Why We Love Social Media

For all its pitfalls, social media satisfies genuine human needs. When used mindfully, it can enrich our lives:

Staying connected. A national survey from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that routine social media use—using platforms as part of everyday life and responding to others’ posts—is positively associated with social well‑being, positive mental health and self‑rated healthhsph.harvard.edu. Social media lets us maintain friendships across distances and time zoneshsph.harvard.edu, supporting networks that would otherwise fade.

Community and belonging. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, social platforms offered a lifeline. In a 2025 survey by LifeStance, 52 % of respondents said social media strengthened connections with friends and family and reduced feelings of lonelinesslifestance.com. Finding groups around shared interests can provide a sense of belonging, especially for people who feel isolated offline.

Creative self‑expression. Social media is a modern canvas. In the same survey, 32 % of people said social media helped them connect with others who share their interests and express themselves authenticallylifestance.com. Posting artwork, stories or reflections allows users to develop identity and confidence.

Access to support and information. For marginalized communities or those dealing with specific challenges, online groups offer crucial support. Studies of older adults during the pandemic found that daily phone or video contact reduced depressive symptoms compared with no contactpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Social platforms can amplify underrepresented voices and organize collective action around social causes.

Inspiration and learning. From cooking tutorials to meditation guides, social media can be a source of skill‑building and knowledge. Mindfully curated feeds can inspire healthy habits and expose us to cultures and perspectives beyond our own.

The key is using social media intentionally rather than compulsively. Routine, mindful use can strengthen social ties and uplift well‑beinghsph.harvard.edu. Emotional attachment driven by FOMO—constantly checking for fear of missing out—is linked with poorer mental healthhsph.harvard.edu. Welligama’s tools encourage users to set intentions before opening an app, so you can enjoy social media’s benefits without its traps.

Sources

  1. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health interview showing routine social media use is positively associated with social well‑being and self‑rated healthhsph.harvard.edu and highlighting that social media helps overcome barriers of distance to strengthen networkshsph.harvard.edu.

  2. LifeStance Health’s 2025 survey finding that 52 % of respondents felt social media strengthened connections with friends and familylifestance.com and that 32 % used it for creative self‑expressionlifestance.com.

  3. The HUNT Study on older adults noting that daily phone/video contact during lockdown reduced depressive symptomspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.