Using THIS Many Social Media Platforms May Lead To Depression And Anxiety
21 December 2016, 11:13 | Updated: 19 November 2018, 16:11
This study found that a specific number of platforms can put you at risk.
It probably isn't a surprise to anyone that social media isn't all that great for your mental health. What you might not know, however, is how certain behaviours on social media can impact your state of mind.
This is what a new study from the University of Pittsburgh set out to investigate and the results are a little alarming.
As reported by Teen Vogue, The Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health at the University of Pittsburgh surveyed 1787 U.S. young adults about their social media habits and discovered that the more social media platforms you use, the more likely you are to experience depression and anxiety.
giphy
They found that if you use a specific number of platforms, between seven to 11, that this can put you at risk. Using that many social media sites makes you three times more likely to have depression and anxiety than people who use zero to two platforms. *nervously checks how many sites we're using on a daily basis*
This doesn't necessarily mean that using seven or more platforms will definitely give you depression or anxiety. For example, it might be the case that people who suffer from symptoms of depression or anxiety actively seek out more social media platforms to feel more comfortable and accepted (i.e. using lots of social media platforms might be a symptom, not a cause). However, stress trying to maintain a presence on multiple platforms may lead to increased depression and anxiety.
So what should you take from this? Well, it's clear that a healthy balance is needed. Social media can be great but it does take it's toll if you're on it all the time, especially if you're already feeling anxious or depressed.
Remember there are a lot of services out there that can help you. Head over to AADA or Young Minds for more information.
giphy
