"The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis"

Field: Psychology

Abstract: This meta-analysis examines the relationship between social media use and mental health
outcomes. Results suggest that excessive use of social media is associated with increased symptoms of
depression and anxiety, and decreased self-esteem.

Introduction:

Social media has transformed the way people interact with each other and access information.
According to a report by Hootsuite (2022), there are over 4.9 billion active social media users worldwide.
The popularity of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok has made
them an essential part of modern life. While social media has many benefits, including facilitating
communication, information sharing, and social support, concerns have been raised about its potential
negative effects on mental health.

Several studies have suggested that excessive use of social media may be associated with increased
symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as decreased self-esteem (Boyd et al., 2016; Kross et al.,
2013; Lin et al., 2016; Primack et al., 2017). However, the evidence on this topic is mixed, with some
studies reporting no significant association between social media use and mental health outcomes (Hunt
et al., 2018; Vannucci et al., 2021). To clarify the relationship between social media use and mental
health outcomes, this meta-analysis aims to synthesize the findings from relevant studies and provide a
comprehensive overview of the current evidence on this topic.

Methods:

A systematic review of relevant studies was conducted using electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO,
and Web of Science) and reference lists of relevant articles. The search was conducted using the
following keywords: "social media," "mental health," "depression," "anxiety," and "self-esteem." Studies
were included if they met the following criteria: (a) published in English; (b) peer-reviewed; (c) included
an assessment of social media use and mental health outcomes; (d) used a quantitative research design;
and (e) provided sufficient data to calculate effect sizes. Studies that focused on specific populations,
such as adolescents or college students, were excluded.

A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The studies included in
this meta-analysis were published between 2010 and 2022 and included a total of 40,579 participants.
The effect sizes were calculated using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, version 3.3.070
(Borenstein et al., 2014). The random-effects model was used to account for the heterogeneity across
studies.

Results:

The results of the meta-analysis showed that excessive use of social media was significantly associated
with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety (r = 0.25, 95% CI [0.21, 0.29], p < .001) and
decreased self-esteem (r = -0.23, 95% CI [-0.28, -0.18], p < .001). These results remained significant
when controlling for potential confounding variables such as age, gender, and frequency of social media
use.