The link between depression and social media

Last week in this column we reported on frequent phone usage being linked to an inability to delay gratification. This reflects that our phones and the way we use them can tell us something about our personality. After all, phones and the apps available on them are just another avenue for modern human behaviour and hence are indicative of our psychology. Now a new study has shown that your depression and social media use may be linked.

Those who spent most total time on social media were also 1.7 times more likely to have depression.

The study involved more than 1,700 subjects who completed questionnaires as to their social media use. The subjects were aged 19-32 years and the questions asked them about social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Plus, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, Vine, and LinkedIn.

Additionally the researchers used a depression assessment tool to identify levels of depression in the subjects.

The results showed that on average subjects used social media for 61 minutes per day and visited their social media accounts 30 times per week. Additionally, the people who checked social media most frequently were 2.7 times more likely to be suffering depression than those who checked it less frequently. Those who spent most total time on social media were also 1.7 times more likely to have depression.

This does not prove a causal link between depression and social media use but there is a link. Since social media is such an integrated part of human interaction these days it could also be a pointer to someone with depressive issues.