By skyforbes 
But how does social media affect mental health? Numerous research studies demonstrate that social media usage can result in increased rates of depression and anxiety and aggravate mental health problems. Despite the negative feelings that often come with social media use, people get addicted to the sensations in the brain’s reward center that occur with likes and comments.
Posting on social media and receiving likes and comments causes a dopamine response in the brain, which releases a “feel-good” hormone. And the unpredictable nature of the likes and feedback keeps people hooked, as they check notifications, and return to try their luck again with another post. It is similar to addictive gambling, where the unknown and unpredictable outcome with random rewards keeps people coming back. As we can see from the phone behavior stats, notifications also spur people to check their social accounts.
In addition to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and addictive behavior, social media can contribute to secondary problems that can harm brain patterns like not engaging in other activities, not getting enough sleep, and relying on online friendships as opposed to real life connections, according to McNally.
Social Media’s Affect on Youth
Social media can have far-reaching effects on young people, whose brains are not fully formed yet. Nearly half (46%) of American adolescents between age 13 and 17 report experiencing at least one of six cyberbullying behaviors, according to the Pew Research Center survey. Bullying that focuses on appearance is especially common on social media, and older teenage girls are the most at-risk of being bullied for their appearances, according to the research center. With these disheartening stats, it is not surprising that social media can trigger depression, anxiety, fomo, and body image issues among young people.
“A recent study found that teens who check social media more habitually showed greater neural sensitivity in the parts of the brain associated with social rewards and punishments,” McNally says. “This could have long-term effects on overall psychological development (e.g., seeking/needing approval from others or external sources rather than focusing on intrinsic motivators).”
In addition to the intense pressures of social media at a vulnerable age, young people have different brain responses to social media than adults. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), starting around age 10, children’s brains undergo a shift that causes them to seek social rewards, including attention and approval from their peers.
“For kids ages 10 and older, the receptors for the ‘happy hormones’ oxytocin and dopamine multiply in a part of the brain called the ventral striatum, making preteens extra sensitive to attention and admiration from others,” according to the APA.