Skip to main content
Health Education

Social media and mental health statistics 2025

Illustrating the positive and negative effects of social media use
Vanessa Ling headshot
By | Nov. 4, 2025 Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
In this article:

Scrolling through social media is a part of daily life for many people. These platforms shape how we connect with friends, keep up with the news, and share pieces of our lives. For some, social media offers community and support they may not find elsewhere. For others, it can spark comparison, anxiety, and even feelings of isolation.

Researchers and clinicians are paying closer attention to how social media use affects mental health and overall well-being. Policymakers are, too: A 2023 report by the U.S. Surgeon General called youth social media use “an urgent public health issue.” In this article, we’ll look at the latest statistics on social media use and hear from mental health professionals about the benefits and risks, along with tips for engaging online in healthier ways.

General social media use statistics

Social media is a part of many people’s daily routines around the world. Understanding just how widespread social media use has become sets the stage for why its effects on mental health matter so much. 

There are an estimated 5.42 billion users across social media platforms worldwide. The most popular social media platform is Facebook, with 3 billion users, according to Statista. Other popular social networks used worldwide include YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok, all with more than a billion users each. The average global social media user spent 2 hours and 21 minutes per day using the platforms. 

In the U.S., there are an estimated 310 million social media users. According to a Pew Research survey, the most popular social media platforms in 2024 were:

  • YouTube, used by 85% of adults 
  • Facebook, used by 70% of adults 
  • Instagram, used by 50% of adults 
  • Pinterest, used by 36% of adults 

The average American spends 2 hours and 16 minutes on social media, which is just under the global average, every day. The country that had the highest average use time was Brazil, where the average user was on social media apps for 3 hours and 49 minutes daily. 

Along with the growth of social media use, researchers have tracked how these platforms influence emotional well-being. How people spend their time online can carry risks of developing or worsening concerns like anxiety and depression. Looking at these trends helps us see the bigger picture of how digital habits affect mental health:

  • Almost 1 in 2 teens say that social media has a mostly negative impact on their peers ages 13–17. (Pew Research, 2025)
  • Compared to issues like bullying and expectations, 44% of parents and 22% of teens are more likely to say that social media is the one factor that threatens mental health the most. (Pew Research, 2025)
  • Adolescents may have a slightly increased (10%) risk of developing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms with heavy digital media use. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • People who used between 7 and 11 different social media apps were three times more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety. (Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 2020)
  • More than 70% of people with serious mental illness receiving community-based or peer support mental health services say they use social media. (Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 2020)

Social media use by age and demographic 

Not everyone uses social media in the same way. Teenagers, young adults, parents, and even older adults often show different patterns in how they spend time online. Breaking down use by age and demographic reveals who may be most at risk, and who might benefit more from being on social media platforms.

Teens and adolescents on social media

  • In 2023, up to 95% of U.S. teens ages 13–17 used a social media platform, with more than one-third using it “almost constantly.” (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • Even though most social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old, about 2 in 5 children ages 8–12 use social media. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • In 2021, 8th-graders and 10th-graders spent an average of 3.5 hours per day on social media. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)

Adults and older adults on social media

  • Young adults (18–29 years old) were most likely to use YouTube (93%), Instagram (76%), and Facebook (68%). (Pew Research, 2024)
  • Middle-aged adults were more likely to use YouTube (94%), Facebook (78%), and Instagram (66%). (Pew Research, 2024)
  • Adults 50–64 years old were more likely to use YouTube (86%) and Facebook (70%). (Pew Research, 2024)

Gender differences in social media use

  • Women were more likely than men to use Pinterest (51% versus 19%), Facebook (78% versus 61%), and Instagram (55% versus 44%) compared to men. (Pew Research, 2024)
  • Men were more likely to use LinkedIn (35% vs. 30%), X (formerly Twitter) (25% vs. 17%), and YouTube (87% vs. 83%) compared to women. (Pew Research, 2024)
  • 1 in 4 teen girls (25%) say that social media has hurt their mental health, compared to about 1 in 7 teen boys (14%) who would say the same. (Pew Research, 2025)
  • Teen girls are also more likely than teen boys to experience negative effects in their confidence and sleep as a result of social media use. (Pew Research, 2025)

Positive impacts of social media

Positive effects of social media may include the ability to find community, acceptance, or mental health resources. People vulnerable to or experiencing mental illness may find it easier to engage with social media to support their own health. These statistics illustrate the positive impacts of social media:

  • Adolescents on social media say it helps them feel more accepted (58%), socially supported (67%), able to share their creativity (71%), and more connected to their friends’ lives (80%). (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • Almost half (47%) of people receiving publicly funded mental health services say that social media helps them feel less alone. (Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 2020)
  • Youth in marginalized communities may find social support from being on social media platforms. For example, 7 in 10 adolescent girls of color say they encounter positive or identity-affirming content related to race on social media platforms. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • More than one-third (34%) of teens at least sometimes get information about mental health through social media. (Pew Research, 2025)

Negative impacts of social media

Heavy or unhealthy use of social media can fuel stress, comparison, and disconnection. Studies and surveys suggest certain patterns of use may worsen mental health, especially when scrolling is out of control. These statistics illustrate the negative impacts of social media:

  • Social media use in adolescence can impact brain development and subsequent future mental health outlook. Social media use is predictive of a decrease in life satisfaction in girls ages 11–13 and boys ages 14–15. (Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 2020)
  • Teens and adolescents experience cyberbullying on social media platforms, which can have far-reaching effects on mental health. A study of Norwegian young adults ages 18–21 found that those involved in cyberbullying reported more anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and antisocial behavior compared to those who were not involved. Almost 2 in 3 (65%) of those involved in cyberbullying had higher scores of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to those who weren’t involved with cyberbullying (36%). (Cyberpsychology, 2020)
  • About 2 in 3 (64%) adolescents are sometimes or often exposed to hate-based content on social media. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media are twice as likely to experience poor mental health outcomes, and young females and minorities are at higher risk of harm from more social media use. (Legal Council Staff, 2024)
  • Almost half (45%) of U.S. teens say they spend too much time on social media, an increase from previous years. More than 4 in 10 teens say that their social media use hurts the amount of sleep they get (45%) and their productivity (40%). (Pew Research, 2025)
  • Social media can drive social comparison, which can then contribute to someone’s body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and depressive symptoms. Almost half (46%) of teens ages 13–17 said social media made them feel worse about their body image. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • More than one-third of girls ages 11–15 say they feel addicted to a social media platform. (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023)
  • Older adults are vulnerable to being targeted by fraud schemes through social media platforms. In 2023, older adults over the age of 60 lost more than $3 billion dollars from online scams. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2023)

Recent studies and reports on social media and mental health

Researchers are only beginning to understand the complicated relationship between social media and mental health. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory emphasized that most studies to date are limited (many studies look for correlations, not causes, and are focused on adults), so they provide only part of the picture.

In 2023, the American Psychological Association (APA) issued guidelines on social media best practices for adolescents. These recommendations are intended to give parents, educators, healthcare providers, and tech companies a framework to help young people benefit from online connections and protect them from harm.

Also in 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its first Youth Risk Behavior Survey linking frequent social media use to bullying (both online and in person), increased feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and even the risk of suicide among high school students.

Organizations like the Pew Research Center and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) perform ongoing research that builds on our understanding of the effects of social media on mental health. 

What the experts say about social media and mental health

While the research and statistics are still catching up, mental health clinicians see firsthand how social media impacts their patients’ lives. Their perspectives help us understand the nuances, offering insight into when social media can be helpful, when it can be harmful, and how to strike a balance.

We learned that the risks of social media are often greater in vulnerable populations. Younger users in particular may be more prone to comparison, bullying, and over-identifying with medical or mental health content. Yann Poncin, MD, family psychiatrist and Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, warns that teens and young adults can be drawn into “behavioral addiction” and sometimes misinterpret content, leading to them self-diagnosing conditions or feeding into health anxieties. Alison Tarlow, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist and Chief Clinical Officer at Boca Recovery Center, adds that constant exposure to curated, “perfect” lives can fuel feelings of inadequacy, depression, or low self-esteem. As she puts it, “We tend to believe what is right in front of us,” even if it’s far from reality.

Still, the benefits and addictiveness of social media have solidified its place in modern life. For those who feel isolated, online communities can provide life-changing support. Kiana Shelton, therapist and licensed clinical social worker at Mindpath Health in Katy, Texas, shares her experience supporting a mother with postpartum depression who found encouragement and friendship through a Facebook group. These connections help people stay in touch across long distances, which can be especially valuable for older adults or those with health limitations, Tarlow notes. And when used well, platforms can quickly spread credible health information, such as the CDC updates during the pandemic, she points out.

Experts agree the key is conscious and moderate use. Shelton encourages people to structure their time, check their mood after scrolling, and use the “SIFT” method (Stop, Investigate, Find better coverage, and Trace claims) before trusting what they see. Tarlow adds that reducing screen time and focusing on real-world connections often helps restore balance.

The professionals we interviewed all agreed that social media can connect and inform, but using it consciously is the key to protecting mental well-being. 

Bottom line

Social media is a part of the lives of hundreds of millions of people. It’s here to stay, and its effects on mental health are complex. It can serve as a hub of connection and support while at the same time being a source of anxiety and depression. The key to using social media responsibly is balance, which can involve setting boundaries and remembering that whatever you see online may not be truthful or the full story.

Taking care of your mental health goes hand in hand with staying connected, but sometimes disconnecting from the screen can be a healthy choice for your well-being. If you notice mental health problems from using social media, know that support is available:

  • Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or healthcare provider about your concerns.
  • Call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate help.
  • Report your concern for someone else on social media through the 988 Lifeline’s support hub. 
  • Call 911 if you or someone you know is experiencing a medical or mental emergency.

Browse drugs A-Z:

View all
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z