Research by the Cactus Institute indicates that users of X (formerly Twitter) have a worse experience on the internet
A study published by on Wednesday (6.Nov.2024) highlights the negative influence of social networks on the mental health of Brazilians. According to the 3rd edition of the Mental Health Panorama survey, 45% of people notice adverse effects due to the use of platforms.
The impact is greatest among young people aged 16 to 24. Around 15% report a considerably negative impact. Read the study (14 MB).
The study used the ICASM (Continuous Mental Health Assessment Index) to assess the mental condition of respondents. The index varies from 0 to 1,000 points, being divided into 3 variants: confidence, focus and vitality.
The results indicated a correlation between the use of social networks and the perception of mental illness. X users (formerly Twitter) had the worst ICASM index, scoring 458 points.
Next are LinkedIn users (495) and Instagram (542), while Facebook users had a higher rate (758).
The survey also examined content consumption preferences, revealing that 46% of respondents prefer short videos, such as reels and TikTok. The ICASM calculation also took into account news consumption.
People who prefer reading texts had an average ICASM of 636. Consumption of celebrity news and gossip was associated with the lowest ICASM (565), while sports fans recorded the highest index (645).
The pattern of social media use showed that 58% of participants are more active at night and 4% during the early hours of the morning. Among these, 53% reported sleeping less than 6 hours on 3 or more days in the last 2 weeks.
The founder of Instituto Cactus, Maria Fernanda Resende Quartiero, emphasized the need to promote conscious use of social networks to mitigate their effects on mental health. “The data reinforces the urgent need to direct efforts towards the prevention and promotion of young people’s mental health”, states.
