Fetterman says social media made his depression worse

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said being on social media worsened his mental health as he battled with clinical depression last year.

Fetterman said in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that social media was the “accelerant” that made his depression worse. He said he “made the mistake” of checking social media after the election in 2022, which raised questions on how being in Congress will change his and his family’s lives.

“And it wasn’t the things said, because I assume that those were, but it was the volume. The volume. Just the like, ‘Where is this coming from? Where can there be so much of this?’ And it’s like, ‘Is this what be the rest of my life?’ It’s like, ‘Look what it’s done to me.’ And, more importantly, ‘What has this done to my family?'” he told NBC’s Kristen Welker.

“And you know my — my kids are afraid to go back, and they left social media behind and – and we’re stopped posting family pictures and things like that. It’s — it’s just astonishing that so many people want to take the time to hop online and — and to say things to a stranger that never did anything to — to you, especially members of my family,” he continued.

He said that now that his depression is in remission, he uses social media “selectively” and does not spend much time on it.

“And I would just warn anybody that social media, I’ve never noticed anyone to believe that their health — their mental health has been supported by spending any kind of time on social media. And if they do, I’d love to meet that person, who that is,” he said.

Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to be treated for clinical depression in February and later returned to the Senate in April. Since then, he has been open about speaking up about his own mental health issues in an effort to help those who may be going through similar situations.