Social media is a poor source for young adults to cope with anxiety, study finds

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for mental health information was and still is staggeringly high, especially among young adults struggling with anxiety.

But a pilot study conducted by Florida International University shows many may be seeking anxiety information in the wrong place: social media.

Researchers found that, among those surveyed, only 18% reported their go-to social media accounts for anxiety information were run by health professionals.

“It didn’t align with my original hypothesis, but it’s not shocking,” said FIU Ph.D student and a lead researcher Rebecca Wolenski. “Because I was feeling hopeful, I thought folks using social media as an information source would be positive, and the more you use the information source, the better your understanding would be. But it was just the opposite.”

The study not only showed young adults were receiving unreliable information, but it also suggested social media users are unable to discern the difference between useful and harmful strategies for managing their anxiety.

“Social media isn’t a therapist,” Wolenski said. “And previous studies have shown that folks who don’t have proper training can spread misinformation easily.”

The research team surveyed 250 young adults between 18 and 28 years old about where they receive information about anxiety, their current knowledge, their past experiences with anxiety and how they cope.

Seeking out information and attempting to understand a problem is itself a coping strategy, Wolenski said. But the benefits of that strategy depend on the quality of the information.

For example, the study found that participants who researched anxiety on the internet were actually more knowledgeable, which is the opposite finding for those who heavily rely on social media.

“On social media, the platforms themselves don’t allow enough space and room to give you complete information,” Wolenski said. “While there’s misinformation, which is inaccurate or a lie, there’s also incomplete information.”

But this doesn’t mean social media should be ruled out altogether.

Lead researcher and FIU Center for Children and Families professor Jeremy Pettit understands the majority of young people are on social media, and he wants to help them on their terms.

“There’s clearly a high demand for information,” Pettit said. “I think there’s a real opportunity for us in the mental health field to rise up and meet their needs in the space where people are looking for it.”

Because there aren’t enough mental health care professionals to meet the demand, psychologists need to consider multiple avenues of care, he said. And that includes social media.

To ensure people are receiving accurate information, one idea the researchers proposed would be to establish guidelines for social media that help users determine primary and reputable sources.

Although there’s still much to learn about the intersection of social media and mental health.

“We as humans crave simplicity. We want an answer like, ‘social media: good or bad?’” Pettit said. “It’s likely much, much, much more nuanced than that. There needs to be so much more research.”

In the meantime while researchers like Pettit and Wolenski learn more about social media and how it can be used for good, they urge anyone seeking help to visit reputable resources like the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association and National Institute of Mental Health.

And for those with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, consult the 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.