Social media affects people’s views on mental illness

April 24, 2024

Social media affects people’s views on mental illness

a young woman with dark hair looks sadly at her phone

Even subtle differences in the wording of social media messages may be enough to sway young people’s beliefs about depression and anxiety and their treatment.

In a new study, researchers found that college students were more optimistic about the possibility of successfully treating mental health problems after they read social media messages conveying what is called a “growth mindset.”