englishnewseasy.com
Why Likes Pull Harder on Depressed Minds
Watch on YouTube 📺
Why Likes Pull Harder on Depressed Minds
A new study of 7,700 Twitter accounts shows that
social media likes have a much stronger pull on people with depression.
Researchers at Princeton University looked at more than 17 million posts
to see how users behave after they receive digital approval.
They found that for people with depression,
getting more likes today makes them much more likely to post again tomorrow.
This is a big surprise because experts usually think
depression makes people care less about rewards.
In a lab, someone with depression might not care
about winning money or points during a test.
But a like from a real person is different,
and it carries a weight that a lab test cannot match.
Dr. Dan-Mircea Mirea says this reinforcement effect
was consistently stronger for those with a diagnosis.
This could be a problem because it creates a self-feeding loop.
If you feel better only when you get likes,
you might start chasing that feeling more and more.
Since about one in 25 people lives with depression,
this finding is a major public health concern.
Next, the team wants to find out
if this constant search for approval actually makes depression worse.
Quiz 🧠
Q1. Do social media likes encourage people with depression to post more often?
Show answer
✅ Yes
Getting digital approval makes people with depression feel rewarded, so they post more often.
Q2. What does 'approval' mean in 'seeking approval from others'?
Show answer
✅ praise or agreement
Approval means having a good opinion of someone or agreeing with what they do.
Q3. Why can chasing online likes become a problem for someone with depression?
Show answer
✅ It creates an endless loop
Relying on likes for happiness makes people chase attention repeatedly, creating an unhealthy cycle.
Dialogue 🎧
James: Charlotte, I read something about Twitter that actually gave me chills.
Charlotte: Was it that Princeton study about depression?
James: Yeah, it's that huge study with 17 million posts!
Charlotte: It is. They looked at 7,700 accounts to see our behavior.
James: So if I get a lot of likes, I'll just feel happy?
Charlotte: Actually, for people with depression, the reinforcement effect is much stronger.
James: Wait, so does that mean they post even more the next day?
Charlotte: Exactly. The more likes today, the more likely they post tomorrow.
James: That's basically my Monday, honestly.
Charlotte: But researchers usually think depression makes you care less about rewards.
James: Right, like winning money in a lab test doesn't matter?
Charlotte: Exactly. But Dr. Dan-Mircea Mirea says real approval carries more weight.
James: Oh, because it's a social reward. That hits harder.
Charlotte: Exactly! And it creates this dangerous self-feeding loop.
James: So you just keep chasing that feeling more and more?
Charlotte: Yes. It's a major public health concern now.
James: That is terrifying since one in 25 people live with depression.
Charlotte: Right. Now they're checking if this approval actually makes depression worse.
James: Oof. That's a heavy thought to end the day with.
Charlotte: It is. Those little buttons have a lot of power over us.