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Leo Mancilla
Rachel Hepworth
Ce English 1010
14 December 2021
Social Media’s Role
Social media’s underlying power in the mental health of today’s society. Celebrities and
other public figures including Dwayne Johnson, Gina Rodriguez, Logic, Ariana Grande, and
Kevin Love are just a few that used their social media as a platform to share their mental health
stories. Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers began using his Twitter account to share the story
of his struggles with mental health. More recently Dwayne Johnson opened up about the
depression he faced and how no one is immune from mental illness, his mother attempted to
commit suicide when he was only at the age of 15 while he was facing his own mental health
issues, leaving him in a loop of negative thoughts. On his twitter account he shared an article
documenting his struggle, “Got tons of responses to this. Thank you. We all go thru the
sludge/shi*, and depression never discriminates. Took me a long time to realize it, but the key is
to not be afraid to open up. Especially us dudes have a tendency to keep it in. You’re not alone”
(Dwayne Johnson). The American hip hop artist Logic shared his song “1-800-273-8255" in
2017, calls to that number, which belongs to the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,
increased by fifty percent after release according to the lifeline. According to CNN “... a new
study finds that in addition to nearly 10,000 more calls to the 1-800-273-8255 lifeline, there was
also a 5.5% reduction in suicides among 10- to 19-year-olds during the first 34 days after the
song's release”. That equates to a reduction of 245 suicides below the expected number during
that period. Within the same CNN article, Thomas Niederkrotenthaler claims “Celebrities but
also noncelebrities can have an important role in suicide prevention if they communicate about
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how they have copied with crisis situations and suicidal ideation”(Niederkrotenthaler 1). Social
media has shown itself to be a way to help users cope with mental health issues and connect with
others. However, social media has also shown its ability to create mental health issues and a
negative environment.
Jeff Orlowski recently created a documentary, “The Social Dilemma”, it’s instant success
with Netflix users is almost unrivaled; the documentary forms the idea that social media has the
ability to cause significant damage to the mental health of its users. He is also able to cover the
topic of mental health and the factors regarding mental health. Social media was first born in
1997 and was popularized in the early 2000’s and has greatly grown since. Reaching proper
understanding of social media’s impact on mental health is important because the usage of social
media in the U.S. is ever-increasing and is, without a doubt one of the most popular online
activities that internet users engage in. This paper will explore social media’s role regarding
mental health in today’s society
One of the many questions that arises in this topic is what the impact of social media on
the mental health of its users. Additionally, does social media create suicidal ideation within its
users? Does social media influence users negatively and whether it is leading to the creation of
mental health issues such as depression and anxiety? Another question brought up is whether
social media produces a more positive view and response to mental health. Furthermore, another
question that arises in the conversation is what factors influence mental health. However, this
paper lacks in answering what factors may influence mental health outside of social media such
as religion, school, and the workplace. This paper also fails in exploring the predetermined
stigma surrounding mental health within today’s society. All the questions mentioned would help
in answering what social media’s role is in how others view and respond to mental health issues.
Social media has the power to change the mood and views of its users in an instant whether it be
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a positive/negative mood or view. Being able to understand the stigma others have surrounding
mental health issues today could give reason to why some people view/respond to those with
these issues.
Some of the topics being discussed in the conversation regarding social media’s impact
on mental health include mental health and the factors influencing the mental health of social
media users. How does stigma around mental health affect the way social media users affect the
mental health of users who may be struggling with mental health issues? Additionally, this paper
will explore how the benefits and harms of social media vary according to one’s circumstances.
Coincidently also giving an in-depth discussion of the potential benefits and harms of social
media on users’ mental health.
In the conversation of social media’s impact on user’s mental health one topic mentioned
is mental health. Some believe that social media creates a negative view/response to mental
health. Brian Ahmedani heavily advocates for this view claiming that social media’s structure
and use has led to a creation of negative stigma surrounding mental health. He elaborates by
explaining that fear and discomfort arise as a result of an individual's presence whether it is
electronically or face-to-face. Karim et al also agrees with this view emphasizing that sedentary
behaviors such as social media use leave less time for face-to-face social interactions. “In this
instance, the general public perceives those with mental disorders as frightening, unpredictable,
and strange” (Ahmedani ed al, 2). When social media users recognize one that doesn’t adhere to
their expected social norms, they generalize and label others. This labeling and stereotyping
process gives rise to separation within its users inside and outside of social media. Roeder also
believes that social media has negative aspects in affecting mental health; she claims that many
users of social media form an unhealthy emotional connection to it. Furthermore, she explains
that they check social media excessively out of fear of missing out and receive disappointment
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from feeling disconnected from friends when not using social media. She also includes that it
might be adding to the diminishing in person interactions. Additionally, an article by the
University of Nevada iterates “...20% of people who have at least one social media account feel
they have to check them at least once every three hours to avoid feeling anxious” (1), in other
words a form of missing out. This has led to the creation of FOMO or social media anxiety
disorder reported as by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America or ADAA. Karim et
al speaks on how teens experience anxiety from social media to fear of loss, resulting in teens
trying to respond and check messages on a regular basis. Orlowski elaborates on this form of
addiction social media’s job is to “...keep people engaged on the screen. ‘Let’s figure out how to
get as much of this person’s attention’.” (13:40) as an insider in these platform meetings he
claims they focus on how to form an addiction between its users and the platform. In this
documentary Orlowski interviews Aza Raskin, a former employee at Firefox and Mozilla labs
who found that he had, fallen prey to his very creation, “I actually had to write myself software
to break my addiction to reading Reddit” (31:38). Tristan Harris another interviewee was a
former employee at google who spoke up about the addiction side of social media within the
company, “... I, you know, felt personally addicted to e-mail, and I found it fascinating there was
no one at Gmail working on making it less addictive” (8:35). Karim et al finds studies that found
anxiety and depression were the most measured outcome when using social media. This Disorder
leads to unattractive traits, due to withdrawal from family and friends, neglecting activities of
importance, and lying about the amount of time spent on social media. Orlowski elaborates on
this idea claiming that social media leads to the development of unattractive traits to some, while
these same traits can be seen as attractive to others. Orlowski believes social media creates
“...two sides who couldn’t hear each other anymore, who didn’t want to hear each other
anymore, who didn’t trust each other anymore” (1:12:55). This has led to the attribution of
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negative feelings towards groups creating a toxic platform due to the tribalism created. The UNR
also addresses that the social comparison “...takes many forms online that can negatively affect
young users of social media” (2). Or in other words the natural tendency to compare one with
others they interact with online can ultimately lead to negative feelings towards others such as
envy or jealousy. Odgers seconds this view “...social media usage have reached unprecedented
levels, concerns have been raised that this constant connectivity is harming adolescents’ mental
health” (Odgers 1). Odgers speaks on how young people are spending increasing amounts of
time on social media. She held a study showing 13–18-year old's share a screen time of 6.67 hrs.
per day, with their younger peers ages 8-12 sharing 4.6 hrs. of screen time. Odgers goes on to
conclude that the potential harms of social media included social isolation, depression, and
cyberbullying. Within Orlowski’s documentary he interviews Jonathan Haidt, a social
psychologist who studied the number of girls in the US who were admitted to hospitals due to
self-harm was stable till 2010-2011. Studies show “It’s up 62 percent for older teen girls. It’s up
189 percent for the preteen girls” (40:29). Along with this study the same pattern is seen with
suicide from 2010-2011 to 2020. Older teen girls have shot up 70 percent, and preteen girls are
up 151 percent. Haidt explains the spike in this rate was due to the birth and popularity social
media was able to amass. “These services are killing people and causing people to kill
themselves” (Orlowski 42:26). Orlowski’s documentary explains social media is capable of
causing dopamine deficit states, risk of addiction, need for social approval. “I think the tools that
have been created today are starting to erode the social fabric of how society works” (Orlowski
5:45).
However, some people discuss how social media creates a more positive view and
response to mental health. Roeder held a study where she concluded that regularly using social
media everyday positively corresponded with social well-being, positive mental health and self-
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rated health. Additionally, Ahmedani mentions that social media is able to raise awareness of
mental health and can encourage those with mental health disorders to seek services. Roeder also
mentions that it can form connections and in turn strengthening in person connections and
interactions. Odgers agrees with this view mentioning an article “Social media and depressive
symptoms in childhood and adolescence” by McCrae N., within this article they speak about the
benefits and negatives regarding mental health. “Potential benefits of social media engagement
that were identified included: increases in self-esteem, perceived social support and social
capital, safe identity experimentary, and increased opportunities for self-disclosure" (Odgers 2).
Ahmedani also believes that through social media society can categorize people into groups
creating communities. While an article by the University of Nevada claims that social media can
have a positive effect by teaching social skills and strengthening relationships or just being ‘fun’.
According to the UNR social media has the ability to establish new relationships, or sometimes
minimize or end toxic relationships. Odgers believes that social media has the power to create a
peer-to-peer support system, “Many studies now report positive associations and substantial
overlap between adolescents online and offline interactions and relationship quality” (Odgers 1).
In other words, although social media may tend to displace offline time with the family, it may
serve as a tool to provide social support when youth are separated from parents and or loved
ones.
Another topic that arises in the conversation is what factors influence mental health.
According to Roeder’s studies the benefits and harms associated with social media vary
according to one’s race, demographic and socioeconomic status. “…these findings are consistent
with the body of work on communication inequalities and health disparities that our lab,
the Viswanath Lab, has documented over the past 15 or so years” (Roeder 1). Karim et al finds
studies that found anxiety and depression were the most measured outcome when using social
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media. This is a result of the anxiety users have due to their fear of missing out. Along with this
idea Orlowski mentions that social media platforms job is to “...keep people engaged on the
screen” (13:40). In other words, they are able to track likes and dislikes and create a platform
that focuses on forming some sense of addiction between the user and the platform. Orlowski
goes on to explain how many people see social media as a drug to humanity’s biological
imperative to connect with other people. ” ...there’s no doubt that a vehicle like social media,
which optimizes this connection between people, is going to have the potential for addiction”
(33:37). Social media “...takes many forms online that can negatively affect young users of
social media” (Karim et al 2). One form that’s taken is the natural tendency of social comparison
with others they interact with online leaving some envying others and deteriorating one’s selfesteem. Orlowski also previously mentioned social media creates the need for social approval
and its effects are apparent in a recent study showing that since the birth of social media selfharm situations and suicidal ideation has increased sharply in teens. “It’s up 62 percent for older
teen girls. It’s up 189 percent for the preteen girls” (40:29). Roeder believes the UNR also
believes that it matters not how routinely social media is used but how it’s used by the
individual. Karim et al also agrees arguing that there is “...no relationship between the amount of
time spent on social media and depression” (1). They were able to find no relationship between
the frequency of social media use and having a depressed mood. Odgers adds to this discussion
by mentioning a study that “...documented a small, but statistically significant, association
between social media usage and depressive symptoms” (2). Within the study Odgers assigned a
group to take a break from Facebook, while another group continued their Facebook usage as
usual; “...those assigned to take a Facebook break reported greater life satisfaction and more
positive emotions compared to the control condition who continued their Facebook use as usual”
(Odgers 2). This study brought light to some factors in the discussion of mental health such as
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usage patterns, pre-existing vulnerabilities. Users with a history of prior victimization are more
likely to be bullied and victimized on social media resulting in poor mental health. Odgers brings
up “...low-income families, tend to report more negative spillover of negative experiences on
social media to offline conflict, fights and trouble at school, while youth from more supportive
and well-resourced homes are more likely to have positive experiences online” (3).
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Work Cited
Ahmedani, Brian K. “Mental Health Stigma: Society, Individuals, And The Profession.” Journal
of Social Work Values & Ethics, vol. 8, no. 2, Fall 2011, pp. 1–16. EBSCOhost, search
ebscohost-com.hal.weber.edu/login.aspx
direct=true&db=asn&AN=72392884&site=ehost-live.
Accessed: 11/22/2021
Roeder, Amy, McCloud, Rachel, Bekalu, Mesfin and Vish Viswanath. “Social media use can be
positive for mental health and well-being.” Harvard T.H. Chan, Jan. 2020,
Accessed 11/17/2021
Nevada, University. “Impact Of Social Media In Youth Mental Health: Statistics, Tips &
Resources.” University of Nevada, Reno, Jan. 2020.
Accessed 11/29/2021
Karim, Fazida et al. “Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic
Review.” Cureus vol. 12,6 e8627. 15 Jun. 2020, doi:10.7759/cureus.8627
Accessed: 12/2/2021
Orlowski, J. (2020, September 9). Watch the social dilemma: Netflix official site. Watch The
Social Dilemma | Netflix Official Site. https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224.
Accessed: 12/9/2021
Odgers, Candice L, and Michaeline R Jensen. “Annual Research Review: Adolescent mental
in the digital age: facts, fears, and future directions.” Journal of child psychology and
psychiatry, and allied disciplines vol. 61,3 (2020): 336-348. doi:10.1111/jcpp.13190
health
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Accessed: 12/13/2021
LaMotte, CNN, S. (2021, December 15). Logic song increased calls to National Suicide
Prevention Hotline and saved lives, study finds. WESH.
https://www.wesh.com/article/logics-song-saves-lives-from-suicide-study-finds/38528837
Accessed: 12/9/2021