Social Media Overuse Takes a Toll on Mental Health

The sensation of doom-scrolling—a mind-numbing cycle of endless consumption—is a familiar experience for many. However, new research indicates that this behavior is taking a significant toll on mental health in the Western world, with young women being disproportionately affected. According to the World Happiness Report, released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, excessive engagement with social platforms is detrimental to overall wellbeing.

Michael Plant, a Research Fellow at the Centre, highlighted the nuanced relationship between usage and happiness. "If you use social media for an hour a day, that's great, you're being connected," Plant explained. "But the report did show a correlation between, the more time you spend on social media the greater loss of wellbeing."

While the report could not pinpoint the exact reasons why the Western world is more severely impacted, it did identify a stark trend: wellbeing among individuals under 25 has plummeted over the last decade in nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK. This decline coincides precisely with the rapid expansion of social media usage.

"I was originally skeptical about the negativity on social media, but the evidence is mounting up," Plant noted. He contrasted current trends with previous generations, observing, "So young people are not smoking, they're not taking drugs, having lots of sex like my generation but they do have social media." He added that the architecture of these platforms is specifically engineered to maximize user engagement.

Despite the broader negative findings, some users find value in the digital space. Sydney Grows, a fitness content creator who began posting on TikTok in 2021, describes her experience as "a dream." "I am very lucky, the health and fitness industry, the people are lovely the opportunities are incredible and I feel like I am living my dream every day," she said.

Grows, who focuses on authenticity in her posts regarding gym interactions and sporting events, strives to cultivate a positive online environment. However, she is acutely aware of the psychological challenges. "I tend to block out the negative comments, I've had four years worth of practice to build the resilience," she admitted. "But you know, you'll get 100 positive comments and it doesn't sink in but then you get one negative comment and it feels personal and it hurts."

With social media now an inescapable part of modern life, experts suggest that individual responsibility is key. "It's about being realistic and looking at yourself - the platforms won't stop you and the government, if you're an adult, won't put restrictions in place so it's down to you," Plant stated. He advised users to shift their focus from comparison to connection. "If you go 'I am looking at other people and their life seems better than mine' then I am going to feel worse. So instead go 'I will go out and try to talk to people more'. Overall the aim is to put the social back into social media."

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-23 06:27:17 UTC