The DOI matches its Crossref record; 30 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Is social network site usage related to depression? A meta-analysis of Facebook–depression relations
Abstract
Background Facebook depression is defined as feeling depressed upon too much exposure to Social networking sites (SNS). Researchers have argued that upward social comparisons made on SNS are the key to the Facebook depression phenomenon. To examine the relations between SNS usage and depression, we conducted 4 separate meta-analyses relating depression to: (1) time spent on SNS, (2) SNS checking frequency, (3) general and (4) upward social comparisons on SNS. We compared the four mean effect sizes in terms of magnitude.Methods Our literature search yielded 33 articles with a sample of 15,881 for time spent on SNS, 12 articles with a sample of 8041 for SNS checking frequency, and 5 articles with a sample of 1715 and 2298 for the general and the upward social comparison analyses, respectively.Results In both SNS-usage analyses, greater time spent on SNS and frequency of checking SNS were associated with higher levels of depression with a small effect size. Further, higher levels of depression were associated with greater general social comparisons on SNS with a small to medium effect, and greater upward social comparisons on SNS with a medium effect. Both social comparisons on SNS were more strongly related to depression than was time spent on SNS.Limitations Limitations include heterogeneity in effect sizes and a small number of samples for social comparison analyses.Conclusions Our results are consistent with the notion of 'Facebook depression phenomenon' and with the theoretical importance of social comparisons as an explanation.
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In the citing paper
“studies have shown that individuals experiencing depressive symptoms often suffer from social media addiction [18–20].”
From Correlations between social media addiction and anxiety, depression, FoMO, loneliness and self-esteem among students: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“While some of them found detrimental effects in terms of anxiety [47], depression [48], psychological distress [49], disordered eating [50], sleep [51], and wellbeing [52]”
From Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health (2025) · cites this paper as [48]
In the citing paper
“Similar to PSMU, negative social comparison on social media has been associated with poor mental health such as increased depressive and anxiety symptoms (Appel et al., 2015; Schmuck et al., 2019; Yoon et al., 2019).”
From Problematic social media use and inhibitory control among post-secondary students (2025) · cites this paper as Yoon et al., 2019
In the citing paper
“the information that is shared on social networking sites gives rise to upward social comparisons, which can have negative effects on well-being and mental health (Verduyn et al., 2020; for meta-analyses, see Yang et al., 2019;Yoon et al., 2019).”
From Understanding Autobiographical Memory in the Digital Age: The AMEDIA-Model (2024) · cites this paper as Yoon et al., 2019
In the citing paper
“The heavy reliance on correlational data severely limits our ability to infer directionality and argue that exposure to social media causes depression (11, 22).”
From Does Social Media Use Increase Depressive Symptoms? A Reverse Causation Perspective (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
Citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence.
Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022) · Current opinion in psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017 · Cited by 767
Teenagers, screens and social media: a narrative review of reviews and key studies
Orben, A. (2020) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-019-01825-4 · Cited by 706
Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Shannon, H., Bush, K., Villeneuve, P. J., Hellemans, K. G., & Guimond, S. (2022) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/33450 · Cited by 593
Meier, A., & Reinecke, L. (2021) · Communication Research · doi:10.1177/0093650220958224 · Cited by 534
Social comparison on social networking sites
Verduyn, P., Gugushvili, N., Massar, K., Täht, K., & Kross, E. (2020) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.002 · Cited by 500
Metadata
- Authors
- Yoon, S., Kleinman, M., Mertz, J., & Brannick, M.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yoon, Sunkyung
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-04
- Volume
- 248
- Pages
- 65-72
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2914027514
- Cited by
- 355
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 11
- FWCI
- 9.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- social networking sites, depression, upward social comparison, time spent on social media, social media use
- MeSH terms
- Depression, Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Humans, Behavior, Addictive, Social Networking, Social Media
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