Social comparison on social media and mental health: A systematic review and me-ta-analysis

Social media content is often idealized. Frequent upward social comparisons to idealized others may negatively affect mental health. We systematically searched PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and Web of Science for observational and experimental studies published through April 28, 2026 and followed PRISMA guidelines. Across 149 observational studies (N = 76,262), upward social comparison tendency and unfavorable comparison-based self-evaluations were consistently associated with poorer mental health, including higher depression and body dissatisfaction, and lower life satisfaction. Downward social comparison was unrelated to mental health outcomes. Clinical (vs. non-clinical) samples reported greater upward social comparison tendency (g = 0.91, 95% CI 0.43–1.39, P < 0.001). Across 77 experimental studies (N = 15,404), upward social comparison on social media worsened mental health, whereas downward comparisons showed no significant effects. Results were robustly found in sub-group analyses (e.g., females only, young samples only, platform-specific analyses, high-quality evidence only). These findings identify upward social comparison as a robust correlate and potential risk factor for ill mental health.