Using social media to engage in activities that are not directly interacting with others (i.e. scrolling through posts). Passive use is found to lead to rumination and poorer mental health outcomes

University of Delaware

Those who used social media during the COVID-19 pandemic to decrease loneliness and for entertainment were more likely to have poorer mental health outcomes. Those who used social media for personal contact and maintaining relationships had associations with better mental health outcomes. 

Relationship Between Social Media Use Motivation and Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic

Thygesen, H., Bonsaksen, T., Schoultz, M., Ruffolo, M., Leung, J., Price, D., &amp; Geirdal, A. Ø. (2022). Social media use and its associations with mental health 9 months after the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-national study. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.752004 

Social Media Use and Its Associations With Mental Health 9 Months After the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-National Study

Using social media as a direct interaction with others. Active use is found to contribute to less loneliness and fewer mental health symptoms.

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