The Effective Use of Social Media to Promote Positive Mental Health
Abstract:
It is well understood that social media platforms are progressively increasing in use and becoming an effective way to communicate information to a vast group of users. According to Gottfried (2024), the PEW Research Center reported that in Americans’ social media use, YouTube and Facebook are by far the most used online platforms among U.S. adults; TikTok’s user base has grown since 2021. Adults under 30 are far more likely than their older counterparts to use online platforms. There are also demographic differences in social media use which allows for segmentation of audiences for mental health awareness, mental health literacy, and resources. Even though a grow ing body of research demonstrates that social media use is negatively associated with mental health and well-being, particularly among young people, there are benefits to moderated social media use that vary across demographic, socioeconomic, and racial population sub-groups. Results indicate that social media can be effective in promoting positive mental health through feelings of connectedness, social support, and early detection of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The use of social media to raise awareness of mental health is also an effective intervention due to high reach, availability, and cost-effectiveness.
