--- title: Smart Social Media Use for Greater Resilience description: If overusing social media can harm our mental health, is it better to quit or use it smartly? Find out what recent research says here. image: https://blog.neurozone.com/hubfs/Frame%207354.png --- [![neurozone\_logo](https://blog.neurozone.com/hubfs/neurozone_logo.png)](https://www.neurozone.com/) - [Home](https://www.neurozone.com) - [Leaders & Teams](https://www.neurozone.com/-for-leaders-and-teams) - [Organizations](https://www.neurozone.com/organizations) - [Masterclasses](https://www.neurozone.com/-masterclasses) - [Coaches](https://www.neurozone.com/coaching-with-assessments) - [About Us](https://www.neurozone.com/about-us) - [How Neurozone® Started](https://www.neurozone.com/about-us?#how-what-why) - [The What, How and Why of Neurozone®](https://www.neurozone.com/about-us?#NZhow-what-why) - [Meet our Team](https://www.neurozone.com/about-us?#meetourteam) - [Science and Analytics of Neurozone®](https://www.neurozone.com/about-us?#science-and-analytics-neurozone) - [Resources](https://www.neurozone.com/-resources) - [Neurozone® Making Waves](https://neurozone.com/about-us?#makingwaves) - [Support](https://www.neurozone.com/support-page) [Get in Touch](https://www.neurozone.com/get-in-touch) [Create Account / Login](https://neurozone-portal.neurozone.com) Science Blogs # Smart Social Media Use for Greater Resilience If overusing social media can harm our mental health, is it better to quit or use it smartly? Find out what recent research says here. [Tyler Phillips and Dr Etienne van der Walt](https://blog.neurozone.com/author/tyler-phillips-and-dr-etienne-van-der-walt) Mar 10, 2025 --- *Authors Tyler Phillips (Research Psychologist & Research and Content Consultant) and Dr Etienne van der Walt (Neurologist and CEO & founder of Neurozone®)* In today’s digital world, social media is woven into our daily lives, especially for younger generations. However, its widespread use can lead to mental health challenges, including [spreading misinformation about mental health](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38128168/). While quitting social media might seem like a solution, it may not be realistic. Can we engage with it wisely and build resilience rather than erode it? **A Study on Social Media and Well-being** [Researchers at the University of British Columbia recently explored how different approaches to social media affect mental well-being](https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2025-42103-001.html). They studied young Canadian adults (ages 17–29) who already experienced mental health challenges and believed social media had a somewhat negative impact on their lives. Participants were divided into three groups: - **The abstinence group** was asked to stop or drastically reduce their social media use. - **The tutorial group** was given strategies to use social media in a healthier, more intentional way. - **The control group** was given no guidance and generally used social media as they normally would. Over six weeks, each group completed a 15-minute online learning module every two weeks. The abstinence group learned about the benefits of quitting social media, received testimonials from those who had done it, and got practical tips on how to cut back. The tutorial group engaged in mindful reflections on their social media habits, recognizing the curated nature of posts as well as the emotional impact of different accounts, and learning to reduce passive scrolling while fostering meaningful online interactions. The control group received general content about social media’s role in society but no specific instructions. **Measuring the Impact of Social Media Use** The researchers assessed participants’ mental well-being by looking at: - How often they compared themselves to others on social media. - Their level of active and meaningful engagement online. - Their feelings of loneliness and FOMO (fear of missing out). - Their symptoms of anxiety and depression. **The Effect of Social Media on Self-Comparison** Comparing ourselves to others—whether we see them as better or worse off—can harm our mental well-being. Constant comparison can lead to low self-worth (when we see others as better off) or create pressure to maintain a certain image (when we see ourselves as better off). In general, it is a good idea to reduce social comparison on social media.  The study found that both the abstinence and tutorial groups reduced social comparison relative to the control group. Not surprisingly, the abstinence group compared themselves the least since they weren’t using social media. However, the tutorial group also made fewer comparisons by curating their feeds, reducing passive scrolling, and engaging more meaningfully with people they actually knew. Seeing the success of friends and family members, rather than influencers or strangers, can foster shared joy rather than envy. **Addressing Loneliness and FOMO** Unlike the abstinence group, the tutorial group also saw significant reductions in loneliness and FOMO compared to controls. By actively engaging with friends and filtering out negative content, they felt more connected. In contrast, those in the abstinence group did not improve their sense of disconnection by stepping away from a digital community entirely. This suggests that quitting social media doesn’t necessarily improve the isolation that can harm mental health—mindful, intentional use does. **The Limits of Abstinence: Smarter Use Wins Out** The participants also rated how helpful they found their learning modules. Surprisingly, only 69% of the abstinence group found theirs helpful, compared to 83% in the tutorial group—and also 83% in the control group! This suggests that quitting social media may not be a sustainable solution for most people. While social media can trigger stress and anxiety, completely avoiding it may lead to greater isolation, eventually pulling people back into unhealthy usage patterns. The study suggests that learning to use social media wisely is a more effective strategy than avoiding it altogether. **A Neurozone® Perspective on Smart Social Media Use** The tutorial group’s approach aligns with strategies offered by Neurozone® tools, such as the Neurozone® [App](https://www.neurozone.com/neurozone-app), [Personal Assessment](https://www.neurozone.com/personal-assessment), and [Microlearning Journey](https://blog.neurozone.com/short-report-microlearning-journey-to-build-resilience). For instance: - Cultivating Neurozone® Rhythms and Transformers supports mindfulness in recognizing how social media affects mental well-being. - Strengthening Neurozone® Connectors helps users reflect on identity, belonging, and relationships, guiding them toward more meaningful online interactions. - The spaced, bite-sized learning approach mirrors Neurozone®’s microlearning method, which has been shown to enhance resilience over time. **The Future: Helping Adolescents Navigate Social Media** The researchers noted that participants wished they had received these lessons earlier—around age 13, when social media use and the need for peer belonging intensify. Future studies could extend this research to younger users, and Neurozone®  could play a role in assessing adolescent well-being through the [Neurozone® Adolescent Resilience Index.](https://blog.neurozone.com/short-report-microlearning-journey-to-build-resilience) By fostering smart social media habits early on, we can help young people—and adults alike—develop resilience in an increasingly digital world.  ### How can we help you? ### We specialize in training professionals who use a coaching approach to optimize their people. [GET IN TOUCH](https://www.neurozone.com/get-in-touch)   [Science Blogs](https://blog.neurozone.com/tag/science-blogs) [Resilience](https://blog.neurozone.com/tag/resilience) ## Similar posts Science Blogs ### [Microlearning: A Smarter Way to Learn in a Demanding World](https://blog.neurozone.com/microlearning-a-smarter-way-to-learn-in-a-demanding-world) Microlearning is not just an easier way to learn. It may also be a more effective one. Explore the research behind this promise here. Tyler Phillips and Dr Etienne van der Walt Apr 22, 2025 Science Blogs ### [Short Report: Microlearning Journey to Build Resilience](https://blog.neurozone.com/short-report-microlearning-journey-to-build-resilience) Continuous bite-sized learning can measurably enhance resilience. Neurozone® recently conducted a study to test this hypothesis. Find out what the... Tyler Phillips Feb 2, 2024 Science Blogs ### [Learning and Memory for Brain Resilience: What Bilingualism Reveals About Dementia](https://blog.neurozone.com/learning-and-memory-for-brain-resilience-what-bilingualism-reveals-about-dementia) Research on how bilingualism delays Alzheimer's symptoms illuminates the value of continuous mental stimulation. Read the implications for resilient... 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