Ever noticed how some people seem completely absorbed by social media, constantly checking their phones at 2 AM, seemingly anxious about how they’re perceived? It turns out there might be more to that behavior than just bad habits.
I recently came across a fascinating study by Nancy Yang and Bernard Crespi that explores how social media impacts mental health, focusing on what they call “disorders of the social brain.” With over two billion people using these platforms globally, this research provides crucial insights.
💡 The “Delusion Amplification” Effect
The researchers introduced the “Delusion Amplification by Social Media” model, suggesting that social media can worsen certain mental health conditions—especially for those with psychotic spectrum traits or an unstable sense of self.
What really stood out to me was how the study explains that social media success relies on “mentalistic cognition”—the ability to imagine and predict what others think of you. Content creators constantly try to anticipate how their audience will react. But the same skill that helps create engaging content can blur into paranoid or delusional thinking for those who are vulnerable.
🔂 The Validation Loop
I’ve seen this in people around me. Those little dopamine hits from likes and comments can lead to unhealthy patterns of constant validation-seeking. The study even highlights how features like “read receipts” can trigger feelings of paranoia. (We’ve all seen someone get anxious when their message is read but not responded to, right?)
🧠 Different Minds, Different Uses
The researchers also explored how different mental health traits influence social media use. Those with psychotic spectrum traits tend to use social media more intensively, while those with autism-related traits often focus on factual content rather than social interactions.
🤔 The “Real Me” vs. The “Online Me”
What’s particularly concerning is how social media impacts identity. Unlike real-life conversations, where identities develop through back-and-forth interactions, social media enables heavily curated versions of ourselves. This can lead to “identity diffusion,” where people struggle to integrate their online and offline selves.
I’ve seen people wrestle with this disconnect between their real lives and their “virtual selves.” There’s something both liberating and dangerous about crafting the perfect online persona—especially when that image starts feeling more real than everyday life.
⚖️ Social Media Delusion and Finding Balance
So, what’s the takeaway? It might be worth being more mindful about social media use. These platforms aren’t inherently good or bad—but understanding how they influence thinking patterns can help users build healthier relationships with technology.
What have you noticed about how social media affects people’s sense of self? Have you observed differences in how people think or behave when they’re heavily engaged with these platforms versus when they take breaks?