Social Media Linked to Increased Risk of Delusion-Based Disorders

Studies from Simon Fraser University have indicated that psychiatric disorders are commonly related to high school media use. These delusional disorders include narcissistic personality disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, erotomania, and anorexia. A narcissistic personality disorder is delusions of superiority, erotomania is delusions that someone famous loves you, anorexia is delusions about body size, and body dysmorphic disorder is delusions of flaws in one’s body. 

Activity on social media creates environments where people can maintain a delusional sense of self-identity without scrutiny. Many popular apps exacerbate mental and physical delusions by enabling inaccurate self-presentation. The study concludes that people with personality disorders involving high levels of delusionality would benefit from reducing their social media use. 

More research needs to be done on specific features of social media that encourage delusions and ways to make online social interactions more grounded and realistic. Researchers believe that eye-contact technology, 3D perspectives, avatars, and other immersive technologies can reduce the likelihood of delusional disorders from social media.

Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/social-media-delusional-disorders-28477/