A majority of young adults use social media on a daily basis. Unfortunately, social media use and how it impacts one’s mental health are oftentimes overlooked.
Keep reading to learn more about the relationships between social media use and mental health among young adults below.
At Confluence Behavioral Health, we offer premier mental health treatment in Vermont so patients can improve their mental health and well-being. Contact us today to learn more!
Growing Concern for Social Media Use and Mental Health
With social media quickly rising in popularity in the last decade, this has led many also to consider how it is impacting its users, especially when it comes to impacting users’s mental health. Studies consistently show that heavy social media use is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and poor self-esteem. This is especially true for its younger users.
It is important to understand that social media itself isn’t necessarily harmful; however, it can quickly be a space that can hurt one’s mental health and worsen existing symptoms. From constant comparison online to phone addiction, there are many ways in which social media use can have negative impacts on one’s health and quality of life.
What Is the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Mental Health Among Young Adults?
So, what is the relationship between social media use and mental health among young adults?
There are several key ways in which heavy social media use can negatively impact someone’s mental health and well-being, including:
- Social Comparison & Self-Esteem: Social media platforms are heavily curated. Most people post their highlights, not their struggles, failures, and ordinary moments. For young adults who are already navigating questions of identity and self-worth, constant exposure to these curated highlight reels can fuel feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and low self-esteem.
- Increased Anxiety and Depression: Multiple studies have found a correlation between higher levels of social media use and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression in young adults. The pressure to maintain an online presence, gain likes and followers, and respond to constant notifications creates a chronic low-level stress that can quickly harm one’s mental health and well-being.
- Negatively Impacts Sleep: Constantly being on social media inevitably can hurt your ability to fall asleep and negatively impact your sleep routine. Poor sleep is closely linked to worsened mood, increased anxiety, and greater vulnerability to depression.
- Cyberbullying and Online Harassment: There is also an increase in cyberbullying risk on social media. For young adults, the risk of experiencing bullying or harassment does not end when they leave school. Online platforms can be spaces where criticism, exclusion, and targeted harassment cause real and lasting psychological harm.
- Hurts Real-Life Social Connections: Platforms designed to connect people can sometimes increase feelings of loneliness. Time spent scrolling can displace time that might otherwise be spent in face-to-face connection, thus further worsening one’s mental health through lack of time creating deeper, real-life relationships.
How Social Media Affects Mental Health in Young Adults: By Impact Area
A structured breakdown of the five ways heavy social media use harms young adult mental health — what drives each impact and the mental health effects it produces.
| Impact area | How social media causes harm | Mental health effects |
|---|---|---|
| Social comparison & self-esteem Curated highlight reels | Social media platforms are heavily curated — most people post highlights, not struggles or ordinary moments. For young adults navigating identity and self-worth, constant exposure to others’ best moments creates an uneven and unrealistic standard for comparison. |
Low self-esteem Persistent feelings of inadequacy, negative self-image, and a distorted sense of how one’s own life measures up — worsening progressively with heavier or more habitual use. |
| Anxiety & depression Chronic low-level stress | The pressure to maintain an online presence, gain likes and followers, and respond to constant notifications creates a chronic low-level stress state. Multiple studies show a correlation between heavy social media use and increased anxiety and depression symptoms in young adults. |
Worsened symptoms Heightened anxiety, persistent low mood, increased emotional reactivity, and difficulty disengaging from the cycle of checking, comparing, and seeking validation online. |
| Sleep disruption Late-night phone use | Constant social media use — particularly late at night — disrupts the brain’s ability to wind down. Blue light exposure and the stimulating nature of content keep the nervous system activated precisely when it needs to be settling toward rest. |
Cascading impact Poor sleep directly worsens mood, increases anxiety, reduces emotional regulation, and creates greater vulnerability to depression — compounding all other mental health effects over time. |
| Cyberbullying & harassment Online harm | Social media extends the reach of bullying beyond school or work hours. Online platforms can be spaces where criticism, exclusion, and targeted harassment occur in public, persistent, and often anonymous ways — causing real and lasting psychological harm to young adults. |
Psychological harm Heightened anxiety, depression, shame, social withdrawal, and in serious cases, trauma responses — especially when harassment is sustained, public, or involves peers the person knows in real life. |
| Reduced real-world connection Displaced social time | Time spent scrolling displaces time that might otherwise be spent in face-to-face relationships. Platforms designed to connect people can paradoxically increase loneliness when they replace — rather than supplement — meaningful in-person social interaction. |
Increased loneliness A growing sense of isolation despite being constantly connected online, reduced emotional depth in relationships, and weakened social skills from less regular practice in real-world interaction. |
Source: Confluence Behavioral Health — Social Media Use and Mental Health Among Young Adults
Signs That Social Media May Be Affecting Your Mental Health
It can be difficult to recognize when social media use has crossed from a normal habit into something that is genuinely harming your well-being. Some signs to look out for include:
- Feeling anxious or angry after spending time on social media
- Compulsively checking your phone even when you do not want to
- Comparing yourself negatively to others you see online
- Difficulty sleeping due to late-night phone use
- Feeling worse about yourself or your life after scrolling
- Using social media to avoid dealing with difficult emotions or situations
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, it is critical to consider seeking professional support so you can safely and effectively manage symptoms and lead a healthier, happier life.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the relationship between social media use and mental health among young adults. While social media isn’t necessarily bad, it can quickly create a negative space and harm one’s mental health for the worse.
At Confluence Behavioral Health, we offer premier mental health treatment in Vermont so patients can improve their mental health and well-being. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you lead a healthier, happier life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much social media use is too much?
There is no exact answer for how much social media use is too much. This is because social media use impacts others in different ways. In other words, the impact of social media use on mental health varies from person to person.
That being said, general research and guidelines have found spending more than 2 hours a day on social media to be harmful to one’s mental health. More importantly than the raw number of hours is how social media use makes you feel. If scrolling consistently leaves you feeling worse about yourself, more anxious, or more isolated, these are all important signs to look out for to ensure social media use isn’t negatively impacting your health and quality of life.
Can reducing social media use improve mental health?
Yes, reducing social media use can lead to meaningful improvements in mood, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Even short breaks from social media can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. That said, for young adults who are already struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, reducing social media use is typically just one part of the puzzle toward recovery. Seeking professional support can help address the underlying mental health challenges that may be driving your mental health issues in the first place.
When should I seek professional mental health support?
If your mental health is negatively impacting your daily life, relationships, or sense of self, it is time to seek professional support. You should never be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. Persistent feelings of anxiety, depression, low self-worth, or emotional numbness are all valid reasons to reach out.
At Confluence Behavioral Health, we offer mental health treatment in Vermont specifically designed for young adults, and our compassionate team is here to help you every step of the way so you can lead a healthier, happier life.