Hopelab & Well Being Trust 65
Use of Specific Social Media Platforms, by Depressive Symptoms
The survey found few differences in social media platforms used
by young people with various degrees of depressive symptoms. There
was no difference in which of the major sites they "ever" use, such
as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Those with moderate to severe
depressive symptoms are more likely to "ever" use Tumblr (18%) than
those with no symptoms (7%). Nor was there a difference by depressive
symptoms in which site they use "most often," with one exception: those
with moderate to severe depressive symptoms are less likely to say that
Snapchat is the site they use "most often" (20%, compared with 37%
of those with no depressive symptoms). It is not clear from the data
in this survey why this correlation might exist.
Importance of Social Media, by Depressive Symptoms
Young social media users with moderate to severe depressive symp-
toms are more likely than those with no symptoms to say that social
media is "very" important to them for feeling less alone (30% compared
to 7%); for getting inspiration from others (27%, compared to 13%);
and for expressing themselves creatively (26%, compared to 13%). In
other words, it appears that for teens and young adults with moderate
to severe depressive symptoms, social media is even more important
than it is for others their age when it comes to inspiration, creative
expression, and reducing feelings of isolation.
Source: Hopelab/Well Being Trust Teens and Young Adults Survey,
February-March 2018. N=1,242 social media users ages 14-22.
Note: Superscripts are used to denote statistical significance across
rows at p<.05. Items with no superscripts, and items that share a
common superscript, are not significantly different.
None Mild
Moderate
to severe
Feeling less alone
Getting inspiration
from others
Expressing
themselves
creatively
7%ª
13%ª
13%ª
18%
b
20%
23%
b
30%
b
27%
b
26%
b
Table 12: Importance of social media,
by depressive symptoms
Among 14- to 22-year-old social media users
Percent who say
social media is
"very" important
to them for:
Social Media Use and Mental Well-Being
Social Media Use Among Young People
With and Without Depressive Symptoms
Depressive symptoms
