Does Scrolling Make You Irritable? Social Media and Your Mood

Ever feel mysteriously annoyed for no reason after doomscrolling your feed? You’re not alone—and it's not just your imagination. A recent study found that the more people use social media, especially when posting frequently, the crankier they tend to be. And yes, we’re talking measurable irritability here, not just yelling at your phone when someone posts “Hot take: pineapple does belong on pizza.”

Researchers surveyed over 42,000 U.S. adults between November 2023 and January 2024 (a fun time for politics, by the way). They asked how much time people spent on apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter, now known as a confusing branding decision).  Participants also completed something called the Brief Irritability Test.

They found that people who used social media daily had higher irritability scores than those who rarely or never used it.  Folks who used it most of the day were a full 1.55 points grumpier (statistically speaking) than those who didn’t use it at all. Posting frequently added to the irritability—so not only scrolling but also sharing your 5th meme of the day might be making you (and everyone else) a bit testy. X and TikTok users were especially irritable, which... explains a lot.

Here’s the kicker: even after accounting for depression and anxiety, social media still had its own effect. That means it’s not just that anxious or depressed people are more irritable and just happen to use social media—something about the social media use itself is linked to more irritable mood.

Also interesting: arguing about politics online? Yes, that’ll make you even more irritated. However, just reading political news may, oddly, decrease irritability slightly. So maybe just lurk in the comments instead of diving into battle over anything.  Save your comments and take constructive action in real life; do something that will have a positive impact.

Citations:

• Perlis, R.H., et al. (2025). Association Between Social Media Use and Irritability Among US Adults. JAMA Network Open. Published online January 8, 2025.

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).

• Brotman, M. A., Kircanski, K., & Leibenluft, E. (2017). Irritability in children and adolescents. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 13, 317-341.