META-STRESS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONSTANT CONNECTIVITY CREATE NEW LAYERS OF STRESS
- Liviu Poenaru
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
Sept. 2025
In today’s world, social media and constant connectivity are central to daily life. Recent data suggest that the vast majority of young adults are constantly online. Surveys indicate that 84% of U.S. adults ages 18–29 use social media[1], and people spend roughly 6–7 hours per day on internet-connected screens[2,3]. These platforms offer easy communication and instant information access, but they also give rise to a less obvious problem: meta-stress. Meta-stress occurs when individuals experience stress about their own stress. In other words, it is a form of recursive, self-referential stress. Unlike anticipatory stress (worry about future events), meta-stress arises when people ruminate on how stressful situations affect them now. This concept is distinct from other stress constructs because it specifically involves awareness and appraisal of one’s own stress response. This novel framing draws on classic stress theory and emphasizes cognitive appraisal: people under meta-stress may appraise their stress as threatening or uncontrollable, which in turn heightens their stress response[4]. This editorial adheres to the TITAN 2025 guidelines for the transparent reporting of AI-assisted content[5].
By this theory, constantly noticing one’s own stress is a form of persevering cognition, as described by Brosschot and colleagues. They proposed that worry and rumination can prolong physiological stress activation, even after the original stressor is gone[6]. In a digital context, constant alerts, comparisons, and information feeds trigger initial stress reactions, and then meta-stress kicks in as users stress over being so stressed. For example, someone scrolling past upsetting news might then feel anxious about their anxiety, wondering “Why am I so worried?” This second-order worry can magnify the original reaction. Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional stress model supports this: how people appraise or interpret stress greatly influences its impact[4]. If one appraises their stress as harmful or unmanageable, meta-stress intensifies. Thus, meta-stress is conceptually new and separate from routine stress or anxiety about external events – it is stress about stress itself.
It is worth noting that this article is an editorial perspective and not a report of new research. The goal is to clarify this concept and stimulate discussion. We emphasize editorial tone: this is a synthesis of ideas and existing studies, not original empirical findings. Social media design and use patterns strongly contribute to meta-stress. One major trigger is social comparison: users constantly see others’ curated lives and wonder why they don’t measure up. This process creates secondary stress about how one feels in response to social media. Many people find themselves asking, “Why does this upset me so much?” or “Why can’t I just ignore that post?” These questions add a layer of self-criticism to the initial stress. For example, seeing a friend’s vacation photos may cause someone to feel inadequate, and then meta-stress when they worry about why they care so much.
Another factor is digital overload: the nonstop flow of notifications, messages, and updates overwhelms the brain’s limited attention. When multitasking or using devices continuously, our cognitive capacity is stretched thin. Research shows that continuous partial attention in the digital world can reduce productivity and well-being and even increase stress levels[7]. In a recent review, Shanmugasundaram and Tamilarasu note that incessant multitasking and alerts lead to “increased stress levels” and reduced focus[7]. In practice, this means people are often unable to keep up with everything online, feeling anxious about unread messages or missed posts. This persistent engagement with stressors – without adequate break – can lead to chronic stress responses similar to those seen in high-pressure jobs[7]. Over time, the inability to disconnect fosters cognitive fatigue and leaves users more reactive to new stress.
CITE
Hasan MK. Meta-stress in the digital age: how social media and constant connectivity create new layers of stress. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025 Jun 23;87(9):5364-5367. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000003515.
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