Adults who post frequently on social media are at greater risk of developing mental health problems than those who passively view content, a study has found.
Researchers at University College London analysed data from more than 15,000 British adults aged over 16 who answered questions on their use of social media and mental wellbeing.
They found that people who posted daily on social media had more mental health problems than those who never posted on social media.
However, there was no evidence of an association between viewing content frequently and later mental health problems.
“When looking at both behaviours, we found that individuals who frequently viewed and posted on social media had increased mental health problems when compared to individuals who rarely viewed or posted on social media,” the authors wrote.
There was no evidence from the study showing gender or age differences in the association between social media use and mental health problems.
The study’s authors concluded: “To help mitigate the negative impacts on adult mental health, it would be helpful to encourage people to be mindful of how they use social media, and the content they interact with, to develop healthy digital behaviours.
“Some types of active use, like public posting and interacting with people we do not know on social media, might have more harmful effects on mental health than actively using social media for more private uses such as messaging friends.”
They added that social media companies have a “responsibility to protect users from harmful content, which can also affect mental health” and that regulation could help ensure progress on social media safety.
The findings come amid a fierce global debate over the mental health impact of using social media, with platforms accused of failing to safeguard users and allowing the spread of disinformation and harmful content.
Last month, the Australian Government approved a landmark social media ban for children aged under 16.
The Social Media Minimum Age bill will force tech giants including Facebook and TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to $32 million.
Parent groups in Australia had pushed for intervention, seizing on comments from US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy who in 2023 said social media was worsening a youth mental health crisis to the point where it should carry a health warning.
In the UK, the Online Safety Act will come into effect next year and place new duties on social media platforms to protect users, particularly children, from harmful content, with large fines for those who fail to abide by the rules.
Dr Ruth Plackett, a senior research fellow at the UCL Epidemiology and Health, who led the study, told the Standard: “These findings suggest that ‘active’ social media use activities, particularly posting, may have a more significant impact on mental health than ‘passive’ use, such as viewing content.
“This may be because posting on social media can lead to negative interactions or cause anxiety about others’ judgments.
“This highlights the need for awareness about how different social media activities can affect mental wellbeing.”
She added: “Evidence shows that social media use can have both positive and negative effects on our mental health, and more research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these patterns to inform targeted interventions and policies.
“We are still uncertain about who is most negatively affected by social media and why, as well as who benefits from its use. Understanding these factors will enable us to provide better guidance on healthy digital habits and inform social media companies and policymakers about which specific aspects of social media require further attention.”
The research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and supported by NIHR ARC North Thames.
