Studies have demonstrated that social support can protect against poor mental health. However, the investigators in this study found that problematic social media use was significantly associated with decreased real-life social support and increased social support on social media. Real-life social support was associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and social isolation, while social support on social media was not associated with these mental health measures. This re-emphasizes the importance of in-person social support.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460321001349
You will find a lot more information on the topic in Jonathan Haverkampf’s books and articles on this website.
You may also find the following links helpful:
How Social Support Can Help with Depression https://psychcentral.com/lib/social-support-is-critical-for-depression-recovery/
Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/effects-of-social-isolation-on-mental-health/
Depression Isolation: What To Do When a Loved one Becomes Socially Withdrawn https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/depression-isolation-what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-becomes-socially-withdrawn/
Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
The use of social media has been a controversial topic, but we know that it can even worsen the sense of loneliness and disconnectedness in many people. You may want to have a look at the following article:
Problematic social media use and social support received in real-life versus on social media: Associations with depression, anxiety and social isolation https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33934007/
