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Social media and mental health

In: The Political Economy of Social Media

Author

Listed:
  • Braghieri, Luca
  • Levy, Ro'ee
  • Makarin, Alexey

Abstract

We provide quasi-experimental estimates of the impact of social media on mental health by leveraging a unique natural experiment: the staggered introduction of Facebook across US colleges. Our analysis couples data on student mental health around the years of Facebook's expansion with a generalized difference-in-differences empirical strategy. We find that the rollout of Facebook at a college had a negative impact on student mental health. It also increased the likelihood with which students reported experiencing impairments to academic performance due to poor mental health. Additional evidence on mechanisms suggests the results are due to Facebook fostering unfavorable social comparisons.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Braghieri, Luca & Levy, Ro'ee & Makarin, Alexey, 2023. "Social media and mental health," CEPR Press Book Chapters, in: Campante, Filipe & Durante, Ruben & Tesei, Andrea (ed.), The Political Economy of Social Media, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 1, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ebchap:p375-01
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    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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