Survey on Social Media Effects on Mental Health Disorders: Key Findings

Princeton University in the United States conducted a collaborative survey with Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) concerning the adverse effects of social media on mental health. The survey was conducted between 17 November and 14 January 2026 across two interview periods.

The survey reported that mental health and emotional disorders were most commonly experienced by Generation Z (Gen-Z). The study employed an experimental methodology targeting social media users across 30 provincial capitals in Indonesia.

Deni Irvani, Executive Director of SMRC, stated that Gen-Z individuals born after 1997 experienced the highest rates of mental and emotional health disorders at 16 per cent. By comparison, millennials (born 1981-1996) experienced 8 per cent, Gen-X (born 1965-1980) experienced 7 per cent, and Boomers+ (born before 1965) experienced 7 per cent.

The conclusions derived from the Princeton University and SMRC survey examined a sample of 1,502 randomly selected respondents representing social media users across 30 provincial capitals in Indonesia. In the survey titled “Effects of Social Media on Mental Health”, approximately 10 per cent of respondents reported experiencing poor or very poor mental and emotional health, whilst 90 per cent reported experiencing adequate or very good health.

The 1,502 randomly selected respondents participated in two online interviews conducted in panel format. The first interview took place whilst respondents engaged in their normal social media activities. Respondents were then randomly divided into three groups: Group T1, comprising respondents requested to cease social media usage between the first and second interviews; Group T2, comprising respondents requested along with all household members to abstain from social media between the first and second interviews; and a control group permitted to continue normal social media usage throughout both interviews.

The interval between interviews spanned one month, with the first interview conducted between 17 November and 15 December 2025, and the second interview conducted between 16 December and 14 January 2026. The study was financed by Princeton University.

Study variables encompassed affect, life satisfaction, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. The results demonstrated that the mental health of Groups T1 and T2 improved significantly over the one-month treatment period compared to the control group.