Buzz
Your Instagram habits may reveal more about your mental state than just your weekend activities. A study suggests that certain Instagram posts could be indicative of depression, according to reports from New York Magazine and Select All. This isn't the first time social media use has been linked to mental health issues.
In the research published in EPJ Data Science, nearly 44,000 posts from 166 participants (including 71 diagnosed with depression) were analyzed using color analysis, metadata, and facial recognition software. While the sample size of less than 200 individuals might not be large enough to draw definitive conclusions, the researchers examined a substantial amount of posts, including countless brunch pictures. They found that machine learning algorithms could successfully differentiate between those with depression and those in good mental health based on factors like Instagram filter type, photo setting, people in the image, color tones, brightness, and engagement metrics like “likes” and comments. They also examined how often users posted and used the app.
The researchers' Instagram model was accurate most of the time, even in identifying depression in posts made prior to a formal diagnosis. This stands in stark contrast to the typical success rate of general practitioners in diagnosing depression, which is often around 42 percent, according to other studies.
People dealing with depression often posted darker images, frequently applying Instagram's black-and-white Inkwell filter. While they received more comments, their posts garnered fewer likes. They tended to share photos of faces, but usually fewer faces compared to non-depressed individuals (with social isolation being a common link to depression). In contrast, healthier individuals enjoyed using the Valencia filter, which brightens images, and generally received more likes.
Liking black-and-white photos doesn't automatically mean you're depressed. Perhaps you’re just channeling your inner Ansel Adams. However, given the significant role social media plays in today’s world, it might offer doctors unique insights into patients’ emotions and thoughts that might not be shared otherwise.
Other studies have also suggested that technology use offers a glimpse into people's emotional well-being. Research has indicated that unhappy individuals often turn to their smartphones as a coping mechanism, with increased phone use being linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression. A 2015 study demonstrated that smartphones could predict depression by tracking the frequency and locations of people's movements.
In some cases, though, social media may actively contribute to feelings of unhappiness, rather than just reflecting them. A 2017 study involving 5000 people found that the more time spent on Facebook, the worse participants' sense of well-being became. (This is even before considering the impact of reading the news.) Other surveys have shown that Instagram and Snapchat use among teenagers correlates with lower self-esteem, bullying, and other negative effects.
Even if excessive Instagram use is making you feel unhappy, how you engage with social media could be an important consideration for doctors when evaluating mental health. It can be difficult to open up about depressive feelings, particularly to a medical professional you only see once a year. You might tell your doctor that you're doing well, but you may be more candid about your struggles on Instagram—whether you realize it or not. While you likely wouldn’t want to regularly share your social media history with your healthcare providers, it could serve as a useful tool for screening patients who struggle to fully communicate their mental health concerns.
