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Hopelab & Well Being Trust 68 In a similar finding, the survey indicates that those with moderate to severe depressive symptoms are more likely than those with no symptoms to say they "often" post something on social media, but get hardly any comments or likes on it at all, whether positive or negative (29%, compared to just 7% of those with no depression; including those who say this "sometimes" happens, the difference is 71% vs. 43%). Again, this lack of response may be a function of the nature of their posts; it may be a reflection of their loneliness or isolation from others; it may be a reflection of a negative response bias on the part of those living with depressive symptoms; and it may be a factor that contributes to their mental well-being – from this survey we have no way of knowing how or why these variables correlate with one another, only that they do. Online "drama." Young people with depressive symptoms who use social media are more likely than non-depressed youth to say they have experienced or engaged in some negative actions (or "drama") around their social media use, including being "trolled" on social media (having somebody intentionally create conflict with them via social media, 31% of moderate to severely depressed social media users vs. 14% of their non-depressed peers), "stalking" someone on social media (extensively checking people out online without them knowing about it, 31% vs. 16%), and deleting a social media account after a personal conflict with somebody (30% vs. 10%). Reactions to news content and use of social media to avoid problems. Young social media users who are coping with depressive symptoms are more likely than those who are not to say they feel stressed and anxious from the bad news they see in social media. Nearly two-thirds of those with moderate to severe depressive symptoms agree at least somewhat that they see so much bad news in social media that it makes them feel stressed and anxious, compared to 35% of those without depressive symptoms. They are also more likely to say they "often" use social media as a way to avoid dealing with their problems (14% compared to 3% of those without depression). Source: Hopelab/Well Being Trust Teens and Young Adults Survey, February-March 2018. N=1,242 social media users ages 14-22. Note: All differences between the two groups depicted in this chart are statistically significant at p<.05. Figure 13: Types of comments received on social media, by depressive symptoms Among 14- to 22-year-old social media users, percent who say they often or sometimes get: 89% 17% 43% 73% 38% 71% Positive comments on social media Negative comments on social media No comments or likes on social media Among teens with no depressive symptoms Among teens with moderate to severe depressive symptoms Social Media Use and Mental Well-Being Social Media Use Among Young People With and Without Depressive Symptoms

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