A Study Reveals the Significant Role of Genes in Our Use of Social Media and Our Psychological Well-Being

A recent study published in the journal Behavioral Genetics has shown that genetic factors play a key role in the relationship between social media use and levels of psychological well-being, rather than the impact of electronic platforms alone.

The research was conducted by an international team using the British twin registry, which included over 6000 participants from identical and fraternal twins, allowing scientists to separate the effects of the environment from genetic factors. Participants were asked about their internet usage time, number of accounts, and posting frequency, in addition to assessments of mood, anxiety, depression, and sense of meaning in life.

Key findings:

About 72% of browsing time can be explained by genetic factors, and 54% of posting frequency is linked to genes, while 32% of the number of accounts is explained by heredity.

The remaining differences are attributed to personal environment and individual experiences not shared between twins.

The "conscious well-being" index (sense of meaning and engagement in life) was positively associated with the number of accounts and usage time, while general happiness indicators showed an inverse relationship.

Intensive activity on social media is associated with lower life satisfaction, but the effect is weak scientifically.

Individuals with high well-being tend to use multiple platforms simultaneously and engage with content more than posting, while those with psychological challenges post frequently on a limited number of sites.


The study clarified that the tendency towards anxiety or depression is not directly related to the genes that shape our online behavior, but rather that we bring inherent traits of our personality to social media.

Warning:

The authors emphasize the need for further experiments to confirm the results and to understand the relationship between genes and social media more deeply.