The Relationship between Social Media Use and Social Anxiety Disorder in College Students

Abstract

Social media has been integrated into the daily life of colleges. It assists students in interacting, communicating, and educating, but it also causes mental health issues. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a widespread psychological condition among young adults and it is usually marked by apprehension of being judged and shunning out of social interaction. This article is a literature review of the connection between the use of social media and SAD in college students. The results indicate that social media may be effective in social support but also increases anxiety due to social comparison, the fear of negative evaluation, and sleep disturbances. The correlation between social media and SAD is in two way: students who experience high level of social anxiety are more inclined to use social media and overuse or passive usage may aggravate symptoms. Other factors like loneliness, self-esteem, and sleeping habits are also mediating factors discussed in this paper and a conclusion is given on how college students can be encouraged to engage in healthy and mindful use of the digital world.