Love it or hate it, social media has become incorporated into modern life. In fact, 77.4% of American adults have social media in 2024, and the average user spends 143 minutes a day on it.(1)(2) While social media can have its benefits for offering support for IC patients, some recent studies have found its use can also be linked to increased inflammation throughout the body.
Whether IC is caused by inflammation or not, we do know inflammation increases pain. For example, the body’s stress response increases inflammation throughout the body, which could be at least partially behind stress-induced flares. Being aware of what causes systemic (full-body) inflammation is important for IC patients.
In the past couple of years, a group of researchers from New York and Ohio have completed a series of studies examining the impact of social media use on systemic inflammation. The majority of social media use studies have previously focused on mental health, but these looked at the impact on physical health.
Self-Esteem, Social Media and Inflammation
In 2021, the first study paid particular attention to who was most susceptible to having increased inflammation from social media usage. The researchers found people with lower self-esteem were more likely to have systemic inflammation increase with social media use.(3)
Generally, people with lower self-esteem experience more anxiety and stress in social situations as they worry about being disapproved of or rejected. Those with higher self-esteem tend to receive self-affirmation from the relationships they form with others in a social situation. Social media is not identical to in-person socializing, but it does have similar aspects as well as other challenges that can have a greater, negative impact on those with self-esteem struggles.(3)
For instance, most social media users post about themselves in a flattering way showing the best parts of their lives, which can lead to envy and questions of self-worth for people with lower self-esteem and thus increase their stress and anxiety levels. Increased stress and anxiety over the long-term leads to an increase in inflammation.
That’s exactly what researchers found. They measured two biomarkers for inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The study also had participants indicate how often they used social media and complete a self-esteem scale. All together, the study found the lower the participants scored on the self-esteem scale, the more the increase in inflammatory markers they had relative to how much time they were spending on social media.(3)
However, the study was relatively small to take a preliminary look about whether there is any correlation between social media use and physical health. The initial results show an overlap.
Inflammation Sends Users to Social Media
In August 2023 another study on the relationship between social media use and inflammation was released. This study took a look at why people went onto social media. Not only did social media use seem to increase inflammation, increased inflammation led to more social media use.(4)
Research has found when our bodies have inflammation, that triggers a neural response making us want to be around others. Social media has become a venue through which people nowadays seek connection with others for emotional comfort and a feeling of belonging. This study showed that is what does tend to happen — at least among the group of participants.(4)
Another different component of this study compared to the other two is the researchers looked at the type of social media interaction participants were engaging in. While social media can be used in a variety of ways for news and entertainment, most participants with increased inflammation were using it to interact socially with others through things like direct messages. And that further supports the data showing people experiencing inflammation are drawn to connect with others.(4)
This study leads to a conundrum like the chicken and the egg. Which comes first? If social media use can cause increased inflammation in some people but increased inflammation drives people to social media, then which comes first? In fact, the two could become a cycle.
Again, this is a small study showing the need for further study. The researchers postulate that understanding more about the social interactions being sought by those with inflammation could help with teaching folks how to best seek out the information and comfort they truly need on social media.(4)
Social Media Use and Higher Inflammation
Four months later, in December of 2023, the group released findings from another study looking at the correlation of increased CRP and social media use among a group of college students. Just as before, there was an increase in CRP or inflammation among the participants with social media use.(5)
One challenge for the study was determining whether social media use itself increased inflammation or whether health-related actions as a result of social media use increased inflammation. Previous studies have shown screentime and social media use can interfere with quality and quantity of sleep, which can increase inflammation. It can also lead to a less active lifestyle — another contributor to increased inflammation. And then other research seems to indicate the hyperconnectivity created with modern technology, meaning people are available at all times, can increase stress levels, which again would increase inflammation.(5)
Regardless of the ultimate causation, the study showed higher levels of inflammation for more use of social media amount participants. Rather than having users estimate their social media time as in previous studies, this study used an app to track how long participants were on four different social media apps popular among college students at the time: Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. It did not examine how the social media was being used like for entertainment, news or connection.(5)
Should You Stay on Social Media?
All of this leaves the questions: Should you stay on social media? Is it going to make you flare? The answers are yes and no, if done with awareness.
Social media is a great way for IC patients to connect. In fact, I first connected with other ICers through the ICN forums years ago and was relieved to talk to others like me. Social media can still offer those same benefits. It can be a great resource to learn more about IC and self-help strategies. In fact, I did an elimination diet in large part because of the support of other patients online and made a surprising discovery of something new that bothered me (vinegar). As a result, my symptoms improved to be more manageable.
However, we do have to be aware of social media and how it’s impacting us. You can find great resources to help you, encourage you, entertain you and uplift you. You can also find controversy, negativity, insults and false information. Take time to seek out the right people and groups on social media. A great place to start is the Interstitial Cystitis Network Facebook page. Most Sunday evenings, ICN President and Founder Jill Osborne does a Facebook Live video to interact with patients and give great, accurate information about IC based on her years of experience and extensive research.
Other great uplifting options can be following pages or users who post positive things. That can be anything from religious to funny animals to fellow hobbyists. Connect with the right people who will bring you joy!
If you are connected to someone who constantly posts things that upset you, then either disconnect from or hide them. Being a chronic pain patient, sometimes we can even just get overwhelmed by envy as we see others able to do things we can’t. I know I’ve certainly felt that way before. Know when you need to stop looking at those posts because they do upset you, even if there is nothing inherently wrong with the post to others.
Be aware sometimes you need a break. When life is particularly difficult, taking a break from social media can be helpful. Or maybe take a break from scrolling news feeds and only being involved and interacting with a few choice people who will encourage you. It’s OK to not be connected to everyone, all the time.
We’ve heard lots about how social media impacts us mentally. Research like this shows a physical component can be involved as well. Now is the time to make sure you are using social media in a way that’s beneficial rather than harmful to you.
References:
- Kemp S. Digital 2024: The United States of America. Data Reportal. Feb. 22, 2024.
- Dixon SJ. Daily Time Spent on Social Networking by Internet Users Worldwide from 2012 to 2024. Statistica. April 10, 2024.
- Lee DS, et. al. Social Media Use and Systemic Inflammation: The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem. Brain, Behavior & Immunity. Oct. 2021.
- Lee DS, et. al. Can inflammation predict social media use? Linking a biological marker of systemic inflammation with social media use among college students and middle-aged adults. Brain, Behavior & Immunity. Aug. 2023.
- Lee DS, et. al. Social Media Use and Its Concurrent and Subsequent Relation to a Biological Marker of Inflammation: Short-Term Longitudinal Study. J Med Internet Research. Dec. 2023.
