Scrolling into Stress: How Social Media Affects Campus Mental Health

By Wambui Purity

What is mental health? There are many definitions for this world. But today will go with a clear and understandable definition for all. Mental health is commonly defined by the World Health Organization as a state of well-being in which individuals can realize their own abilities, cope with normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their communities. For university students, maintaining this state is often a quiet struggle—juggling academics, social relationships, finances, family expectations, and now, a nearly inescapable presence: social media.

What began as a tool for staying in touch and sharing moments has morphed into something more intrusive. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter have become woven into the daily fabric of campus life, dictating trends, shaping identities, and influencing perceptions of success, beauty, and belonging. While social media connects students to wider communities, it also contributes to increasing levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and sleep disruption. These digital spaces, designed for engagement, have in many cases created a breeding ground for comparison and emotional exhaustion.

A third-year student at Chuka University, describes her typical night: “I usually check my phone before sleeping, just to relax. But before I know it, it’s 2 a.m., and I’m still on TikTok watching other people’s lives. I start feeling like I’m not doing enough with mine.” She scrolls through videos of peers traveling abroad, launching businesses, or flaunting seemingly perfect relationships—and slowly, her own achievements begin to feel smaller. “Even though I know people only post highlights, I still compare. I feel anxious, like I’m constantly falling behind.”

Her experience is echoed in dormitories, libraries, lecture halls, and cafeterias across campuses. The need to be “seen” online to keep up with viral content, maintain a curated profile, or chase the validation of likes and comments is silently weighing on student mental health. And unlike exams or assignments with fixed deadlines, this pressure has no off switch.

A 2024 report by the Kenya Mental Health Foundation found that 7 out of 10 university students experienced mood changes, low self-esteem, or anxiety related to their social media usage. In the same study, over 60% admitted to checking social media as the first and last activity of their day. Psychologists say this constant exposure especially to idealized versions of people’s lives can distort students’ sense of reality and worth.

Social media presents a filtered life. When students constantly see their peers achieving, looking flawless or living what appears to be better lives, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. It reinforces a belief that you’re not good enough, even when you're doing okay.

Second-year engineering student, Peter Kamau, recalls a time he almost deleted all his accounts. “Everyone online seemed to be getting ahead in life. People I knew were launching businesses, traveling, getting internships abroad. Meanwhile, I was struggling to pass my coursework.” He pauses before adding, “I began to think something was wrong with me.”

What Peter was experiencing is what psychologists call “upward social comparison” comparing yourself to others who appear more successful, which often leads to feelings of inferiority. For students already managing academic pressures, such comparisons can tip the emotional scale into depression, anxiety, or burnout.

But beyond the emotional toll, social media also disrupts focus and productivity. Many students report difficulty concentrating during lectures or while studying, often due to the temptation of checking updates. The phenomenon of “doomscrolling” continuously consuming negative or overwhelming content further feeds the cycle of distraction and distress. Students often find themselves lost in an endless stream of news, memes, and videos, leaving little time or mental space for their own lives.

The impact doesn’t end there. Sleep an essential component of mental well-being is one of the biggest casualties. A growing number of students stay up late, engaging in “revenge bedtime procrastination,” where they sacrifice rest in order to reclaim personal time lost during the day. The phone becomes a refuge, a distraction, a habit.

Despite all these challenges, social media also plays a positive role in student life. It offers platforms for self-expression, peer support, activism, and even mental health education. Some students use TikTok to share their struggles with anxiety, while others join Facebook groups focused on well-being or follow therapists and motivational speakers on Instagram. For students dealing with loneliness or social awkwardness, online platforms can offer community and understanding that may be hard to find offline.

But the line between healthy use and harmful dependence is often blurred. When likes become measures of worth or when online personas overshadow real identities, the risks outweigh the benefits. Some students begin to feel pressured to maintain an image of success or happiness, even when they are struggling in silence. Students needs to be taught about digital literacy understanding that what they see online isn’t always the full picture.

Stigma remains a major obstacle. Many students hesitate to seek help, fearing they’ll be seen as weak or dramatic. Others come from cultural backgrounds where mental health is rarely discussed or worse dismissed as laziness or weakness.

This silence is what mental health advocates are trying to break. Through podcasts, school newsletters, and online awareness campaigns, a new conversation is emerging one that validates student experiences and promotes resilience over perfection.

As for solutions, experts suggest setting screen-time limits, turning off notifications, following positive content creators and spending more time offline with friends and in nature. Counseling services also encourage students to seek help early before small issues spiral into serious mental health conditions.

Mental health, like physical health, requires care and boundaries. And in a world where screens demand constant attention, setting those boundaries has become a vital life skill. Students are learning sometimes the hard way that happiness and self-worth can’t be measured in followers or filters.

Students should try to use social media in limits and also unfollow accounts that make them feel bad about themselves and remind themselves that real life doesn't need or have filters.

The journey to mental wellness is ongoing, especially in a digital age. But with awareness, community and compassion, students can reclaim their peace one scroll at a time.