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

Active Use of Social Media

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

Passive Use of Social Media

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. 

University of Delaware

Researchers believe that individuals were more likely to use social media during peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, different motivation for connecting with others on social media could explain different mental health outcomes. 

Social Media Use in 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

Interventions or measures intended to prevent the spread of diseases by creating physical distance between people and reducing the number of contact points

Social Distancing

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

This results in higher PTSD and depression.  

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