Support from Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic-induced social distancing led to increased isolation.
• Social media use surged as a primary tool for social interaction.
• Existing research predominantly focused on negative impacts of social media, neglecting its supportive role.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the positive role of social media in providing social, emotional, and informational support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze how social media use influenced social capital and collective resilience.
• To explore the effectiveness of social media in mitigating loneliness and facilitating community support.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across four databases.
• Adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Eligibility assessment and data extraction from 20 selected papers.

Main Results:

• Active social media engagement significantly enhanced social capital and collective resilience.
• Emotional support derived from social media effectively reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation.
• Social media facilitated rapid information dissemination and grassroots mobilization for community needs.

Conclusions:

• Social media demonstrated transformative potential in crisis situations by offering vital support.
• Findings suggest implications for mental health interventions and community resilience strategies.
• Highlighting the positive aspects of social media use in public health crises.