Social media use has been linked to increased rates of depression. Frequent social media users are more likely to be depressed than less frequent users. The ways social media may cause depression include lack of meaningful social interaction, increased social comparison and envy of others' lives, and overuse of multiple platforms. However, people continue using social media heavily due to its ability to trigger rewards in the brain and its role in modern communication. Reducing social media use is difficult but may improve well-being and decrease depressive symptoms.

1. Social Media Depression
A new challenge in the digital age and how Social Media is affecting our mental health
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8% of Canadian adults will suffer
from major depression in their lifetime1
64% of Canadians use at least one
Social media site2

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How are mental health and social media linked?

4. People who are
depressed use
social media to fill
a void3
This can cause a
cycle as social media
can cause depression
which can lead to
more use of social
media3
1,787 adults in the U.S.
between the ages of
19 and 32 were given
Questionnaires on
social media use and
the answers were used
in a depression
assessment tool3
Very frequent social
media users are 2.7
times more likely to
experience depression3
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5. How can social media cause depression?
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6. “most people aren't using social media to be social.” 4
- Amy Morin
Only 9 percent of Facebook's
users are actively engaging with
content
Most users are
just lurking,
which is not
satisfying or
fulfilling 4
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ue-hoodie-226070/

7. Social media has increased our ego7
Reality checks could be damaging to our egos causing negative thoughts
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8. “Highly idealized representations of peers on social media elicits feelings of envy and the
distorted belief that others lead happier, more successful lives,” 6
- Liu yi Lin et al. (pg 328)
Envy on social media can be damaging
because we our social network is
like-minded people therefore making
achievements of other hurt more9
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9. Using multiple
social media
sites can cause
poor cognitive
function and
damaging effects
on mental health5
Comparing young
adults who use
Social media less
Often (0-2 sites)
and those who
use it more (7-11
sites) are more
Likely to experience
depression and
anxiety symptoms5
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10. Cyberbullying and Cyberharassment are prevalent sources of stress and
anxiety on social media.
Victims of cyberbullying are 2 times more
Likely to attempt suicide and offenders of
Cyberbullying are 1.5 times more likely
“Cyberbullying can increase risk of suicide
by amplifying feelings of isolation,
instability, and hopelessness for those
with preexisting emotional, psychological,
or environmental stressors” - David D.
luxton, et al. (pg 196)
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Recap of why social media makes us depressed
Lack of social engagement while browsing
Increased egos
Envy of others
Multiple social media profiles
Cyberbullying

12. Why do we use social media if it
makes us depressed?
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13. “People didn't seem to feel like themselves unless they shared a thought or feeling,
even before it was clear in their mind.” 10
- Sherry Turkle
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Documentation of events have
become apart of society and
sharing triggers the brain’s
Reward center11
We don’t consider the long term effects

14. In this day and age, we
are talking to people
in real life less12
It is hard to leave social
media because it is
now how most people
communicate
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15. Social Media Addiction
“Our habitual reliance on Facebook and Google Maps might
seem like an addiction. And in casual conversation, the word
makes total sense”13
- Bryan Fung
Although not a medical term, people have
described social media addiction as a
constant need to check facebook14
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16. How do we combat
depression and social media?
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17. Companies have already rolled out ways to
help, if you search “depressed” or “suicidal”
on Tumblr you will be shown resources that
may be helpful3
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-ipad-tablet-35550/

18. JUST QUIT!!
Although it may be difficult,
The Guardian asked young readers
about their experience after social
media and almost all experienced a
greater sense of happiness15
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man-251829/

19. REFERENCES:
[1] Canadian Mental Health Association. “Fast Facts about Mental Illness.” Canadian Mental Health Association,
http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/#.WTDHZ-vyvDcout-mental-illness/#.WTDHZ-vyvDc. Accessed 1 June 2017.
[2] United Food and Commercial Workers. “By the Numbers: Social media in Canada - UFCW Canada - Canada’s Private Sector Union.” UFCW
Canada - Canada's Private Sector Union, 25 Feb. 2017,
www.ufcw.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31389%3Aby-the-numbers-social-media-in-canada&catid=9820&Itemid=
6&lang=en. Accessed 29 May 2017.
[3] Chowdhry, Amit. “Research Links Heavy Facebook And Social Media Usage To Depression.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 30 Apr. 2016,
www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2016/04/30/study-links-heavy-facebook-and-social-media-usage-to-depression/#718aa1944b53.
Accessed 29 May 2017.
[4] Morin, Amy. “Science Explains How Facebook Makes You Sad.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 7 Mar. 2016,
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201603/science-explains-how-facebook-makes-you-sad. Accessed
30 May 2017.
[5] Primack, Brian A., et al. “Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression and anxiety: A nationally-Representative study
among U.S. young adults.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 69, 1 Apr. 2017, pp. 1–9., doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.013.
[6] Lin, Liu Yi, et al. “Association Between Social Media Use And Depression Among U.s. Young Adults.” Depression and Anxiety, vol. 33, no. 4, 19
Jan. 2016, pp. 323–331., doi:10.1002/da.22466.
[7] Gulati, Daniel. “Our Dangerous Obsession with External Recognition.” Harvard Business Review, 7 Aug. 2014,
hbr.org/2013/12/our-dangerous-obsession-with-external-recognition. Accessed 29 May 2017.
[8] Luxton, David D., et al. “Social Media and Suicide: A Public Health Perspective.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 102, no. S2, May 2012,
doi:10.2105/ajph.2011.300608.
[9] Konnikova, Maria. “The New Yorker.” The New Yorker, 10 Sept. 2013,
www.newyorker.com.proxy.queensu.ca/tech/elements/how-facebook-makes-us-unhappy. Accessed 29 May 2017.
[10] Turkle, Sherry. "The Documented Life." New York Times, 16 Dec. 2013, p. A25(L). Academic OneFile,
go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=queensulaw&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA352990428&asid=64ed7fd1666
adff5f62d1e8fab1a0ca1. Accessed 29 May 2017.

20. REFERENCES:
[11] Seiter, Courtney. “The Secret Psychology of Facebook: Why We Like, Share, Comment and Keep Coming Back.” Buffer, 26 Aug. 2016,
blog.bufferapp.com/psychology-of-facebook. Accessed 29 May 2017.
[12] Turkle, Sherry. "The flight from conversation." New York Times, 22 Apr. 2012, p. 1(L). Academic OneFile,
go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=queensulaw&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA287213303&asid=9e22389507a
dacd60cce5aabfd6d7991. Accessed 1 June 2017.
[13] Fung, Bryan"Why you shouldn't confuse 'nomophobia' with an actual addiction to smartphones." Washingtonpost.com, 19 May 2015.
Academic
OneFile,go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=queensulaw&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA414254903&asid=a46cf
1a457e1ddaf634762f918f07c60. Accessed 2 June 2017.
[14] Walker, Leslie. “How to Tell If You Have a Social Networking Addiction.” Lifewire, 22 Apr. 2017,
www.lifewire.com/what-is-social-networking-addiction-2655246. Accessed 1 June 2017.
[15] Marsh, Sarah. “Does quitting social media make you happier? Yes, say young people doing it.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21
Sept. 2016, www.theguardian.com/media/2016/sep/21/does-quitting-social-media-make-you-happier-yes-say-young-people-doing-it.
Accessed 1 June 2017.