While there’s a link between social media and social anxiety disorder (SAD), the connection isn’t 100% clear. Some people use social media as a way to cope with social anxiety. Others develop social anxiety as a result from overusing social media.

What is a Social Anxiety Disorder?

Most people grow nervous in some social situations. For example, a first date or a job interview is bound to come with some anxiety.

However, social anxiety disorder (SAD) causes more severe issues. Sometimes referred to as social phobia, SAD results in the following reactions to social situations: ¹

• Significant anxiety
• Embarrassment
• Self-consciousness

Most people with SAD fear scrutiny or negative judgment from others. These symptoms can also lead to social avoidance and self-isolation. Naturally, these afflictions can cause other health problems, including depression and suicidal ideation. ² ³

On top of this, social avoidance causes difficulties with daily responsibilities, including:

• Relationships
• School
• Work
• Other common activities

What are the Signs of Social Anxiety?

You may assume shyness and discomfort in social situations is an indicator of SAD. However, this isn’t true. A person’s history and personality significantly affect how they react to social situations. As a result, some are more reserved than others. ⁴

Social anxiety disorder creates intense fears, anxiety, and avoidance that interfere with your personal relationships, daily routines, and professional performance. Some common signs include: ⁵

• Anxiety when anticipating a feared activity, event, or situation.
• Avoidance of doing things or speaking to people due to fear of embarrassment.
• Concern that others will notice your anxiety or discomfort.
• Evading situations where you might be the center of attention.
• Expecting the worst possible outcome from a negative experience during a social situation.
• Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as blushing, sweating, trembling, having a shaky voice, or stomach problems.
• Fear of situations where you may be negatively judged.
• Frequently worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself around others.
• Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers.
• Self-analysis of your performance and identification of flaws in your interactions after a social situation.
• Severe fear or anxiety during social situations.

You may also develop physical symptoms, including: ⁶

• Blushing
• Rapid heart rate
• Shaky voice
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Trouble catching your breath

Does Social Media Cause Social Anxiety?

While there isn’t a direct correlation between social media and a SAD diagnosis, there are some associations. For example, you may use social media in social situations to avoid face-to-face interaction.

However, researchers have found a rise in social media use leads to a lack of in-person interactions. Naturally, this may make real-life social situations uncomfortable and hinder your ability to interact with others.

This claim was observed in a 2015 study that investigated online and offline social behaviors and their link to mental health. From 656 participants, it was found that those with higher online use rates also saw increased social anxiety and a lower sense of well-being compared to those who participated more in offline settings. ⁷

This lack of well-being can come from several sources, including:

• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) – If you’re constantly up-to-date on social media, you may feel like you’re missing out on life events others participate in. ⁸

• Self-Esteem Fluctuations – Do you think about yourself a lot as you spend more time on social media? You may be caught up in social media comparison (idealizing snapshots of others and determining your self-worth based on this content). ⁹

• Restless When Not Connected – You may get irritable if you haven’t checked social media, a sign of dependency. ¹⁰

• Changes in Social Behavior – Your inability to interact with others in person can also weigh down on your self-esteem. ¹¹

How to Treat a Social Anxiety Disorder?

If you struggle with social anxiety due to social media use, exposure therapy may be your best option for treatment. This will force you to participate in social interactions (in a safe setting) to help you learn to cope with anxiety. ¹²

However, there are other ways treatment can help you overcome social anxiety. These include:

• Psychotherapy – Talk therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), allow you to understand negative thought patterns and what you can do to break them. ¹³

• Medication – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been found to reduce symptoms of anxiety and can be used in social settings. ¹⁴

References

¹ Rose GM, Tadi P. Social Anxiety Disorder. 2022 Oct 25. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 32310350.

² Teo AR, Lerrigo R, Rogers MA. The role of social isolation in social anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Anxiety Disord. 2013 May;27(4):353-64. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.03.010. Epub 2013 Apr 16. PMID: 23746493.

³ Motillon-Toudic C, Walter M, Séguin M, Carrier JD, Berrouiguet S, Lemey C. Social isolation and suicide risk: Literature review and perspectives. Eur Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 11;65(1):e65. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2320. PMID: 36216777; PMCID: PMC9641655.

⁴ Tuovinen S, Tang X, Salmela-Aro K. Introversion and Social Engagement: Scale Validation, Their Interaction, and Positive Association With Self-Esteem. Front Psychol. 2020 Nov 30;11:590748. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.590748. PMID: 33329251; PMCID: PMC7734327.

⁵ Jefferson JW. Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just a Little Shyness. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Feb;3(1):4-9. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v03n0102. PMID: 15014622; PMCID: PMC181152.

⁶ Alhadi AN, Alageel MA, Alsuhaibani FA, Alkaff HM, Albawardi MS, Alfaifi AA, Duraihem TB, Alhayes FA. Prevalence and Severity of Social Anxiety Symptoms and Their Relationship With Body Dysmorphic Symptoms. Cureus. 2024 Feb 2;16(2):e53436. doi: 10.7759/cureus.53436. PMID: 38435158; PMCID: PMC10909235.

⁷ Koo HJ, Woo S, Yang E, Kwon JH. The Double Meaning of Online Social Space: Three-Way Interactions Among Social Anxiety, Online Social Behavior, and Offline Social Behavior. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2015 Sep;18(9):514-20. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0396. PMID: 26348811.

⁸ Rozgonjuk D, Sindermann C, Elhai JD, Montag C. Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and social media’s impact on daily-life and productivity at work: Do WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat Use Disorders mediate that association? Addict Behav. 2020 Nov;110:106487. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106487. Epub 2020 May 27. PMID: 32674020.

⁹ Samra A, Warburton WA, Collins AM. Social comparisons: A potential mechanism linking problematic social media use with depression. J Behav Addict. 2022 Jun 2;11(2):607-614. doi: 10.1556/2006.2022.00023. PMID: 35895606; PMCID: PMC9295248.

¹⁰ Lai F, Wang L, Zhang J, Shan S, Chen J, Tian L. Relationship between Social Media Use and Social Anxiety in College Students: Mediation Effect of Communication Capacity. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 18;20(4):3657. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043657. PMID: 36834357; PMCID: PMC9966679.

¹¹ Rouxel P, Chandola T. No Substitute for In-Person Interaction: Changing Modes of Social Contact during the Coronavirus Pandemic and Effects on the Mental Health of Adults in the UK. Sociology. 2023 May 15:00380385231172123. doi: 10.1177/00380385231172123. PMCID: PMC10189533.

¹² Scheurich JA, Beidel DC, Vanryckeghem M. Exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder in people who stutter: An exploratory multiple baseline design. J Fluency Disord. 2019 Mar;59:21-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2018.12.001. Epub 2018 Dec 13. PMID: 30578977.

¹³ Butler RM, O’Day EB, Swee MB, Horenstein A, Heimberg RG. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: Predictors of Treatment Outcome in a Quasi-Naturalistic Setting. Behav Ther. 2021 Mar;52(2):465-477. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Jun 15. PMID: 33622514.

¹⁴ Schneier FR. Treatment of social phobia with antidepressants. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001;62 Suppl 1:43-8; discussion 49. PMID: 11206033.