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. 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. 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:
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:
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, Personal Assessment, and Microlearning Journey. For instance:
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.
By fostering smart social media habits early on, we can help young people—and adults alike—develop resilience in an increasingly digital world.