If you’ve ever scrolled through reels on TikTok and thought, “Am I losing touch with reality?”—you might not be entirely wrong.
A new study from Simon Fraser University (SFU) has revealed a direct link between chronic social media use and the development of psychiatric disorders involving delusions. Yes, your endless doomscrolling might actually be messing with your mind.
The research, published in BMC Psychiatry, is a systematic review of over 2,500 academic papers exploring the relationship between social media and mental health. The findings? Delusions are the most common psychiatric disorders associated with frequent social media use.
The study highlights several delusional disorders that social media can exacerbate, including:
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Delusions of superiority and self-importance.
- Erotomania: The belief that someone famous is secretly in love with you (no, Harry Styles isn’t sending you secret messages through his Instagram posts).
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Obsessive delusions about perceived physical flaws.
According to Bernard Crespi, a professor of biological sciences and Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Genetics and Psychology at SFU, social media platforms like TikTok or Twitter (X) create the perfect storm for these delusions to thrive.
“Social media is creating conditions where delusions can more easily be generated and sustained due to the presence of platforms and apps that cater to the disorder’s causes, plus the absence of effective reality-checking,” Crespi explained.
While social media can foster connection and community, Crespi and co-author Nancy Yang argue that it can also have a dark side, especially for individuals already at risk of mental health issues.
The virtual world, combined with real-life social isolation, allows people to sustain distorted self-perceptions without the reality checks that come with face-to-face interactions.
“Features of many popular social media platforms—like the ability to present an idealized version of oneself—can worsen mental and physical delusions,” the study notes.
The researchers recommend that individuals prone to delusional thinking reduce their social media use. But let’s be real—telling people to log off is easier said than done.
Instead, the study suggests exploring ways to make online interactions more grounded in reality. Technologies like eye-contact simulations, 3D perspectives, and avatars could help bridge the gap between the virtual and the real.
The researchers also call for further investigation into the specific features of social media that encourage delusional thinking. Is it the endless filters? The dopamine hit from likes? The algorithm that keeps feeding you content that reinforces your distorted beliefs? Probably all of the above.
The study concludes that social media isn’t inherently harmful—it’s all about how you use it. For those at risk of delusional disorders, though, it’s a slippery slope.
So, the next time you find yourself deep in a TikTok rabbit hole or obsessing over your Instagram likes, remember: a little reality check never hurt anyone. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to put the phone down and step outside. Reality might not have filters, but at least it’s real.
