New study challenges social media's mental health impact

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2024-11-17 17:00:04

A new Curtin University study has challenged the perception heavy social media use has a significant impact on mental health, finding little to no relationship between the two.

In fact, not only does the research indicate the amount of time spent on social media has a negligible effect on mental health indicators such as depression, anxiety and stress -- the result isn't always negative, either.

Study lead and PhD candidate Chloe Jones said it was important to stress the findings don't suggest social media use is harmless or has no impact on mental health, however the relationship between the two likely has many complex layers.

"For example, a connection to a supportive online community could be a lifeline for people living in isolation, but hours of scrolling Instagram influencers could be really unhelpful if you have body image concerns," Ms Jones said.

While most previous studies on social media use have relied on self-reported estimates from participants, researchers from the Curtin School of Population Health collected mobile phone data from more than 400 people ranging from 17-53 years old, to accurately measure how much time they spent on social media in the past week.