The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on college students’ mental health. Reports show that anxiety and depression symptoms increased significantly among young adults aged 18-25 during this time.
A study from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2024 explored how social media might have played a role in this decline. The research team examined college students’ social media use before and during the pandemic to see if it was linked to worsening mental health.
As social media use spiked, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory in May 2023. He noted that social media could pose risks to young people’s mental health. This raised an important question: Are depressed individuals simply using social media more, or is social media itself contributing to their depression?
Led by economist Jane Cooley Fruehwirth, researchers gathered unique data from first-year students at a large university. They compared students’ social media habits along with their mental health, sleep patterns, and social interactions from before and during the pandemic.
The findings were unexpected. Earlier in the pandemic, increased social media use didn’t seem to harm mental health significantly. However, 18 months into the pandemic, as colleges reopened, those who spent more time on social media—about an hour more—had higher levels of depression and anxiety.
Why did this happen? The researchers suggested that social media may have taken time away from healthy activities like exercise. It also seemed to amplify peer-related stress. Notably, students who felt socially isolated were particularly affected. Fruehwirth pointed out that rather than using social media to connect, these students were experiencing it in a more negative way.
However, not all students were harmed by social media. Fruehwirth emphasized that some students used it positively, benefiting from social support and resilience. The takeaway isn’t that social media is all bad, but that it’s important to understand how different students use it.
Addressing the issue of isolation on college campuses could also help. Around one in five college students report feeling lonely. This indicates that social media isn’t the only factor affecting mental health.
Fruehwirth suggests that universities should foster connections through physical spaces, social activities, and peer support networks. Building resilience among students can make a significant difference in their mental health.
This study was published in the journal Health Economics in June 2024, with contributions from researchers Alex Xingbang Weng and Krista Perreira.
