New twin study challenges oversimplified claims about social media and wellbeing

Amid widespread concern and polarizing headlines about how platforms like Instagram and TikTok affect mental health - especially among adolescents - this research takes a deeper look beneath the surface. The findings suggest that rather than social media directly causing poor mental health or happiness, the same genetic traits that influence how people feel may also influence how they engage with social media.

“Our research helps move the conversation away from simplistic claims that social media is either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for everyone,” said Selim Sametoglu, the lead author of the research. “We show that the effects are modest, and more importantly, at least partly shaped by individual genetic differences.”

Building on these findings, the researchers hope to instigate more studies on diverse populations and examining how new digital technologies intersect with individual traits. The goal is to better understand who might be most vulnerable - or most resilient - to the effects of online engagement.

Key findings of the study

• Small associations were found between social media use and wellbeing, with most being either negligible or statistically minor.
• Genetic influences explained up to 72% of the variation in how much time people spend on social media.
• The small links between social media use and symptoms of depression or anxiety appear to be partly explained by shared genetic factors.
• People with higher wellbeing tended to use more platforms, but more passively (browsing rather than posting). Those with lower wellbeing were more likely to post frequently on fewer platforms.
• Interestingly, while most wellbeing measures were slightly negatively related to social media use, the trait of ‘flourishing’ - a sense of thriving - was positively associated with greater use.

Methodology

The research team analyzed responses from 6,492 twins aged 16 to 89 (average age: 35) from the Netherlands Twin Register. Participants reported on various aspects of wellbeing, including life satisfaction, purpose, and anxious-depressive symptoms. Social media use was assessed by time spent, frequency of posting, and number of platforms used. A classical twin study design allowed the researchers to disentangle the influence of genetics, shared environment, and individual environment.

Implications

This study offers valuable insight for researchers, educators, policymakers, and parents navigating a complex digital landscape. Rather than panicking over generalized harms of social media, it encourages a more personalized, evidence-based approach.

Selim: “We shouldn’t let headlines like ‘social media is toxic’ distract us from what really matters: each person’s unique background and current state of life. Simply blaming social media use, or restricting access to platforms, won’t solve our wellbeing and mental health challenges. Instead, we need to focus on the individual - because genes, context, and support all matter.”