How and why do young people use social media to cope with depression?
Author: Brightness L Kgatla, brightnesslesedi77@gmail.com
Department: Sociology
University: University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Supervisor: Prof Ingrid Palmary
Year of completion: 2023
Language of dissertation: English
Keywords:
Depression
, Idioms of distress
, Medical model
, Social media
Areas of Research:
Mental Health and Illness
, Social Psychology
, Youth
Abstract
The study employed a qualitative method to explore how and why young people use social media to cope with depression and the reasons for choosing social media as a coping tool. This study is based on data mined from participants’ social media applications and key informant interviews to search for ways they use these applications to cope, investigate what they are posting, whom they are following, and what sort of mental health content draws their attention. The data found on these platforms was investigated further during the interviews to probe for depth in the findings. The findings indicated that young people are conscious about the type of content and people they allow on their social media platforms to avoid the negative effects on their mental health. They know that how they use their social media determines their experiences there. Young people choose to use social media as a coping tool for depression because it is easily accessible, and they can express their depressive emotions without the fear of judgment because they have the option to conceal or change their identity. Some participants were comfortable revealing their identity while sharing about their depression, creating mental health awareness, and attempting to help others with depression. The participants indicated that connections they find on social media with others in similar circumstances help them cope because they do not feel alone. Unlike in actual life, where they find it difficult to find people with depression to whom they can relate. However, there are disadvantages to using social media as a tool as there is a risk of misinformation, the friendships they form online easily disconnect, and cyberbullying due to sharing their depressive thoughts and feelings. Based on the findings, it is apparent that attention and research should shift from determining whether social media is good or bad and instead should focus on how young people use it and portray themselves on it to better their mental health.
