative Impact

Conversely, the pervasive use of social media also has potential downsides. Cyberbullying is a significant issue, with teenagers being particularly vulnerable to online harassment and abuse. This can lead to serious emotional and psychological consequences, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Furthermore, excessive use of social media can negatively affect teenagers’ physical health. It can lead to sedentary behaviors, sleep disturbances, and even addictive tendencies, disrupting their overall wellbeing and development.

Given these impacts, it is crucial to promote digital literacy among teenagers. They need to be educated about the potential risks and benefits of social media, and how to use it responsibly. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognizing and reporting inappropriate content or behavior, and being mindful of the amount of time spent online.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Too much social media unveiling the effects of determinants in social media fatigue.

• 1 School of Music, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
• 2 Department of Arts Management, Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou, China
• 3 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau, Macau, Macao SAR, China
• 4 College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
• 5 School of Music and Dance, Jiangxi University of Technology, Nanchang, China
• 6 Design College, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, Henan, China

Introduction: With the boom in social media, many people spend a lot of time on these platforms. Among them, some developed negative emotions, such as fatigue, depression, or disinterest in communicating, and used social media temporarily or permanently. Therefore, this study aims to explore the antecedents of social media fatigue, including social media helpfulness, social media self-efficacy, online subjective well-being, social comparison, compulsive social media use, privacy concerns, fear of missing out, and information overload, and to further discuss the determinants of social media fatigue on social anxiety and lurking.

Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to social media users, and 659 valid samples were obtained with the help of a purposive sampling strategy. The data was analyzed by the partial least square (PLS) method.

Results: The study found that social media self-efficacy had a significant negative effect on social media fatigue; compulsive social media use, fear of missing out, and information overload had a significant positive effect on social media fatigue; and social media fatigue had a significant positive effect on social anxiety and lurking.

Discussion: The research results can be used as a reference for social media marketers and internet service providers in developing business strategies.

1 Introduction

Today, users are becoming accustomed to using social media to send and deliver messages and video calls ( Nesi et al., 2018 ). With the popularity of social media and the increase in user dependence, it has become a part of people’s lives ( Xie et al., 2021 ). On the other hand, the outbreak of COVID-19 has had a huge impact on people’s lives. In response to the crisis brought about by the epidemic, many countries have adopted a series of preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus. These measures include social distancing, remote working and learning, and postponement or cancelation of events or meetings ( Ares et al., 2021 ). With more and more activities taking place online, social media is now an effective and important way for users to get reliable information about global pandemics and health advice ( Pang, 2021 ).

Nowadays, tech-savvy young people make up the majority of social media users, but they often experience greater information overload in digital media environments ( Pang, 2020 , 2021 ; Liu H. et al., 2021 ; Xu et al., 2021 ). As time spent on social media increases, excessive use of social media may have physical health effects such as mental fatigue, stress, and anxiety. Research has indicated that individuals are avoiding participation in these communication services due to social media fatigue ( Whelan et al., 2020 ; Pang, 2021 ). Users do not necessarily have a strong psychological quality to resist information overload, leading to subjective fatigue and withdrawal from social media use ( Lee et al., 2016 ; Pang, 2019 ).

Clement (2020) pointed out that 93% of organizations have adopted social media as a tool in their marketing strategies and have generated huge advertising revenue, which is expected to grow by 28.4% by 2022. Research has further found that the use of social media in sales is positively correlated with salespeople’s customer knowledge, sales behavior, and performance ( Rodriguez et al., 2016 ; Itani et al., 2017 ). Social media can help organizations collect and process various customer information, thereby enabling companies to adjust their products to suit different preferences of customers ( Woodcock et al., 2011 ).

As social media usage continues to rise, consumers are beginning to experience social media fatigue. Since social media does not create content, social media marketing is entirely dependent on user-generated content to survive and thrive ( Liu et al., 2020 ). Therefore, when social media fatigue leads to reduced, suspended, or discontinued usage, or lurking to use social media without delivering content, it can lead marketers to worry that brand advertising on social media is less effective. For social network services (SNS) providers, as users reduce or withdraw from social media use, they will expect lower long-term profits ( Dhir et al., 2018 ). Scholars believe that social media fatigue has a significant negative impact on users, businesses, and service providers ( Oghuma et al., 2016 ; Shin and Shin, 2016 ). Fatigue can cause users to drop out of services, resulting in lower profits for companies and service operators.

Finally, a growing body of research has highlighted the potential relationship between increased social media use and various forms of negative mental health ( Luqman et al., 2017 ; Dhir et al., 2018 ; Logan et al., 2018 ; Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020 ; Pang, 2021 ). Previous studies have pointed out that users’ strategies in the face of social media fatigue include intentions to transfer, pause, exit, and interrupt the platform ( Ravindran et al., 2014 ; Shin and Shin, 2016 ; Luqman et al., 2017 ). However, few researches have examined lurking as a result of social media fatigue. Therefore, this study regards lurking as a consequence of social media fatigue and explores the factors that lead to social media fatigue and the psychological and behavioral effects on users. The research purpose is to explore the determinants and consequences of social media fatigue. Thus, several research questions are proposed, including (1) the factors that cause users’ social media fatigue, (2) the impact of social media fatigue on users’ psychology, and (3) the impact of social media fatigue on social anxiety and lurking.

2 Literature review and hypothesis development

The primary theoretical framework for this study on social media fatigue encompasses cognitive load theory (CLT), social cognitive theory, and social comparison theory. These theories offer an in-depth understanding of the psychological and emotional factors that lead to social media fatigue. Cognitive load theory, suggests that individuals have a finite capacity for processing information ( Sweller and Chandler, 1991 ; Sweller, 2023 ). In the realm of social media, users often encounter an overwhelming amount of information, resulting in cognitive overload and subsequent fatigue ( Kirschner et al., 2018 ). This theory clarifies why information overload and compulsive use of social media are pivotal antecedents of social media fatigue ( Chen et al., 2023 ). Additionally, social comparison theory, asserts that people assess their social and personal worth by comparing themselves to others ( Festinger, 1954 ; Powdthavee, 2024 ). On social media, this frequent comparison can lead to negative self-assessments and fatigue ( De Vries et al., 2023 ). This theory supports the inclusion of social comparison and FOMO as key antecedents in this research ( Gupta et al., 2021 ). Lastly, this research also employed social cognitive theory which indicates an individual’s confidence in coping with life stress and achieving performance ( Chou et al., 2024 ). This theory supports the social media self-efficacy antecedent of this research ( Almulla and Al-Rahmi, 2023 ). The selected antecedents—social media helpfulness, social media self-efficacy, online subjective well-being, social comparison, compulsive social media use, privacy concerns, FOMO, and information overload—are grounded in these theories ( Rezabeigi Davarani et al., 2023 ; Sweller, 2023 ). Collectively, they provide a solid theoretical foundation for exploring the determinants and consequences of social media fatigue ( Jabeen et al., 2023 ). The research aims to understand how these factors contribute to fatigue and its effects on social anxiety and lurking behaviors, offering valuable insights for social media marketers and internet service providers.

2.1 Social media fatigue

Social media fatigue comes from the word “fatigue.” Several medical studies have suggested that fatigue is a psychosomatic response and a series of phenomena of self-evaluation and stress perception ( Wijesuriya et al., 2007 ; Pang, 2021 ). Other researches define social media fatigue as a subjective and multidimensional user experience, including tiredness, annoyance, anger, disappointment, caution, loss of interest, or low need/motivation to interact with others on Social media ( Ravindran et al., 2014 ; Zhang et al., 2016 ; Teng et al., 2022 ).

In other words, excessive and compulsive use of social media, or perceived information overload on social media, may lead to users becoming tired of social media activity, a phenomenon known as social media fatigue ( Ravindran et al., 2014 ; Bright and Logan, 2018 ). Because people rely heavily on Social media to connect with others and search heavily for information about the outbreak. Users are exposed to excessive and ambiguous information on social media, resulting in fatigue ( Islam et al., 2021 ). Additionally, scholars have argued that social media fatigue is harmful to both users and service providers ( Shin and Shin, 2016 ). For example, if users continue to use social media, their boredom and lack of enthusiasm may lead to lower engagement ( Pang et al., 2024 ). Furthermore, users with social media fatigue may experience discontinuous or interrupted use behavior ( Luqman et al., 2017 ; Fu et al., 2020 ; Liu Z. et al., 2021 ). In addition, social media fatigue is closely related to the health of the mind and body. Dhir et al. (2018) and Pang (2021) indicated that it causes negative psychological effects on users, such as depression, anxiety, emotional stress, and social anxiety. In conclusion, this study proposes that determinants of social media fatigue include social media helpfulness, social media self-efficacy, online subjective well-being, social comparison, compulsive social media use, privacy concerns, fear of missing out, and information overload; the consequences are social anxiety and lurking. Next, each of these determinants and consequences is described and the research hypotheses are developed.

2.2 Determinants of social media fatigue

2.2.1 social media helpfulness.

Today, social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) have become one of the ways users communicate with each other. They provide users with the functionality and helpfulness to engage in conversations, share ideas, form relationships, and interest groups, and develop their presence, reputation, and identity ( Kietzmann et al., 2011 ). Social media helpfulness refers to the extent to which users receive resources and useful information from exploring social media ( Bright and Logan, 2018 ). Users perceive social media to be useful because they satisfy needs, such as communicating with others, finding friends, keeping up-to-date, and being entertained on social media ( Naranjo-Zolotov et al., 2019 ; Taylor et al., 2022 ).

Foster et al. (2010) mentioned that people use social media because of their informative value. In other words, users feel that using social media is helpful to them. In addition, Logan et al. (2018) believe that users can obtain resources and useful information from social media, and then perceive the social media’s helpfulness. Therefore, this study proposes a hypothesis.

H1 : Social media helpfulness is negatively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.2 Social media self-efficacy

Bandura (1977) defines self-efficacy as the belief that an individual can organize and perform a specific action. Also, self-efficacy is a component of social cognitive theory and can be thought of as an individual’s confidence in coping with life stress and achieving performance ( Schwarzer et al., 1997 ; Alshahrani and Rasmussen Pennington, 2018 ). In addition, scholars have pointed out that people with high confidence are more likely to take action and stick with it, and they are also willing to adopt new technologies or search for useful information ( Stajkovic, 2006 ; Hocevar et al., 2014 ). In short, self-efficacy affects behavior ( Bandura, 1986 ).

Research has found that media use experience has a positive effect on self-efficacy ( Eastin and LaRose, 2000 ). As a result, users’ perceived ability to use social media increases, and their willingness to share information increases, resulting in happier feelings ( Lenhart et al., 2010 ). In addition, Bearden and Netemeyer (1999) proposed social media confidence as the ability of users to perceive their ability to process content on social media. Hocevar et al. (2014) argued that social media self-efficacy is the degree to which users perceive expected results to be achieved in social media. Logan et al. (2018) believe that users perceive social media self-efficacy, and their confidence will increase their willingness to use social media. In conclusion, this study suggests that social media users are less likely to experience social media fatigue when they perceive social media self-efficacy. Therefore, a hypothesis is proposed.

H2 : Social media self-efficacy is negatively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.3 Online subjective well-being

Subjective well-being is defined as a broad phenomenon that includes people’s emotional responses, domain satisfaction, and overall judgments of life satisfaction ( Diener et al., 1999 ). It has two important components, including emotional well-being, which assesses an individual’s mood, and cognitive well-being ( Russell and Daniels, 2018 ), which measures an individual’s life satisfaction ( Verduyn et al., 2017 ). Emotional well-being is measured by pleasant emotions (e.g., joy, happiness, ecstasy) or unpleasant emotions (e.g., guilt, sadness, stress); cognitive well-being is measured based on one’s satisfaction with life ( Di Martino et al., 2018 ). Changes in information technology can also affect subjective well-being. The popularity of information and communication technology in the media has improved people’s well-being ( Graham and Nikolova, 2013 ), but it also occupies the time when people maintain relationships with friends, which indirectly has a negative impact on subjective well-being ( Bruni and Stanca, 2008 ).

Online subjective well-being is defined as the broad range of feelings and emotions experienced by individuals using the internet and social media, such as satisfaction, well-being, and negative and positive affect ( Verduyn et al., 2017 ; Fan et al., 2019 ; Kaur et al., 2021 ; Pang and Zhang, 2024 ). Huang (2016) mentioned that online subjective well-being refers to personal well-being, perceived social support, and satisfaction with online or social media life, and online social well-being has a strong impact on the continued use intention of personal social media. Previous studies have suggested that subjective well-being can be negatively affected by social media use ( Gerson et al., 2016 ; Yao and Cao, 2017 ). Kaur et al. (2021) developed a research framework to examine the relationship between online subjective well-being and social media fatigue. They found that individuals who perceived higher online subjective well-being may experience lower fatigue due to their ability to properly balance and process social media communications.

Previous research examined subjective well-being as a consequence of social media use ( Gerson et al., 2016 ). Satici and Uysal (2015) pointed out that life satisfaction and subjective well-being are negatively correlated with adverse social media use symptoms. Kaur et al. (2021) believe that users’ satisfaction and high perceived benefits from social media enable them to have higher cognitive processing ability to deal with information and content on social media, thereby experiencing low social media fatigue. In other words, social media users with high online subjective well-being experienced fewer negative phenomena, such as fatigue. In addition, previous studies have shown that social media use and personal subjective well-being are negatively correlated with negative emotions (e.g., jealousy, depression, psychological burden) ( Tandoc et al., 2015 ; Verduyn et al., 2015 ), which in turn reduce life satisfaction ( Frison and Eggermont, 2016 ) and make social media less attractive to users ( De Vries and Kühne, 2015 ). In summary, this study proposes a hypothesis.

H3 : Online subjective well-being is negatively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.4 Social comparison

Social comparison theory (SCT) assumes that individuals may engage in two forms of social comparison, upward and downward. People assess their current abilities and ideas by comparing themselves to those who are better off (upward) or worse off (downward) ( Festinger, 1954 ; Kim and Chock, 2015 ). In the absence of objective information, people have an intrinsic drive to compare themselves with others, often to gain an accurate self-evaluation. Social media provides a wealth of easily accessible information and thus can serve as a new way for people to engage in social comparisons ( Burnell et al., 2019 ). On the other hand, if users of social media cannot have a perception of their abilities, they will compare themselves with others ( Festinger, 1954 ; Talwar et al., 2019 ). Individuals compare themselves to others when confronted with information about others, such as their occupations, abilities, and achievements ( Mussweiler et al., 2006 ). Social comparison in social media refers to the process in which individuals compare their abilities and opinions with others by browsing various information disclosed by others in the process of using social media ( Yang et al., 2018 ). They may perceive others to be relatively better placed in the community than they are and make upward social comparisons ( Latif et al., 2021 ).

Cramer et al. (2016) believe that comparing with others is a human tendency. Although SCT assumes that individuals can make upward and downward comparisons. However, studies exploring social media have shown that individuals tend to make more negative social comparisons, which can lead to decreased well-being, such as depressive symptoms ( Faranda and Roberts, 2019 ). Song et al. (2019) explained that sharing content such as videos and photos on social media to positively present themselves favorably can lead others to see their positive but distorted lives. Lim and Choi (2017) found that when social comparison becomes a stressor for using social media, it may lead to emotional exhaustion in the user experience. Based on previous research findings, this study proposes a hypothesis.

H4 : Social comparison is positively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.5 Compulsive social media use

Compulsive behavior, or compulsive use, is a repetitive addiction, such as compulsive buying, overeating, or excessive use of online social media, that can have negative personal and social consequences. Compulsive use emphasizes the abnormal behavior of individuals who are unable to rationally control or regulate their daily performance ( Gámez-Guadix et al., 2012 ; Venkatesh et al., 2019 ; Zhang et al., 2020 ). In social media research, compulsive use is often associated with internet addiction disorder (IAD) ( Venkatesh et al., 2019 ). Unger et al. (2018) demonstrated that compulsive behavior is an addictive process in which vulnerable individuals seek escape from stress and anxiety and engage in frequent recreational and leisure activities. Despite intentional efforts to discourage or reduce compulsive behavior, it tends to persist ( Gong et al., 2019 ).

Masur et al. (2014) found that social media addiction often leads to wasted time, reduced social connections, lower work and school performance, loss of control, and withdrawal syndrome. Compulsive use is primarily explored within a range of unhealthy physiological behaviors, including smoking or alcohol abuse, gaming addiction, and specific social media overuse ( Soroya et al., 2021 ). Samaha and Hawi (2016) believe that smartphone addiction has a negative impact on mental health and well-being, and users with higher addiction risks experience higher perceived stress, which in turn reduces life satisfaction and academic performance. Dhir et al. (2018) used a stressor-stress-outcome (SSO) framework to explore the relationship between mental health and compulsive social media use on social media fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that compulsive social media use significantly induced social media fatigue, which in turn led to anxiety and depression. Pang’s (2021) research also obtained similar results. Compulsive social media use is one of the major contributors to social media fatigue.

Ho et al. (2014) found that excessive internet use can lead to anxiety and depression. SNS exhaustion is a psychological consequence of excessive use of social media, resulting in low satisfaction. This phenomenon reflects individuals’ psychological responses (e.g., stress) to social media use ( Maier et al., 2015 ). Elhai et al. (2016) found that compulsive mobile phone use affects people’s behavior and social interactions. Additionally, Dhir et al. (2018) found that compulsive social media use negatively affects cognition and performance and contributes to social media fatigue. According to previous studies, compulsive media use is positively correlated with social media fatigue ( Islam et al., 2021 ; Mamun et al., 2021 ). Based on the above, this study proposes a hypothesis.

H5 : Compulsive social media use is positively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.6 Privacy concerns

With the growth of social media, online privacy is a major concern for many users. The popularity of social media and the internet has also raised concerns about privacy and security, so privacy issues are becoming more and more important. Personal privacy concerns refer to the fear that one’s personal information will be collected and misused by others, and cannot be fully protected ( Stewart and Segars, 2002 ). Stutzman et al. (2011) believe that people who are more concerned about the improper use of personal information will engage in privacy protection behaviors. Bright and Logan (2018) mentioned that as users continue to share more personal information, privacy concerns will become their primary consideration when using social media and applications. Lee and Hsieh (2013) observed that privacy concerns are one of the components of fatigue.

Logan et al. (2018) pointed out that people with high social media self-efficacy tend to perceive the helpfulness of social media, and at the same time they will become more and more aware of privacy concerns, leading to social media fatigue. Users of social media may worry about the impact of their disclosure on their reputation in social media, leading to fatigue ( Lee et al., 2019 ). Bright and Logan (2018) found that people who are highly concerned about privacy are prone to social media fatigue. According to past studies, high levels of privacy concerns consume social media users’ cognition and may translate into fatigue ( Talwar et al., 2019 ; Malik et al., 2020 ; Kaur et al., 2021 ). Therefore, the hypothesis is proposed.

H6 : Privacy concerns are positively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.7 Fear of missing out

Fear is an unpleasant emotion that can damage people’s mental health. When fear is excessive, it can lead to phobias and social anxiety ( Mertens et al., 2020 ). Fear of missing out (FoMO) is defined as worry or fear of being disconnected, absent, or missing out on experiences that others (e.g., peers, friends, family) might have or enjoy. When experiencing FoMO, people may be persistently and eagerly seeking and acknowledging the activities of others, for example, constantly checking social media content, and checking whether friends are attending parties they were not invited ( Przybylski et al., 2013 ). The concept of FoMO applies offline, in real life, and online social media. FoMO is a constant state of mental flow. Users’ FoMO drives social media use, yet creates a sense of missing out ( Przybylski et al., 2013 ; Tandon et al., 2021 ). Based on the SSO framework, FoMO is one of the important stressors that put social media users under mental and emotional stress, which in turn triggers undesirable behaviors (e.g., avoidance) ( Zhang et al., 2020 ).

FoMO has been explored in past studies discussing social media ( Whelan et al., 2020 ; Tandon et al., 2021 ). Bright and Logan (2018) found that FoMO can lead to fatigue in individuals. In addition, Tandon et al. (2021) believe that if users continue to use social media due to FoMO, they will be overloaded with information and cause fatigue. Based on the above, this study proposes a hypothesis.

H7 : Fear of missing out is positively related to social media fatigue.

2.2.8 Information overload

With the development of information technology, there are more channels for individuals to obtain a large amount of information than before. The negative results brought about by too much information have also attracted increasing attention from researchers ( Luqman et al., 2017 ). Humans have a limited ability to process information, and information that exceeds this ability will lead to performance degradation ( Hunter, 2004 ). Information overload is defined as a situation in which a large amount of input information exceeds the information processing capacity of an individual ( Jones et al., 2004 ; Soto-Acosta et al., 2014 ; Guo et al., 2020 ; Islam et al., 2021 ). Various social media have been used as sources of crisis events and related information during COVID-19 ( Islam et al., 2021 ). At the same time, young people frequently and excessively participate in social media activities and continuously obtain various COVID-19 information from there, which may lead to an overload of relevant information and lead to adverse psychological consequences ( Liu Z. et al., 2021 ; Soroya et al., 2021 ). In addition, large amounts of information can be generated and disseminated rapidly on social media. Information overload occurs when people are exposed to more information than they can process efficiently ( Maier et al., 2015 ; Zhang et al., 2016 ).

The limited capacity mode shows that individuals have limited resources to process information. Lang (2000) believed that information overload has an impact on social media fatigue. In a social media environment, users acquire vast amounts of information ( Bright and Logan, 2018 ). However, the stress of social media-induced information overload can lead to emotional fatigue in users. When users cannot effectively integrate, absorb, and utilize too much information, it will have an impact on work, life, and interpersonal relationships ( Zhang et al., 2021 ). In conclusion, information overload on social media may trigger user fatigue ( Ravindran et al., 2014 ; Lee et al., 2016 ). Thus, the hypothesis is proposed.

H8 : Information overload is positively related to social media fatigue.

2.3 Consequences of social media fatigue

2.3.1 social anxiety.

Schlenker and Leary (1982) defined social anxiety as the anxiety that individuals feel when they are concerned about interpersonal evaluation when they make a specific impression on those they talk to in real or virtual social situations. Social anxiety refers to the pervasive and debilitating experience of discomfort and avoidance of interpersonal interactions due to fear of being negatively judged, rejected, or embarrassed ( Panayiotou et al., 2020 ; Islam et al., 2021 ; Ran et al., 2022 ). Previous studies have pointed out that social anxiety is an important emotional factor, which is closely related to mobile phone addiction ( Annoni et al., 2021 ). In addition, some studies related to the Internet have explored social anxiety ( Hwang et al., 2020 ; Pitcho-Prelorentzos et al., 2020 ; Cao et al., 2022 ), arguing that information overload can affect emotional stress through social media fatigue and social anxiety ( Pang, 2021 ).

In recent years, researchers have begun to explore the social anxiety of social media users. Scholars believe that when experiencing fatigue, users’ cognitive abilities decline, thereby predisposing them to inadequate regulation and control of emotions and attention, such as anxiety ( Grieve et al., 2013 ; Fox and Moreland, 2015 ; Zhang et al., 2020 ). Social anxiety, considered a negatively reactive emotion, is a cognitive, psychological, and behavioral anxiety disorder associated with cognitive dysfunction and fatigue ( Keles et al., 2020 ). When users experience social media fatigue, the psychological and physical effects are profound, including emotional anxiety and decreased life satisfaction and productivity ( Dhir et al., 2018 ). Alkis et al. (2017) developed and verified the social anxiety scale of social media users, and found that undergraduate students have social anxiety caused by social media, and have higher social anxiety for SNS. Social media fatigue refers to negative emotional responses to activities on social media such as tiredness, burnout, exhaustion, frustration, and lack of interest in communicating. Based on previous literature, this study proposes the following hypothesis.

H9 : Social media fatigue is positively related to social anxiety.

2.3.2 Lurking

Social media users have shown mental and psychological deterioration due to social media fatigue ( Dhir et al., 2018 ). Thus, users facing social media fatigue are more willing to change their status quo and existing unhealthy status ( Maier et al., 2015 ). Lurking is associated with non-posting behavior and is defined as inactive online user behavior. They rarely post, are silent, do not participate, or have not been involved and contributed to online activities ( Nonnecke and Preece, 2001 ). These users become social media lurkers ( Sun et al., 2014 ). And lurking behavior can influence others to become lurkers ( Zhang et al., 2021 ). Moreover, Rui and Stefanone (2013) believe that some users who find it difficult to adapt to the diversity of social media will overload their information, making users unable to cope effectively and choose to be lurkers. Lurking was perceived by users as a safer and easier social strategy for coping with such distress. Wisniewski et al. (2014) argue that, for social media users, lurking acts as a maladaptive countermeasure to reduce their short-term stress at the expense of increasing long-term stress.

Researchers have found that social media fatigue may be an important driver of discontinuous use intentions ( Ravindran et al., 2014 ; Zhang et al., 2016 ). The variety of information and social demands on social media can overwhelm users’ processing capabilities. Users can experience fatigue after expending too much energy dealing with these demands. Lurking behaviors induced by social media fatigue include ignorance, avoidance, and withdrawal ( Zhang et al., 2020 ). Users may use the above behaviors to escape negative emotions and fatigue ( Khan, 2017 ). Based on the above findings, this study puts forward the following hypothesis.

H10 : Social media fatigue is positively related to lurking.

2.4 Social media fatigue as a mediator

The rationale for selecting social media fatigue as a mediator in this research lies in its links to both the antecedents and outcomes of this study. Empirical studies have shown that variables such as information overload, compulsive use of social media, social comparison, and FOMO are direct contributors to social media fatigue ( Przybylski et al., 2013 ; Bright et al., 2015 ; Dhir et al., 2018 ). Cognitive load theory posits that the cognitive burden from excessive information and compulsive behaviors leads to fatigue ( Sweller, 2023 ), while social comparison theory suggests that social comparisons and FOMO result in emotional depletion ( Powdthavee, 2024 ). These antecedents are specifically tied to social media fatigue, making it a more appropriate construct for the unique context of social media use. Additionally, existing research indicates that social media fatigue is a predictor of behaviors such as lurking and psychological states like social anxiety ( Świątek et al., 2021 ; Hong et al., 2023 ). Consequently, social media fatigue is used as the mediator because it effectively represents the mental and emotional stress associated with social media, providing a solid theoretical and empirical foundation for examining how these antecedents lead to the identified outcomes. Hence, this research aims to examine the several indirect relationships generated from the theoretical framework with social media fatigue being a mediating variable.

Through a literature review, this study attempts to identify the determinants that influence social media fatigue, and its possible consequences, then formulate hypotheses and construct a research model (see Figure 1 ).

Figure 1 . Research model.

3 Research method

3.1 research design.

Based on the identified characteristics, the researchers defined the target population consisting of individuals who spent a significant amount of time on social media, engaged in frequent social media interactions, or exhibited behaviors indicative of compulsive social media use. The researchers employed a purposive sampling technique, which is characterized by the deliberate selection of participants possessing certain qualities that are of interest to the researcher. In this study, the researchers purposively selected participants through social media platforms known for high levels of user engagement, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter based on their social media usage patterns, and targeted individuals who exhibited behaviors indicative of potential susceptibility to social media fatigue.

The study used an online questionnaire and posted the URL of the questionnaire on social media. In addition, to improve the recovery of valid questionnaires, this study also commissioned a professional academic questionnaire company to distribute. The questionnaire was distributed from February 8, 2021 to March 9, 2022. Each questionnaire was answered anonymously. Finally, a total of 659 valid questionnaires were collected. The demographics of the respondents are shown in Table 1 .

Table 1 . Demographic statistics ( N  = 659).

The research questionnaire was divided into two parts, containing questions related to social media use and demographics (e.g., gender, age, occupation, education, and most used social media). Questions about social media use are based on previous research. The questions on social media helpfulness and self-efficacy were taken from Bright et al. (2015) ; the questions on online subjective well-being were referenced from Ahn and Shin (2013) , Brunstein (1993) , Chang and Hsu (2016) , and Diener et al. (2015) ; the questions on social comparison were referenced from Gibbons and Buunk (1999) , Latif et al. (2021) , Reer et al. (2019) , and Talwar et al. (2019) ; the questions on compulsive social media use are taken from Panda and Jain (2018) ; the questions on privacy concerns are taken from Dhir et al. (2018) and Malhotra et al. (2004) ; the questions on FoMO were taken from Przybylski et al. (2013) ; the questions on information overload were taken from Zhang et al. (2016) ; the questions on social media fatigue were taken from Dhir et al. (2018) , Islam et al. (2021) , and Whelan et al. (2020) ; the questions on social anxiety were taken from Alkis et al. (2017) ; and the questions on lurking were taken from Osatuyi (2015) . The measurement scale was a seven-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 for “strongly disagree” to 7 for “strongly agree.” Respondents were asked to answer based on their own experience. Also, this study sought advice from experts to improve the quality of the questionnaire. The questionnaire is provided in the Supplementary Material section of the research.

The research analyzed the data in two steps by employing a partial least squares (PLS) methodology. Firstly, the analysis regarding the convergent and discriminant validity of constructs was analyzed ( Anderson and Gerbing, 1988 ; Rahardja et al., 2023 ). In the second step, the analysis regarding path coefficients and hypotheses was conducted. This study selected the PLS methodology because of its capability to analyze relationships ( Petter et al., 2007 ) and complicated frameworks ( Chin and Newsted, 1999 ; Tao et al., 2022 ).

4 Research results

4.1 reliability and validity.

This study applied Partial Least Squares (PLS) to test the measurement model and validate the research model. First, the reliability was tested by Composite Reliability (CR) and Cronbach’s Alpha. Hulland (1999) suggested that CR should be greater than 0.7, indicating that the measured variables are internally consistent. The CR of the latent variable in this study was between 0.780 and 0.950 (see Table 2 ), which was greater than the recommended value (0.7), indicating a good level and internal consistency of the measurement constructs. Hair et al. (2017) suggested that Cronbach’s Alpha is greater than 0.7, indicating that the constructs have good reliability. Table 2 shows that except for Cronbach’s Alpha for the construct “lurking,” which is less than 0.7, the others range from 0.765 to 0.934 (see Table 2 ), which means that the questionnaire has good reliability.

Table 2 . Reliability and validity analysis.

Next, this study examined convergent validity and discriminant validity. Discriminant Validity refers to the degree of correlation between different constructs. When the correlation between the constructs is low, it means that the constructs are different from each other, i.e., they have discriminant validity. The purpose of measuring convergent validity is to ensure that all questions in a construct have a high correlation with that construct. This study used PLS to test Factor Loading and Average Variance Extracted (AVE). The factor loadings ranged from 0.516 to 0.971 (see Table 2 ), which was greater than the recommended value (0.5) by Hair et al. (2017) , indicating that the questions had convergent validity. In addition, this study had questions regarding the eight determinants of social media fatigue. One of the questions on social media helpfulness resulted in an AVE lower than Fornell and Larcker’s (1981) suggested value (0.5) and was removed. The AVE ranged from 0.542 to 0.822, indicating that the constructs had convergent validity. In addition, the correlations between the other constructs were smaller than the square root of the AVE for each construct, indicating discriminant validity (see Table 3 ). In addition to the Fornell-Larker Discriminant Validity, this study further tested the discriminant validity with the Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio (HTMT). Table 4 shows that the HTMT ranged from 0.050 to 0.881, which is smaller than the value suggested by Henseler et al. (2015) (0.900), indicating that this study had discriminant validity. Table 5 further indicates the cross-loadings of the constructs. The highlighted values indicate that a cross-loading value for a specific construct will be the highest in the latent structure in comparison to other values. Hence, the cross-loadings further reaffirm a satisfactory discriminant validity for the constructs of this study.

Table 3 . Fornell-Larker discriminant validity.

Table 4 . Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio (HTMT).

Table 5 . Cross-loadings.

4.2 Structural equation modeling analysis

After testing the reliability and validity of the measurement model, the hypothesis testing analysis was performed on the structural model. This study used SmartPLS as the analytical tool for hypothesis testing. The main method was the explained variation (R 2 ) to measure the fitness of the research model, and the standardized path coefficient and p -value to determine whether the hypotheses were supported.

Table 5 shows the results of the hypothesis testing. Social media self-efficacy had a negative significant effect on social media fatigue ( β  = −0.115, p  < 0.05); compulsive social media use, FoMO, and information overload had a positive significant effect on social media fatigue ( β  = 0.108, p  < 0.01; β  = 0.121, p  < 0.01; β  = 0.612, p  < 0.001). Therefore, H2, H5, H7, and H8 were supported. However, social media helpfulness, online subjective well-being, social comparison, and privacy concerns had no significant effect on social media fatigue ( β  = 0.090, p  > 0.05; β  = −0.093, p  > 0.05; β  = −0.057, p  > 0.05; β  = 0.050, p  > 0.05). Therefore, H1, H3, H4, and H6 were not supported. Finally, social media fatigue had a positive and significant effect on social anxiety ( β  = 0.367, p  < 0.001) and lurking ( β  = 0.636, p  < 0.001), indicating that H9 and H10 were supported ( Table 6 ).

Table 6 . Direct effect analysis.

R 2 represents the ability of the dependent variable to be explained by the independent variable, or the percentage of the variance that can be explained by the exogenous variables compared to the endogenous variables. R 2 is between 0 and 1. The closer it is to 1, the better the explanatory power. Figure 2 shows that the explanatory power of social media fatigue is 59.0% ( R 2  = 0.590), social anxiety is 40.4% ( R 2  = 0.404), and lurking is 13.4% ( R 2  = 0.134).

Figure 2 . Research results.

In addition, this study also used the results from SMART PLS to indicate indirect relationships. According to the findings indicated in Table 7 . OSWB ( β  = −0.058, T -value = 1.764), PC ( β  = 0.031, T -value = 1.466), SC ( β  = −0.037, T -value = 1.468), and HF ( β  = 0.050, T -value = 1.845) did not have significant indirect relationships with SA, while having SMF as a mediator. Furthermore, SE ( β  = −0.066, T -value = 2.078), CSMU ( β  = 0.067, T -value = 2.843), FOMO ( β  = 0.078, T -value = 2.629), and IO ( β  = 0.390, T -value = 13.253) were found to significantly impact SA indirectly via SMF.

Table 7 . Indirect relationships.

Moreover, OSWB ( β  = −0.034, T -value = 1.721), PC ( β  = 0.018, T -value = 1.449), SC ( β  = −0.022, T -value = 1.418), and HF ( β  = 0.029, T -value = 1.822) did not indirectly impact LU, while having SMF as a mediator. Lastly, SE ( β  = −0.038, T -value = 2.064), CSMU ( β  = 0.039, T -value = 2.669), FOMO ( β  = 0.045, T -value = 2.436), and IO ( β  = 0.226, T -value = 8.155) were found to have significant indirect relationships with LU via SMF.

5 Discussion

5.1 conclusion.

The research purpose is to explore the determinants and consequences of social media fatigue when users use social media. Through data analysis, this research has obtained some conclusions, which are explained as follows.

First, social media self-efficacy was found to have a significant negative impact on social media fatigue. The result can be compared to an earlier study by Liu and He (2021) . According to Liu and He’s (2021) study, social media has become an integral part of people’s lives. While enjoying the benefits of online communication, many young individuals are experiencing various challenges such as negative comparisons, too much information, and difficulties in interacting with others. As a result, social media fatigue (SMF) is emerging among young people. Liu and He’s (2021) study investigated the factors contributing to SMF through a questionnaire survey. Liu and He’s (2021) study identified several factors such as negative comparisons, social media self-efficacy, and information overload that significantly contributed to SMF.

Moreover, the research results showed that compulsive social media use and FoMO had significant positive impacts on social media fatigue. The results of the present study can be compared to an earlier study by Dhir et al. (2018) . According to Dhir et al.’s (2018) study the rise of social media has led to increased users but also fatigue. Dhir et al.’s (2018) study investigated links between well-being and fatigue. It used a framework to examine triggers and outcomes. The data was collected from Indian adolescent users. Dhir et al.’s (2018) findings indicated that compulsive use led to fatigue, then anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the fear of missing out indirectly predicted fatigue.

On the other hand, information overload has a significant positive impact on social media fatigue. This result is similar to a previous study by Pang (2021) . According to Pang’s (2021) study social media supports during pandemics like COVID-19, but its negative impacts are understudied. Pang’s (2021) study explored the effects on well-being, focusing on WeChat and information overload. Pang’s (2021) study collected the data from 566 young individuals. Pang’s (2021) study indicated that overload triggers fatigue, leading to stress and anxiety. Social media fatigue is the feeling of overwhelm, burnout, and fatigue caused by users receiving too much information from social media ( Li et al., 2024 ). However, they also worry about not keeping up with current events and may not be able to communicate with their peers. Their chronic fear and stress of not having the same experience as others can lead to fatigue.

Consequently, the research results also showed that social media helpfulness had no impact on social media fatigue. The research results can be compared to a study conducted by Bright et al. (2015) . According to Bright et al.’s (2015) study social media usage rise can cause social media fatigue. Bright et al.’s (2015) study used Lang’s model to examine information overload’s role. Bright et al.’s (2015) research explored fatigue’s antecedents including efficacy, helpfulness, confidence, and privacy concerns. According to the findings of Bright et al.’s (2015) study social media helpfulness negatively impacted social media fatigue, while privacy concerns and confidence were the top predictors of fatigue.

Furthermore, according to the present study the perceived online subjective well-being of social media users did not impact social media fatigue. This study argues that some social media users may be dissatisfied with the online community and network environment, and thus unable to use them appropriately and reduce fatigue ( Zhao and Khan, 2021 ). The present study’s result can be compared to a study conducted by Kaur et al. (2021) . According to Kaur et al.’s (2021) study scholars focus on social media’s dark impact on well-being. Kaur et al.’s (2021) study employed the limited-capacity model. Kaur et al.’s (2021) study explored the US social media users’ fatigue and collected data from Prolific Academic. Kaur et al.’s (2021) study results showed that online subjective well-being related positively to self-disclosure and social comparison, while negatively correlated with social media fatigue.

Additionally, social comparison has no significant impact on social media fatigue. This study argues that upward social comparison on social media may trigger benign jealousy and thus impact positive behavioral intentions. For example, when a friend has a superior life status on social media, it is positively related to behavioral intentions of self-enhancement and self-improvement through virtuous envy ( Latif et al., 2021 ). Social media fatigue was not significant because comparisons with others did not cause a psychological burden. The result can be compared to a previous study by Jabeen et al. (2023) . According to Jabeen et al.’s (2023) study social media’s prevalence leads to FoMO and fatigue. However, there was a lack of knowledge about their influence on users’ psychology. Jabeen et al.’s (2023) study filled this gap by examining FoMO stimuli. Jabeen et al.’s (2023) study also investigated narcissism’s impact on self-disclosure and social comparison. Jabeen et al.’s (2023) study collected data from social media users in the US. Jabeen et al.’s (2023) study results indicated that FoMO was linked to time cost and anxiety and also influenced narcissistic admiration and rivalry processes. Furthermore, Jabeen et al.’s (2023) study also indicated that social comparison positively affected fatigue.

On the other hand, the impact of privacy concerns on social media fatigue was not significant. Jang and Sung (2021) believe that although privacy concerns are related to the use of online services, highly creative users will still accept and use innovations and actively use online services. This study infers that although the website requires users to provide personal information, users who have the awareness of protecting their basic personal information will not fill in unnecessary information, and thus will not cause fatigue. Another reason is that some social media are only used by users to connect and interact with others ( Malik et al., 2020 ). In other words, users can set their personal social media accounts to private and strictly control followers to prevent private information from being disclosed to unknown users.

Furthermore, the present research results showed that social media fatigue had a positive and significant impact on social anxiety. Social media fatigue can lead to increased social anxiety among social media users, which can be compared to previous research by Świątek et al. (2021) . According to Świątek et al.’s (2021) study several interdisciplinary literatures explored social media fatigue’s correlates, including anxiety and FoMO. Świątek et al.’s (2021) study examined FoMO’s role in the anxiety-social media fatigue link. The data for Świątek et al.’s (2021) study was collected online from 264 participants, mostly women. Świątek et al.’s (2021) results indicated that higher trait anxiety is related to more intense social media fatigue. Furthermore, FoMO mediated the anxiety-social media fatigue association across dimensions.

Lastly, according to the present study, social media fatigue was found to significantly impact lurking. The result can be compared to an earlier research by Hong et al. (2023) . According to Hong et al.’s (2023) study lurking surpasses interaction in social network app usage. Hong et al.’s (2023) study scrutinized lurking behavior and its drivers. Hong et al.’s (2023) study examined information refusal, browsing, and fatigue. Hong et al.’s (2023) research collected insights from 786 questionnaires and highlighted fatigue and refusal as key factors. Social media fatigue emerged as the predominant contributor to lurking.

5.2 Theoretical implications

The research purpose is to explore the determinants and consequences of social media fatigue. Previous studies have explored many of the determinants (e.g., self-disclosure, FoMO, social comparison, privacy concerns, information overload, and system overload) and consequences (e.g., anxiety, depression, and emotional stress) of social media fatigue ( Bright et al., 2015 ; Lee et al., 2016 ; Dhir et al., 2018 ; Logan et al., 2018 ; Kaur et al., 2021 ; Pang, 2021 ; Tandon et al., 2021 ). However, most previous studies have focused on the factors that cause social media fatigue, but the consequences of fatigue are rarely discussed. Also, most of the previous studies discussing the consequences of social media fatigue have been about declines in social media activity, discontinuous use, and discontinuing behaviors ( Luqman et al., 2017 ; Fu et al., 2020 ; Liu Z. et al., 2021 ).

Furthermore, by merging CLT ( Sweller, 2023 ) with social comparison theory ( Festinger, 1954 ; Powdthavee, 2024 ) and social cognitive theory ( Chou et al., 2024 ), the research illustrates how factors like information overload ( Pang, 2021 ) and compulsive social media use ( Dhir et al., 2018 ) lead to cognitive exhaustion and fatigue, emphasizing the unique cognitive strain associated with digital environments. Additionally, it highlights the applicability of social comparison theory ( De Vries et al., 2023 ) by demonstrating how frequent social comparisons and FOMO on social media platforms lead to emotional fatigue ( Jabeen et al., 2023 ). It also signifies the importance of employing social cognitive theory ( Almulla and Al-Rahmi, 2023 ) to indicate the relationship between self-efficacy and social media fatigue ( Liu and He, 2021 ). Identifying social media fatigue as a mediator clarifies the indirect effects of these antecedents on outcomes such as social anxiety and lurking behaviors. Consequently, this further signifies the importance of interventions to manage these cognitive and emotional stressors. The findings promote a comprehensive framework that integrates multiple theoretical perspectives to understand the complex impact of social media on users.

This study is different from previous studies. This study uses lurking as a social media fatigue behavioral consequence, which is discussed in relatively few studies as a research direction. The research results showed a significant positive impact of social media fatigue on lurking and confirmed the relationship between these two factors. The findings contribute to research exploring social media fatigue.

5.3 Practical implications

The research findings have important implications for social media users, managers, and marketers. First, the implications for users. The research results show that compulsive social media use, FoMO, and information overload make users feel fatigued. Social media users should understand that compulsive use comes from their inability to restrain IAD. Also, perceptions of FoMO and information overload can directly impact an individual’s social media fatigue. Therefore, these psychological pressures can lead to fear of expressing oneself online and excessive concern about what others think of them. Second, the implications for operators and providers of social media services. This study proposes negative factors contributing to social media fatigue. Social media fatigue comes not only from human interactions but also from interactions with companies and brands ( Bright et al., 2015 ). The purpose of users using social media is not only to establish contact with others, express personal opinions, and check news and current events but also to entertain and kill time. However, excessive use of the internet and social media leads to social media fatigue, leading to lurking. Hence, this study suggests that social media operators should strengthen the functions of social media, and provide a more concise user interface and skills or knowledge in order to improve users’ successful experience and self-confidence in the process of use, increase motivation for use, and reduce social media fatigue. Finally, the implications for marketers. The research results show that information overload and FoMO are positively related to social media fatigue. Therefore, marketers should check whether releasing too much information to users leads to information overload. Additionally, if the social media service provider can provide users with the priority to view the most interesting and favorite content, it can avoid the user’s fear of missing information, and reduce unwanted content, which can reduce information overload.

5.4 Research limitations and future research suggestions

Although this study took a lot of time and effort, and the process was rigorous, it was still limited by time and resources. This study is described below. First, this study explored social media fatigue without discussing specific social media. The phenomenon of social media fatigue may vary according to the characteristics of different social media or the usage habits of users. Second, this study takes social anxiety as the negative psychological impact of social media fatigue but does not explore whether social anxiety is the specific impact of social media fatigue. Therefore, future research can explore the subsequent behavior of social anxiety on social media. Third, this study adopts a cross-sectional study, which refers to data collection and investigation at a specific time point, and it cannot be confirmed that the long-term results of the study may change over time. Fourth, this study did not consider the influence of personality traits. Thus, future research can explore the characteristics of social media users and the influence of each construct on social media fatigue in more detail. Finally, most of the respondents in this study were between 26 and 45 years old. Respondents of different age groups have different habits of using social media. User experience with social media can vary based on demographics, personality traits, experience, and frequency of use. Therefore, future research can be conducted on various age groups and extend the model to various variables and different cultures or countries.

6 Conclusion

The study’s findings indicate that social media self-efficacy has a negative impact on social media fatigue, whereas compulsive social media use, fear of missing out (FoMO), and information overload have positive impacts. Additionally, social media fatigue is found to significantly contribute to social anxiety and lurking behaviors. These results highlight the crucial mediating role of social media fatigue, offering important insights into how various antecedents affect psychological and behavioral outcomes. This highlights the importance of targeted interventions to reduce cognitive and emotional stress among social media users. Future research should further investigate other mediating and moderating variables to deepen the understanding of these complex relationships and develop strategies that promote healthier social media usage and enhance user well-being.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics statement

Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent from the patients/participants or patients/participants legal guardian/next of kin was not required to participate in this study in accordance with the national legislation and the institutional requirements.

Author contributions

CQ: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. YiL: Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. TW: Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. JZ: Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. LT: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. JY: Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. YuL: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the Soft Science Research Project of Henan Province in 2024 (Project name: Research on the Protection, Inheritance and Development of Cultural Space of Traditional Villages in Henan Yanhuang; Project number: 242400411147); Research Project on Integration of Production and Education in Undergraduate Universities in Henan Province (Project name: Comprehensive Reform and Application of Multiple Collaborative Practice Teaching Mode of Design Major under AI Enabling; Project number: 2023348073); Research and Practice Project on Undergraduate Education and Teaching Reform of Henan Agricultural University (Project name: Research and Practice on Teaching Reform of General Courses of Public Art in Colleges and Universities in the New Era of “Educating People with Aesthetics and Infiltrating Integration”; Project number: 2024XJGLX002); Research and Practice Project of Research-based Teaching Reform in Undergraduate Universities (Project name: Writing papers in Geodetic Design, Doing in Hometown: Application Research of Research-based Teaching Mode in Practical Teaching of Design Major; Project number: 2022SYJXLX097).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1277846/full#supplementary-material

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Keywords: social media fatigue, fear of missing out, information overload, social anxiety, lurking

Citation: Qin C, Li Y, Wang T, Zhao J, Tong L, Yang J and Liu Y (2024) Too much social media? Unveiling the effects of determinants in social media fatigue. Front. Psychol . 15:1277846. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1277846

Received: 15 August 2023; Accepted: 01 July 2024; Published: 23 July 2024.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2024 Qin, Li, Wang, Zhao, Tong, Yang and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Ying Li, [email protected] ; Jing Zhao, [email protected]

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Social Media — Negative Effect of Social Media on Young People

Negative Effect of Social Media on Young People

• Categories: Effects of Social Media Social Media Society

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Words: 601 |

Published: Apr 11, 2019

Words: 601 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Hook Examples for Argumentative Essay about Social Media

• The Social Media Paradox: In today’s hyperconnected world, social media both unites and divides us. This essay explores the complex interplay between digital connection and disconnection, shedding light on the paradoxes that define our online lives.
• Scrolling Towards Solitude: Social media promises a world of friends at our fingertips, but does it also lead us down a lonely path? Join us as we unravel the impact of digital scrolling on our mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
• The Democracy of Information: With social media’s power to amplify voices and spark movements, it’s been hailed as a tool for democratizing information. In this essay, we’ll weigh the scales and examine the extent to which social media fosters or hinders free speech and activism.
• The Filter Bubble Effect: Social media algorithms curate our online experiences, showing us content that aligns with our existing beliefs. Explore the consequences of living in a filter bubble and the implications for the diversity of ideas in our digital age.
• The Privacy Predicament: In the age of oversharing, our personal data has become a valuable commodity. Join us as we dive into the contentious world of social media privacy, examining the trade-offs between connectivity and personal information security.

Works Cited

• Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073-1137.
• Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: the impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body image, 13, 38-45.
• Bessi, A., Coletto, M., Davidescu, G. A., Scala, A., Caldarelli, G., & Quattrociocchi, W. (2015). Science vs conspiracy: collective narratives in the age of misinformation. PloS one, 10(2), e0118093.
• Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(10), 652-657.
• Duggan, M., & Smith, A. (2013). Social media update 2013. Pew Research Center, 14.
• O’Keeffe, G. S., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics, 127(4), 800-804.
• National Institutes of Health. (2019). Social media use and children’s mental health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-media-and-childrens-mental-health/index.shtml
• Livingstone, S., & Haddon, L. (2009). EU Kids Online: Final report. London: EU Kids Online.
• Ross, W., & Rivers, I. (2019). The impacts of social media on LGBT young people’s mental health and well-being: A review of the literature. The Journal of LGBT Youth, 16(4), 289-307.
• Ruder, T. D., Hatch, Q. M., & Ampanozi, G. (2017). YouTube as a source of information on global pandemics: a content analysis. Health Informatics Journal, 23(3), 161-171.

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