Social media: our modern social and emotional environment

The relationship between social media and mental health is often dominated by a discourse of risk and negative outcomes. From the mental health consequences of ‘overuse’ of social media (Pantic et al, 2012), to the potential psychological and emotional consequences of ‘cyberbullying’ and ‘trolling’ of adults and children and young people, to the risks associated with online sites that promote self-harm or suicide (Guardian, 2014; Jenaro, 2018; Popovac, 2017) or other forms of abuse (Kloess et al, 2014), debates around the risks of harm associated with social media are widespread in popular culture and by politicians and often overlook its potential benefits.

Much academic research into online and social media activity has also tended to focus on the risks of negative impacts on mental wellbeing. This includes the suggestion that internet and social media communications reduce face-to-face interactions, causing isolation and vulnerability to online abuse and predators, and increasing levels of loneliness (Primack et al, 2017; Yao and Zhong, 2014).

However, as research in this field develops, more recent studies suggest that interactive social media and online resources have mixed effects (for a brief overview of research in respect of adolescents see Durbin et al, 2018), highlighting potential benefits as well as negative outcomes. Studies indicate that impact and experiences depend on many factors, including the nature and patterns of usage, specific online content, the pre-existing mental health and wellbeing of the individual, psychological factors and the meanings associated with online interactions, and the degree to which people can control their experience and communications with others.

Social media plays an important role in everyday communication and social relationships and is a growing feature of social work and mental health practice. Therefore, as in all areas of practice, social workers in mental health need to be open-minded and reflective about social media and its impact and should develop their knowledge in this area and use it effectively in the complexities of their work. The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) provides ethical and practice guidance for all social workers on social media (BASW, 2018) to support this.