Social networking and depression

This chapter reviews the theoretical basis for a potential association between social networking sites (SNS) use and depression as well as the empirical literature on this association and its underlying mechanisms. It discusses the implications of this research, and provides suggestions for future research to expand our understanding of the impact of SNS use on mental health. Research that focuses on relationship-specific problems on SNSs could provide clues to other mechanisms linking SNS use to depression, particularly given the well-documented associations between relationship behaviors and depression. It will be important for future research to continue to examine risk factors for problematic social networking experiences and the extent to which the associations between SNS use and depression apply to interactions with different types of relationship partners. Research on SNS use and mental health has important implications for SNS users themselves as well as those who interact with SNS users.