Giving Compass' Take:

• Eva Buechel explains how the low-pressure atmosphere of social media can help socially-anxious people reach out for help when they do not want to bother anyone. 

• Social media can also induce anxiety for some people, how can funders use the positive and negative impacts of social media to inform mental health support? 

• Find out why mental health research may be one way to create support.

People feel a need for social interaction, especially when they feel sad, stressed, or troubled. Connecting with friends or family can help soothe negative feelings. But for some people, reaching out in person can feel daunting. People who are anxious about social interactions might wonder, “What if they don’t want to talk to me?” or “What if I’m bothering them?”

Our research shows that the quasi-personal nature of these kinds of posts — which are written for people who know the writer and can respond but which at the same time are shared more widely — can make connecting with others less threatening for people who experience social anxiety.

In our research, we found that sharing via tweets or Facebook posts — more broadly called “microblogging” — can alleviate these concerns. This method of communication, unique to social media, allows people to reach out to a large audience without having to direct their message to any one person who might be annoyed or busy. As a result, the person posting may have reduced anxiety about initiating social interaction.

Read the full article about social media and social anxiety by Eva Buechel at GOOD Magazine.