WhatsApp often gets grouped with other platforms when people talk about digital overload, but research suggests the app might actually help boost your wellbeing when it’s used wisely. Instead of draining your energy, its focus on direct communication could play a different role in how people feel day to day.
Researchers looking into app-based communication found that WhatsApp may influence emotional health in ways that go beyond the typical narrative of social media harm. While earlier studies raised concerns about anxiety, depression, and isolation on platforms built around public sharing, this new evidence points to a more personal form of interaction that may support users in a meaningful way.
What this new research reveals about WhatsApp and wellbeing
The investigation, led by researchers at Edge Hill University, found that people who spent more time interacting with friends and family on WhatsApp reported higher self-esteem and fewer feelings of loneliness. The study included 200 social media users and focused on how private conversations—both group chats and one-on-one messages—could influence emotional connection.
According to senior psychology lecturer Dr. Linda Kaye, the findings challenge the assumption that time on social media is always harmful. She explained that the more people engaged with WhatsApp, the more they felt close to their social circle and perceived these relationships as strong and supportive. This emphasis on relationship quality sets the app apart from platforms centered on public posts or curated profiles.
The study also highlighted how social bonding plays a crucial role in this dynamic. By encouraging frequent, direct exchanges, WhatsApp may help sustain existing relationships rather than prompting comparisons. Dr. Kaye noted that this type of communication can enhance users’ positive wellbeing by supporting ongoing contact with people who matter to them.
This perspective differs from previous research that painted a more negative picture of social media use. For example, a 2016 University of Copenhagen study showed that Facebook use contributed to “Facebook envy,” a pattern where users felt jealous or inadequate after viewing others’ posts.
Similarly, 2018 research from the University of Pennsylvania found a direct connection between heavy social media use and higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, with author Melissa Hunt emphasizing that reducing time online led to noticeable emotional improvements.
Taken together, these earlier findings created a widespread belief that social media harms mental health across the board. The Edge Hill University results offer a more nuanced view—suggesting that the type of platform and the nature of the interactions matter just as much as the amount of time spent online.
How to use WhatsApp in a way that supports your emotional health
Based on the research, WhatsApp’s benefits appear strongest when it’s used for genuine connection rather than constant checking or passive scrolling. Private conversations that feel reciprocal and supportive are central to the positive effects highlighted in the study.
Small choices—like staying active in meaningful group chats, reaching out directly to close friends, or using messages to maintain regular contact—may help reinforce the sense of bonding that researchers linked to improved wellbeing. The goal isn’t to spend more time on the app, but to make that time intentional and centered on relationships that already matter.
Keeping conversations authentic and avoiding pressure to be constantly available can also help maintain a healthy balance. Since WhatsApp is built for communication rather than comparison, using it as a space for support may make it feel less draining than platforms focused on feeds, likes, or public visibility.