The Positive Side of Social Media

Monica Wang, associate professor of community health sciences at BU’s School of Public Health, is examining the challenges and benefits of social media and the balance we all need to seek. While social media can facilitate positive social connections and raise awareness of important issues such as mental health and well-being, it also does the opposite, often spreading health misinformation.

In a commentary published in JAMA Pediatrics, Wang and research fellow Katherine Togher (SPH’23) investigate the benefits and dangers of social media. Their findings show younger generations demonstrating remarkable resilience, creativity, and empathy in their online interactions. Many use social media as a tool for positive change, advocating for social justice, mental health awareness, and community support.

“Harnessing social media as a tool that can empower us, rather than mislead us, can help us nurture the health of our society online and offline,” says Wang. And, while acknowledging this positive impact on mental health, she points out the damage that occurs from online content that spreads false health information.

This includes articles and images related to restricted dieting, excessive exercising, and unsafe eating practices—which, when added to the onslaught of flawless, manipulated images that create unrealistic beauty standards, can lead to eating disorders, low self-esteem, and other physical and emotional issues.

“Harnessing social media as a tool that can empower us, rather than mislead us, can help us nurture the health of our society online and offline.”

—MONICA WANG

What can be done? Wang and Togher say that parents and caregivers can help children by engaging in nonjudgmental conversations about taking proactive health-protective measures, such as using privacy controls and balancing online and offline activities. On a broader level, they urge health experts, researchers, educators, and parents to advocate for policies that regulate misleading or harmful information on social media.

The positive and negative aspects of social media will always be with us, and researchers like Wang hope the good will prevail. “Social media is like fire,” she says. “When used with recklessness, it can burn our house down. But when used for good, it can keep us warm and cook our food.”