Q After looking at social media I feel more inferior among people and my anxiety grows. Does social media worsen social phobia?
A Excessive social media use repeatedly triggers comparison with others, reinforcing the core fear of social phobia — the dread of negative evaluation. Reducing daily usage time and taking digital detox periods can be helpful.
Detailed Answer
Social media shows only the best moments of others, repeatedly stimulating the perception that one is inferior to peers. This creates a vicious cycle that reinforces the core cognitive distortion of social phobia: "What will others think of me?" Research shows a positive correlation between longer social media use and higher social anxiety and depression scores. During treatment, try turning off notifications and limiting use to under 30 minutes per day, or completely disconnecting from social media on weekends.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, excessive comparison and worry constitute overuse of the Thought (思) faculty, which damages the Spleen-Stomach (脾胃) and blocks the flow of Liver Qi (肝氣). At Dongjedang, we combine prescriptions to resolve Liver Qi Stagnation with lifestyle guidance to redirect mental focus, and we review social media usage patterns together during consultations.
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