A Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Maymunah Kadiri, has warned that social media addiction or overuse is a risk factor for depression and other mental health problems, which could escalate to suicidal tendencies.
Kadiri, who is also the Medical Director of Pinnacle Medical Services, said this in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Lagos, citing multiple studies linking heavy social media use to depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and emotional trauma.
She lamented that many people have become so addicted to social media that they cannot stay a minute without checking their phones to chat on WhatsApp, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), watch videos, or follow news updates.
Kadiri explained that social media has both positive and negative effects on mental health, noting, “While many of us enjoy staying connected, excessive use or addiction can fuel anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.”
According to her, social media can help users connect with friends and work contacts, raise awareness on important issues, and find peer support, but overuse can take a toll on mental well-being and happiness.
“Excessive social media use can trigger feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation, worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress,” she said, warning that people often use it as a “security blanket” in social situations.
“Whenever we feel anxious, awkward, or lonely, we turn to our phones and log on to social media, but this only isolates us further, creating a negative, self-perpetuating cycle,” Kadiri explained.
The therapist emphasised that even small actions on social media, like liking or disliking a post, can affect brain chemistry, triggering elation for one person but dysphoria for another, which may contribute to suicidal ideation.
“As dysphoria increases, it alters brain chemistry, mood changes, and depression may set in, causing a loss of interest in activities a person ordinarily enjoys,” she said, emphasising the emotional risks of excessive use.
Kadiri defined dysphoria as “an emotional state often following mental illnesses or physical conditions, marked by profound uneasiness and dissatisfaction with life, sometimes leading to depression, anxiety, or agitation.”
She, therefore, called for limits and regulation of social media use to protect mental health, particularly among youths, and urged greater awareness of the psychological impacts of overexposure.
