Survey Report on Effects of Social Media Usage on Mental Health and Self-

Esteem

Introduction

This survey aimed to explore the relationship between social media usage patterns
and their influence on mental health and self-esteem across various age groups. The
data collected encompassed usage duration, frequency, platforms used, and self-
reported psychological effects related to social media engagement.

Methodology

The survey was conducted among 116 individuals from diverse age groups 18-36
years and included questions regarding the duration of social media usage, usage
frequency, preferred platforms, and self-perceived psychological effects resulting
from social media engagement.

Section 1: Usage Patterns

• Duration of Usage: The majority of participants (around 70%) reported using

social media platforms for more than six years, indicating prolonged exposure
to these platforms.

Duration Of Usage
More than a year
8%

Less than a week

38%
Several months
31%

7 to 28 days
23%

Less than a week 7 to 28 days Several months More than a year

 • Frequency: Over 80% of respondents indicated frequent to very frequent
usage of social media platforms, highlighting high engagement levels.
• Preferred Platforms: The most commonly used platforms across age groups
were Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, with nearly 90% of
respondents actively using these platforms.

Platforms

Reddit
12% Facebook
20%

Linkedin
20%

Instagram
28%

Snapchat
20%

Facebook Instagram Snapchat Linkedin Reddit

Section 2: Importance Attached to Social Media Uses

• Impress Others: Self-promotion, sharing relevant information, and

making/maintaining connections were ranked as the most important uses of
social media, with over 60% of respondents considering these aspects highly
significant.
• Self-Promotion: Interestingly, across all age groups, self-promotion was
consistently rated lower in importance compared to other uses.

Section 3: Psychological Effects

• Maximum Days without Social Media: The vast majority of respondents

(around 85%) reported using social media very frequently, with only a small
fraction abstaining from usage for more than a week.
 MAXIMUM DAYS WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA
More than a year
8%

Less than a week

38%
Several months
31%

7 to 28 days
23%

• Experiences after Social Media Usage: Anxiety was the most commonly
reported psychological effect, followed by social competition, feelings of
inferiority/superiority complexes, and occasional reports of depression. These
effects were particularly prevalent among individuals aged 19-24 who
engaged with social media frequently.

Observations

• Usage Habits: The findings suggest a consistent pattern of prolonged and

frequent social media use across all age groups.
• Psychological Effects: Anxiety and social competition were frequently
reported across age groups, especially among respondents aged 19-24.
Feelings of inferiority/superiority were more common among individuals
engaging with social media for more than six years.

Conclusion

The survey results strongly indicate a notable correlation between extended social
media usage and the experienced psychological effects, particularly anxiety, social
competition, and feelings of inferiority/superiority. These effects were prominently
reported among individuals engaging with social media for prolonged durations.

Recommendations
Based on the identified psychological effects, advocating for balanced and mindful
social media usage among users is crucial. Educating users about potential negative
impacts and encouraging healthy online behaviours may help alleviate these effects.

Limitations

The survey relied on self-reported experiences, which may vary in accuracy.

Additionally, the cross-sectional nature of the data limits the ability to establish
causal relationships between social media use and mental health effects.

Acknowledgments

The survey was made possible by the invaluable contributions of all participants who
shared their experiences and insights.