From Likes to Loss: Social Media Use and College Student Mental Health

According to the most recent global social media statistics [1], there are approximately 5.24 billion social media users worldwide, representing 64% of the global population. On average, individuals spend 2 hours and 21 minutes per day on social media platforms. When focusing specifically on college students, recent data reveal that approximately 98% of college students are active social media users [2], spending an average of 4.5 hours per day on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat [2,3]. For this population, social media serves as a vital tool for social connection, entertainment, and information gathering, often driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO) [2]. These findings align with the results of my recent study, in which college students cited socializing, sharing experiences, and entertainment as primary motivations for their social media use [4]. For young adults who have grown up with smartphones and social media, these platforms are deeply integrated into their daily routines, offering both social support and opportunities for connection.

Growing evidence, however, highlights the detrimental effects of social media use on mental health. Social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive, often functioning like unpredictable reward systems similar to slot machines, where users continuously check for likes, comments, or notifications driven by the anticipation of rewards [5]. Numerous studies have identified significant associations between social media use and increased risks of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns [4,6,7].

While reducing social media usage may seem like an ideal intervention to mitigate these negative effects, it may not be a realistic solution for college students who view these platforms as essential to their daily lives. Given this challenge, it becomes critical to explore alternative coping strategies that support mental well-being without requiring complete disengagement from social media. My recent study on college students’ social media usage investigated the moderating role of mindfulness, a state of enhanced awareness and nonjudgmental attention to present experiences, in the relationship between excessive social media use and mental health outcomes [4]. The findings of the study clearly show a significant connection between social media addiction and mental health. However, it also revealed that mindfulness significantly reduced the negative impact of social media addiction on mental health. Among students with high mindfulness, increased social media addiction was not strongly associated with elevated levels of depression, anxiety, or stress. In contrast, students with low mindfulness experienced a significant worsening of mental health symptoms as their social media addiction increased.

As many studies have emphasized, reducing time spent on social media is the most effective way to improve mental health. However, if this is not a realistic solution, for instance, if college students cannot resist the temptation of checking social media as it is part of their daily routine, then we need to suggest a more achievable solution to reduce their mental health issues. In this context, mindfulness becomes more important. When individuals are aware of their internal states and surroundings and can observe their thoughts and emotions, they are less affected by social media usage and other people’s reactions [8]. According to Strohmaier et al. [9], longer engagement in mindfulness practices is associated with higher mindfulness levels and lower psychological distress. Mindfulness practice is a low-cost yet effective method to help college students reduce anxiety and depression [10]. Incorporating mindfulness classes or workshops for college students would be an effective approach to improve mental health and increase awareness about the potential negative impact of social media. There is also an abundance of mindfulness-related videos and materials available online for practice. Overall, implementing mindfulness practices might be a promising pathway to help college students use social media in a healthier manner by reducing psychological risks.

1. DataReportal (2025) Global social media statistics.
2. OnCampus Nation (2024) Understanding the social media habits of college students.
3. Nelson H (2023) Pros and cons of using social media as a college student.
4. Thompson K, Kim JH (2022) The excessive use of social-media among college students: The role of mindfulness. Open Access Journal of Addiction and Psychology 5(5): 1-8.
5. MassGeneral Brigham McLean (2024) The social dilemma: Social media and your mental health.
6. Cunningham S, Hudson CC, Harkness K (2021) Social media and depression symptoms: A meta-analysis. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology 49(2): 241-253.
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8. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Mindfulness.
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10. Zhu JL, Schülke R, Vatansever D, Xi D, Junje Y, et al. (2021). Mindfulness practice for protecting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Translational Psychiatry 11(1): 329.