Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

Social media has become a part of our daily routine. For many, scrolling through social media is one of the first things they do in the morning and the last thing they check before going to bed at night.

Social media connects us with distant friends and relatives, informs us of news events, and the sale at the local department store. It entertains us. Who can resist a dog in a costume or the absurdity of a meme? But despite all its good and glory, social media can also unravel our peace of mind.

Negative Effects of Social Media: How It Can Harm You

Research indicates that anxiety, depression, and loneliness are all on the rise, especially among young people. Studies increasingly link these struggles to prolonged time on social media platforms. Here’s why these are considered direct effects of social media:

Social media provides the stage for anyone and everyone to paint their lives as perfectly, falsely beautiful and curated any way they want. Those people you watch, the ones with flawless skin, fantastic jobs, and bodies, can make you feel inferior. The unfortunate reality is that while your brain may suspect that your old co-worker hasn’t aged backwards but merely found a new beauty filter, your emotions don’t always get the message.

Your mind absorbs these illusions, these cropped, perfectly captioned, and yes, airbrushed, images. Eventually, your brain has difficulty differentiating between reality and self-promoting marketing. After prolonged exposure, your mind may make a critical shift from “I’m so happy for them” to “Why don’t I have that?”

Another harmful aspect of social media is its repeated memories. Sometimes it becomes a portal to the past. While it can be rewarding to relive your favorite moments captured in images and posted on your socials, this historical record can sometimes be detrimental.

You scroll through your ex’s vacation photos, reading positive comments about his new relationship. And it stings. And it lingers. Suddenly, the old wounds that you thought had healed are bleeding again.

Or maybe it’s not an ex but a friend who ghosted you, a family member who causes drama, or someone who always seems to be living your dream. These types of posts, these portals to the past, can dredge up memories and produce triggers that you thought were resolved.

Social media can also trap you in the exhausting business of performance. What might it say to your friends and followers if you didn’t post a “Happy Birthday” message to your spouse? Would they assume you were at odds or on the verge of divorce? What fallout would you get if you posted an image of yourself wearing a new outfit? Would it inspire a series of private messages among your social network, commenting on the weight you’ve gained?

If you’re a regular social media contributor, you may feel the pressure to post a selfie and count the likes. You may feel compelled to share the reel, watch the views climb, and comment quickly to stay relevant. Social media can turn into a stage where you’re constantly trying to prove that you’re okay (even when you’re not). If you’re already struggling with anxiety, insecurity, or depression, social media can exacerbate the symptoms.

Worse still, social platforms are often a playground for cruelty. Bullies no longer need to look you in the eye but can hide behind a screen and say those mean words or bring up those painful nicknames or memories. Social media provides a platform where users can be cruel and face no immediate consequences.

It’s not just teens who face this, although online bullying is a major issue facing today’s youth. Adults get pulled into online arguments. Opinion sharing is no longer confined to face-to-face interactions and polite party conversation. Hot topics are now discussed at length online, promoting division and allowing bullying.

Local and world news (and even gossip) used to be contained to television, radio, and newspaper articles. If you wanted to know what was going on in the world, you would have to seek it out or wait for the neighborhood gossip to knock on your door.

But with the onset of social media, tragic stories are force-fed to users through viral sharing, and this saturation of negative news can be damaging to your mental health.

You may also notice how social media eats away at your time. A few minutes of scrolling turns into an hour, which turns into several. Before you know it, you’ve missed moments right in front of you, such as conversations, connections, and even rest. That constant pull to check your phone can distract you from the simple joys that God places in your path. Your real-life, screen-free, in-person path.

We weren’t created to carry the weight of the world in the palm of our hands. Those pocket-sized windows into everyone else’s best moments and the world’s worst can quickly reveal your deficits (or perceived deficits), your trauma triggers, and deepest insecurities. Between the onslaught of negative world news and the highlight reels, filters, perfect families, and curated lives, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and like you’re “not enough.”

This chipping away of your peace and self-worth are some of the effects of social media that can happen without you even realizing it. And suddenly you’re worrying about things that will never happen, comparing your life to others, and measuring your value by likes, comments, or follower count.

God didn’t design us for comparison. Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:4, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” Yet social media serves up comparisons on a silver platter, 24/7.

Seeking Help

If the effects of social media become a source of pain, there’s no shame in signing off and seeking help. Talking to a Christian counselor or licensed therapist can be life-changing. Therapy is one of many ways God helps and heals us through others. It can offer clarity and help you identify patterns that aren’t serving you, process pain you’ve ignored, and set boundaries to protect your peace.

Sometimes you may need to simply take a break from the socials to enjoy your real life. Log off, mute, or unfollow the accounts that stir up fear, insecurity, or pain. Permit yourself to live unfiltered and without obligatory documentation. Have your fancy meal without taking an Instagram-worthy photo. Enjoy the sunset with your eyes rather than through your screen.

Make choices that will enrich your life, rather than detract from it. Replace your screen time with Scripture reading, prayer, a walk outside, or a meaningful conversation with someone who knows you in real life, not just your online persona.

Unfollow the Chaos

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. – Romans 12:2, NIV

We live in a world that never stops talking. Reels, stories, and curated posts aren’t necessarily there to inform you but to gather a reaction. When you spend hours online, not only do you feel disconnected from your real life and those in it, but you give an audience and opportunity to those who want to exploit you. Guard your heart and protect your peace of mind by simply unfollowing or logging off.

You don’t have to keep up with the “Joneses”; instead, keep building on your relationship with Christ. You are already deeply known, fully loved, and seen by the One who created you; by the one who loved you long before you posted that selfie that took two hours to stage. God called you good. And while social media can be a helpful tool in personal and business contexts, it can often become an idol.

To learn more about the negative effects of social media on your mental health and to begin breaking that hold, contact our office today and schedule an appointment with me or one of the other Christian therapists in our association. You can begin to see the world clearly and grow in your relationship with Christ and the people in your offline life. Let us help.