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4 months ago
13
Social Costs of Social Media
$3,200,000,000,000
Estimated Impact: 13.3% of US GDP
5,000,000
Additional Depression Cases
19,800
Additional Suicides
📚 Research Foundation & Methodology
Every parameter in this calculator is backed by peer-reviewed research and federal agency methodologies. Explore the evidence base behind each calculation.
Research Span
15+ years of studies
Study Quality
Peer-reviewed journals
Methodology
Natural experiments
Research Parameters
☠️ Mortality Costs
Value of Statistical Life
$13.7M
Mean: $13.7M | 95% CI: [$10.2M, $17.8M]
Excess Deaths Since 2009
110K
Mean: 110K | 95% CI: [89K, 140K]
Attribution to Social Media
18%
Mean: 18% | 95% CI: [12%, 25%]
🧠 Mental Health Costs
People with SM-Induced Depression
5.0M
Mean: 5.0M | 95% CI: [3.5M, 8.0M]
Years Lived with Disability
6.0 years
Mean: 6.0yr | 95% CI: [4.8yr, 7.5yr]
Quality of Life Reduction
35%
Mean: 35% | 95% CI: [31%, 47%]
💰 Economic Costs
Annual Healthcare Cost per Person
$7K
Mean: $7K | 95% CI: [$6.5K, $12K]
Annual Productivity Loss per Person
$6K
Mean: $6K | 95% CI: [$4.8K, $8.5K]
Average Treatment Duration
4.5 years
Mean: 4.5yr | 95% CI: [3.0yr, 6.8yr]
Research Outcomes
Cost Breakdown
Mortality Costs
110K × 18% × $13.7M = $271B
Mental Health Costs
5.0M × 6.0 × 35% × $183K = $1.9T
Economic Costs
5.0M × ($7K + $6K) × 4.5 = $293B
-$0
Social Costs Since Page Load
📈 Cost Component Progression Since 2009
Shows how each cost component has accumulated over time, reflecting gradual social media adoption and research documentation.
📊 Cost Composition
Costs by category.
🔓 This Research is Open Source
Help improve this calculator, add new features, or use it for your own research. All code, data, and methodology are freely available.
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Use the Data
Transparent & reusable
Licensed under Apache 2.0 • Community contributions welcome
📚 Research Foundation
Our calculations draw from peer-reviewed research showing:
- • Each hour of social media use → 0.23-point increase in depressive symptoms (PNAS, 2019)
- • Economic burden of depression rose to $326B (2020 USD) (Springer 2021)
- • Workplace costs account for 61%, suicide-related costs ~4% (Springer 2021)
- • Incremental societal burden reached $333.7B total (Greenberg et al. 2021)
⚠️ Research Context
Methodology
- • Quasi-experimental studies (natural experiments)
- • Conservative estimates from peer-reviewed research
- • WHO Global Burden of Disease methodology
- • Federal agency VSL guidance (US DOT)
Key Findings
- • Each hour of social media → 0.23-point increase in depression
- • Teen depression: 10.7% (2007) → 32% (2021)
- • Facebook college rollout as natural experiment
- • 50+ peer-reviewed studies inform calculations
Transparency Note: Results are illustrative estimates based on conservative assumptions. Click info buttons (ℹ️) for detailed research citations and parameter ranges.
🌱 Digital Wellness Resources
Evidence-based tools and organizations working toward healthier technology use.
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