Social Media

Social media is generally used to describe internet-based websites and applications where users can participate in conversations, connect with other people, share their thoughts, and otherwise engage in social networking in a virtual environment. Between them, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok attract billions of daily users worldwide.

Social media is still a relatively new invention. But despite its youth, social media platforms have become an integral part of our culture. Many people spend at least some portion of their day on social media — consuming news, forming opinions, and sharing highly curated (and sometimes outright deceptive) snippets from their lives with friends and strangers alike. Because of the outsized role social media now plays in day-to-day life, psychologists have begun conducting extensive research on how it affects our culture, our relationships, and our mental well-being. Overall, the conclusion is mixed; while social media can certainly have negative effects, both on individuals and on society at large, it can also influence our lives in positive and sometimes surprising ways.
Social Media and Mental Health
sad teen girl looking at social media on a red smartphone
Does social media make us depressed or anxious, or worsen our self-esteem? Many laypeople are convinced that it does, either based on their own experience or in light of the worsening mental health crisis…