Social Media Health Alert: Link With Chronic Inflammation and Mental Health

Listen to this News

Highlights:

• Prolonged social media use is associated with heightened inflammation, posing risks to both physical and mental health
• The study objectively assessed social media impact through a screen-time app, revealing a sustained increase in inflammation levels
• Chronic inflammation, linked to stress, loneliness, and poor lifestyle, raises concerns about the long-term health effects of excessive social media use

In an era dominated by social media, a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research sheds light on a concerning revelation: prolonged social media use might be associated with an increased risk of inflammation, posing potential threats to both physical and mental health (1^✔). Led by David Lee, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University at Buffalo's College of Arts and Sciences, the study delves into the complex interplay between social media habits, inflammation, and mental well-being.

Objective Assessment of Social Media Impact

The research employed a unique approach by objectively assessing social media use through a screen-time app rather than relying on participants' subjective recall. According to Lee, this methodological shift enhances the accuracy of the study's findings, circumventing potential errors inherent in participants' memory of their social media usage. The results, based on this objective assessment, not only revealed an association between heightened inflammation and social media use at a specific point in time but also indicated an increase in inflammation levels five weeks later.

How Chronic Inflammation Affects the Body

To comprehend the significance of these findings, it's crucial to distinguish between acute and chronic inflammation. While acute inflammation serves as the body's response to injury or infection, chronic inflammation is a subtler adversary. Triggered by common experiences like stress, loneliness, poor diet, lack of exercise, and inadequate sleep, chronic inflammation might not manifest visibly but is discernible in blood tests measuring the biomarker C-reactive protein.

View Non AMP Site | Back to top ↑