89% of Social Media Users Believe It Harms Their Mental Health

A study by The Cybersmile Foundation found that 89% of social media users believe it has a negative impact on their mental health.

The organisation recently published Digital Wellbeing 2022, designed to understand the impact of social media use on 16–24 year-old users.

The Digital Wellbeing 2022 study surveyed 1,000 participants aged 16–24 in the UK about how social media use affects them. The research project examined key topics including mental health, body image, social comparisons, negative news consumption, social media addiction and more.

Holly H, official Cybersmile ambassador, said: "I feel lucky to be able to be myself and express how I feel and who I am on social media. It's amazing to meet and connect with so many different people from all over the world and share my experiences with them. Most of the time this is an incredible experience, but sometimes the online world can be really tough. It's important to make sure you ask for help if you ever find yourself in a depressive, negative state. Talk to your friends or family about how you're feeling, or seek medical help."

The study was conducted to better understand Gen Z's relationship with social media and how it affects how they feel about their bodies, their lives and their personal wellbeing. The findings from Digital Wellbeing 2022 will be used to ensure Cybersmile continues to provide the most useful and effective counselling, education and support services possible.

Dan Raisbeck, co-founder of the Cybersmile Foundation, said: "The results provide Cybersmile with valuable insight into the digital wellbeing of 16–24 year-olds in the UK, and will play a key role in helping us tailor our support resources, develop new educational materials and create effective awareness campaigns."

Cybersmile was supported by advisory board member Dr. Barbara Mariposa — a medical doctor with a background in psychiatry and public health, whose books include The Mindfulness Playbook, The Kindness Habit and Leading with Presence.

Dr. Barbara Mariposa, Cybersmile's Advisory Board member for Wellness and Equity, said: "The Digital Wellbeing 2022 research findings are clear. They underline the fundamental importance of educating young people about safe and respectful social media use from an early age. The curated reality presented on social media — perfect bodies, perfect worlds — negatively affected how nearly nine in ten study participants felt about themselves, their bodies and their lives. Young people are rightly concerned about addiction and heightened anxiety, the time taken away from learning, and the detrimental effect on core self-care fundamentals such as exercise and nutrition. The Cybersmile Digital Wellbeing 2022 report highlights the very real harms that an unbalanced use of social media platforms can cause."