this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2026
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44
Emotional Support From Social Media Found to Reduce Anxiety (news.uark.edu)
submitted 17 hours ago by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
12 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A researcher recently found that young adults who receive emotional support on social media are significantly more likely to report reduced anxiety symptoms, with a few specific personality traits reporting the most improved well-being.

Among the study's findings was that people with high openness to experience, high extraversion, high agreeableness and low conscientiousness reported an increase in perceived social media emotional support. Positive interactions and perceptions may explain why young adults with these specific traits feel more supported and less anxious overall.

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[–] Denixen@feddit.nu 11 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

This is why we have so much tribalism, polarization and extremism today too though. People find their information bubble, gets validated for the shit they say (i.e. emotional support), feel good about it so they post more and more extreme shit and validate (give emotional support) to others in the bubble.

Now you have an extremist movement. Getting emotional support/validation from strangers on the internet is not always a good thing. Even if it makes you feel less anxious. Some people should feel anxious about the things they think about.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

The reason we have so much extremism today is people are more desperate and angry, not that strangers on the internet validating one another.

[–] Denixen@feddit.nu 0 points 5 hours ago

It can be both. I am certain that there isn't one explanation for it. What i describe is the feedback loop. What you describe is the initial conditions. Combined they spell disaster.

[–] unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 10 hours ago

I'm willing to buy into this interpretation, your explanation seems plausible at a minimum.

[–] sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.today 1 points 9 hours ago

You beat me to it. You're spot on