Scrolling through Instagram at a Party to Avoid Feeling Anxious: How People Use Social Media to Regulate Their Emotions

We developed the Social Media Emotion Regulation scale, which includes (a) using social media for negative affect relief, (b) seeking interpersonal connection, and (c) broadcasting feelings. Controlling for preexisting emotion regulation skills and strategies, using social media to regulate emotions was associated with greater symptoms of psychopathology and lower well-being.