Wednesday 4/02/2026
Photo: Katarina Wolnik Vera
Text: Txabi Anastasio
Information overload on social media has been identified in recent years as a factor associated with higher anxiety, mental fatigue, and distress, especially among young people. At the same time, studies show that the effects are not always negative: they depend on how platforms are used and may also include opportunities for social support and identity exploration.
From “I’m keeping informed” to “I never switch off”
Social media can be a useful tool for learning, feeling connected, and accessing resources, but when use is intense and poorly regulated it can be associated with more internalizing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Recent reviews point out that it is not just about screen time, but about how platforms are used (passive use, social comparison, constant multitasking, etc.) (de Sala et al., 2024; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Among the effects described in recent literature are:
- Mental fatigue and “information strain”: content overload is linked to a feeling of a “full head,” difficulty concentrating, and emotional exhaustion
- Increased anxiety: “social media overload” (information overload and social overload) is directly associated with higher anxiety, mediated by feelings of saturation and risk perception, for example during the pandemic.
- Social comparison and distress: in adolescents, certain forms of use (such as frequent exposure to “ideal” lives) have been linked to greater emotional distress, although effect sizes are usually small and highly context‑dependent.
Taken together, recent reviews conclude that the impact of social media on mental health is contextual and individual, and that negative effects are mainly associated with intensive, passive, and comparison‑focused patterns of use.
Overload of health and mental‑health content
Recent research also suggests that the abundance of health‑related content can generate confusion, anxiety, and difficulties in discerning reliable information, especially when messages are mixed, contradictory, or alarmist. The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on social media and youth mental health highlights that massive exposure to content about health, body, and appearance may increase pressure and distress, while also offering spaces for support and psychoeducation when content is of good quality.
In this context, the problem is not receiving information as such, but doing so without filters or critical thinking, and without support to help integrate these messages into one’s own experience.
Identity and information in adolescence
Adolescence is a key period for identity formation, and social media has become a central stage for that process. A 2024 systematic review concludes that what adolescents do on social media (authentic self‑presentation, feedback seeking, comparison) matters more than time spent online. Moreover, more authentic self‑presentation is linked to greater self‑concept clarity, whereas more performative or image‑focused self‑presentation is associated with higher distress and more uncertainty about one’s identity.
These findings support the idea that information overload and continuous exposure to others’ lives can make it harder to stay connected to one’s own needs and values when combined with intense comparison and strong reliance on external validation.
Guidelines for a healthier relationship with information overload
Recent research does not suggest “banning” social media, but rather moderating and qualifying its use. Some recommendations emerging from these studies are:
- Regulate exposure: reducing the intensity and frequency of use helps decrease overload and the anxiety associated with excess information.
- Curate content: prioritise accounts that provide evidence‑based information, non‑alarmist language, and messages that foster self‑acceptance and critical thinking.
- Promote digital literacy: studies underline the importance of educational programmes that teach young people to evaluate information quality, identify harmful content, and develop more intentional patterns of use.
- Pay attention to how you feel: the literature on information overload stresses that noticing signs of fatigue, irritability, or anxiety is key to adjusting use before distress escalates.
Social media can be a valuable resource when used critically, within limits, and in line with one’s own needs; however, recent evidence shows that unfiltered, unlimited information overload tends to be associated with greater anxiety, stress, and confusion, especially in young people.
References:
- Bozzola, E., Spina, G., Ruggiero, M., Vecchio, A. L., Carullo, G., Marino, F., & Staiano, A. (2022). The use of social media in children and adolescents: Scoping review on the potential risks. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 48, 87.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
- de Sala, A., Valkenburg, P. M., & Peters, S. (2024). Social media use and adolescents’ mental health and well-being: An umbrella review. Current Opinion in Psychology, 56, 101775.[sciencedirect]
- Singh, R., & Kaur, P. (2025). The impact of social media on youth identity formation. International Journal of Sociology and Research, 7(1), 1–15.[sociologyresearchjournal]
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Social media and youth mental health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory.[hhs]
- Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 58–68.[pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih]
- Wang, Y., Zhao, T., & Li, Q. (2023). Social media overload and anxiety among university students during the Omicron pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1069655.[pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih]
- Wu, J., Shen, H., & Li, M. (2023). Social media overload and anxiety among university students: The chain mediating role of information strain and risk perception. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1097013.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
- Zhou, Y., Chen, J., & Wang, S. (2023). Information overload, social media addiction and emotional exhaustion among college students. Journal of Behavioral and Social Sciences, 5(2), 45–57.[abacademies]
- Zimmermann, L., Rathmann, K., & Reitzle, M. (2024). A systematic review of social media use and adolescent identity development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 53, 2193–2217.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
- Zych, I., Schultze-Krumbholz, A., & Schultze, M. (2025). Effects of social media use on youth and adolescent mental health: A systematic review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 27(4), 130–147.[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]