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Social Media May Intensify Delusional Disorders, Researchers Warn in Study

Opinion

Business Honor
21 April, 2025

SFU study links social media use to delusional disorders, needs more balanced digital engagement.

The research on the impact of social media on mental health in concerning delusional disorders was conducted by Bernard Crespi, a professor of biological sciences and Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Genetics and Psychology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), along with his colleague Nancy Yang.

According to the research, social media users are more likely to display characteristics associated with narcissism, paranoia, body dysmorphia, anorexia, and erotomania. Despite their differences, these disorders are all characterized by delusions, which are persistent incorrect beliefs in the face of challenging information.

The research has found out that social media platforms may help spread these ideas by allowing users to display idealized versions of them and obtain approval from others without having to engage with them in person. The researchers struggle with the idea that people with weak or immature senses of self may be most harmed by this detachment from reality. According to the researchers' "Delusion Amplification by Social Media" concept, using the internet may make some psychological weaknesses worse.

The nature of social media, which is intended to maximize attention and reward, may continue negative self-perceptions and reasoning habits, particularly among young users. The researchers stress the need for additional research even though these findings raise significant concerns regarding the hazards to mental health that come with internet connection.

Social media is a dynamic and multilayered tool, and its impacts are not always harmful. Society can attempt to strike a balance between the advantages of fundamental connections and the mental health of its users through increased self-awareness, responsible platform design, and ongoing study.