Research by the University of Bath in the UK supports previous studies in both the US and UK linking regular social media use with higher rates of depression and anxiety. As little as seven days without increased the sense of well-being.

RTE »

“But if you are spending hours each week scrolling and you feel it is negatively impacting you, it could be worth cutting down on your usage to see if it helps.”

The number of adults using social media has increased from 45% in 2011 to 71% in 2021, and has hit 97% in people aged 16 to 44, the study said.

“Scrolling” through content is the most common activity that social media users perform.