Social Anxiety and Its Impact
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a spectrum anxiety disorder characterized by feelings of fear and tension in social interactions or public situations. This condition often leads to avoidance of public places, social events, and situations, reducing quality of life and interfering with education, work, and social development.
Research shows that social media, now an inseparable part of our lives, can serve not only as a communication tool but also deepen social anxiety. This impact is directly related to the activation and alteration of specific brain regions.
How Social Media Deepens Anxiety
People tend to compare themselves to others through social media, fearing criticism or social evaluation. This fear activates the so-called brain “stress axis” — the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis — increasing cortisol levels in the body, resulting in tension and anxiety.
During this time, the amygdala, directly responsible for fear and anxiety response, becomes more active, reacting more strongly to social interactions. Simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex (Cortex Praefrontalis), which helps regulate fear, becomes less effective, making it harder to manage emotional tension.
At the initial stages of social media use, the ventral striatum (Striatum Ventralis), associated with reward and pleasure, becomes active. However, people with social anxiety over time experience a decline in reward sensitivity due to reduced dopamine system responsiveness. This compels individuals to seek more social media engagement, craving new rewards, which leads to psychological overload and burnout.
Recent Research Explains the Mechanisms
Recent scientific findings confirm these mechanisms:
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Gong et al. (2023, Frontiers in Neural Circuits): Found disrupted connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex in individuals with social anxiety, making social fears more pronounced and generalized.
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Goodman et al. (2024, Journal of Neuroscience): Demonstrated that social defeat stress activates neuroinflammatory processes (via IL-1 receptor signaling), increasing susceptibility to social anxiety.
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Üztemur et al. (2025, Scientific Reports): Revealed that excessive use of social media contributes to increased social anxiety by weakening reward perception and intensifying fear of social comparison.
Together, these findings show that in the digital environment, social anxiety is exacerbated not only psychologically but also neurobiologically due to brain and hormonal system activations.
How to Protect Your Mental Health
Understanding how social media affects the brain helps identify effective strategies:
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Limit social media use to specific times of the day.
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Take regular digital detoxes to restore mental balance.
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Engage in physical activity, real-life social interactions, and hobbies.
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Practice meditation or breathing exercises to manage stress.
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Seek professional help when anxiety interferes with daily life.
Conclusion
Social media can seriously influence the development and worsening of social anxiety. Fear of judgment, comparison, and constant stress in the digital environment activate brain regions responsible for fear (amygdala), reward (ventral striatum), and self-regulation (prefrontal cortex), making anxiety management harder. However, preventive strategies, mindful digital behavior, and mental health practices can significantly reduce social anxiety and promote a more balanced, peaceful life.
References
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Gong, W., et al. (2023). Neural Circuits Mechanisms of Anxiety. Frontiers in Neural Circuits.
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Goodman, E.J., et al. (2024). IL-1 Signaling and Social Defeat. Journal of Neuroscience.
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Üztemur, S., et al. (2025). Social Media Burnout and Social Anxiety. Scientific Reports.
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Metanalyses on Social Media and SAD (2024). Journal of Mental Health Technology.