A Survey on Safeguarding Mental Well-being on Instagram:Awareness and Strategies

This study aims to explore Instagram users’ awareness of the platform’s potential negative impacts on mental well-being and their strategies to protect their mental health. Survey results reveal that while Instagram plays a significant role in users’ lives, many acknowledge the potential adverse effects of excessive use. A notable minority experiences anxiety linked to social comparisons and self-image concerns, highlighting Instagram’s potential to exacerbate insecurities. Many users report dissatisfaction with mindless scrolling and have taken steps to minimize these negative effects. A significant proportion has actively tried to reduce their usage and prioritize real-world interactions indicating a growing recognition of the need for self-regulation in the digital space. The findings emphasize the need to explore the effectiveness of well-being features and responsible usage guidelines on Instagram, to empower users to balance their online engagement and well-being.



Project Type
Group Research Project
Survey Research

Role
Conducting surveys
Analyzing data
Writing research paper
Deliverables
A survey research paper.

Duration
3 weeks

Goal of the Research

Research has investigated and examined some negative effects of excessive social media and smartphone use and the positive effects of interventions users can take, however, there is a notable gap in understanding users’ awareness of these self-help strategies and their actual implementation in reducing Instagram usage, minimizing distractions, and addressing smartphone addiction. This observation prompts the following research questions: To what extent are Instagram users aware of the potential negative impacts of the platform on their mental well-being? and what strategies they are adopting to regulate their Instagram usage to safeguard their mental well-being.

Data Collection

We gathered data through various channels, including Instagram, Facebook stories, WhatsApp groups, and email sharing.

  1. Ninety-two global Instagram users participated in the survey, ranging in age from 18 to 54. Gender distribution was uneven, with 68% female, 31% male, and 1% non-binary participants. One participant did not specify their gender. Participants had diverse educational backgrounds, with 48% holding 4-year degrees, 32% professional degrees, and others having various levels of education, from less than high school to doctorate degrees.
  2. This section contained 10 questions related to participants’ Instagram usage behavior, including reasons for usage, time spent on the platform, posting habits, the frequency of checking, the intensity of the need to check it, the potential stress from not checking it, and any impact on sleep patterns.
  3. 13 questions were asked to investigate participants’ wellbeing concerning Instagram use, including anxiety triggers, its extent, specific causes, mindless scrolling, image maintenance pressure, the impact of hurtful comments, awareness of financial incentives, studies linking social media to mental health issues, and familiarity with Instagram’s well-being features.
  4. To understand participants’ strategies for managing Instagram use and well-being, we assessed measures such as pausing notifications, limiting late-night use, planning to reduce usage, disabling or deleting accounts, and sharing extra selfregulation strategies. This thorough assessment unveiled insights into their endeavors to balance Instagram usage and improve well-being.

Data Analysis

The collected data were analyzed using tools such as Microsoft Excel and Numbers. To identify patterns, themes, and variances in the awareness levels and mental health strategies of Instagram users, we systematically evaluated the survey results through a quantitative approach known as ”central tendency analysis.” The utilization of statistical measures, including mean, median, and mode, enabled us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the insights provided by our participants, thereby enhancing the depth of our research. Different measures of central tendency were applied to various types of questions within the survey.

Conclusion


Instagram is a popular social media platform; however, its increasing popularity has raised concerns about emotional wellbeing. This study was conducted to examine Instagram users’ awareness of the platform’s influence on their emotional state and the strategies they employ to manage their engagement. The study reveals the subtle dimensions of well-being, as most users do not explicitly consider Instagram as a source of anxiety, however, they recognize the possible detriments of excessive usage despite the widespread awareness of the platform’s financial incentives. Furthermore, the study identifies a sense of dissatisfaction among users who engage in mindless scrolling without a clear purpose hinting at an evolving awareness of overindulgence for which they make a conscious effort to conscious efforts to regulate their engagement and prioritize overall well-being leading to some behavioral adjustments.