Are YOU a social media ‘voyeur’? People who browse but never like or comment are at risk of a serious mental health condition

Scrolling through social media but never liking or commenting on posts could be a sign of mental illness, a new study has revealed.

Researchers from Central China Normal University found that people who use platforms 'passively' are more likely to suffer from social anxiety than those who use them actively – by uploading posts and sharing life updates.

The team surveyed more than 500 students about their mental health and their use of social media and found that 'voyeurs' were more afraid of unknown situations in their physical lives.

On the other hand, those who actively used social media found that they received more social support and improved friendship quality.

The study, published in BMC PsychologyFrom May to July 2022, there were 571 students from Shanxi and Hubei provinces in China.

The group completed questionnaires measuring openness, active and passive use of social media, self-evaluation and social anxiety.

To measure openness, subjects were asked to rank a series of statements: one for strongly disagree and four for strongly agree.

These statements included: “I see myself as someone who is inventive” and “I see myself as someone who has an active imagination.”

The next measure, active and passive social media use, was a nine-item questionnaire asking how much they post, such as status updates, likes and comments.

The study noted that “active use refers to information-generating behaviors that improve communication, such as posting status updates or comments.

The team also found that oversharers use social media networks to learn about the lives and plans of others, mainly to supplement real-life interactions with which they often struggle.

“Passive use refers to information-seeking behavior that lacks communication, such as viewing others' homepages or photos,” the team wrote in the document.

In the self-assessment portion, participants were asked to agree or disagree with statements such as “I think I am a smart person.”

The final questionnaire focused on social anxiety, with sample items such as “Large groups make me nervous” and “It takes me time to get over my shyness in new situations.”

Participants were then asked to rank from “not at all like me” to “very much like me.”

The study found that those who reported using social media passively were more likely to produce dysfunctional beliefs.

“People tend to portray themselves in an overly flattering manner on social media platforms, which can lead passive users to unknowingly fall into an upward social comparison dilemma when they see their friends' updates,” the researchers wrote.

'Previous studies have also shown that individuals who passively use social networks have higher levels of jealousy and lower self-esteem.

'Specifically, passive SNS use can lead to ruminative thinking related to interpersonal relationships, which easily worsens symptoms of social anxiety.'

The team found that when users actively use platforms, they feel comfortable introducing themselves to others and receiving feedback.

“Additionally, individuals are more confident in their ability to maintain a large number of weak ties,” the study reads.

'As a result, individuals can more effectively accumulate social capital, meet belongingness needs and develop a positive self-image.'

However, passive users lack self-disclosure and communicative interaction, which hinders the establishment and development of high-quality relationships with others.