31 Survey Questions About Social Media Effects You Need Today
Explore 30+ survey questions about social media effects across six key areas to measure influence on mental health, buying decisions, and more.
Survey Questions About Social Media Effects template
Social media isn’t just cat videos and memes, though we all need those. Every like, share, and scroll leaves footprints that can shape our minds, moods, and choices in fascinating (and sometimes sneaky) ways. That’s why understanding social media effects—on mental health, buying behavior, self-esteem, and our sense of what’s real—is so important. Many organizations use a social media effects survey to dig deep, quantify these ripples, and sometimes spark meaningful change. In this guide, you’ll discover tightly-crafted survey questions about social media impact across six essential topics, complete with ready-to-deploy question sets. Want to really measure social media influence? Dive in—let’s keep things sharp, actionable, and even a bit fun.
Mental Health & Well-Being Impact Survey
Why and When to Use This Survey Type
If you’ve heard students, friends, or colleagues sigh about "doomscrolling," you know that social media’s impact on mental health is a real concern. This survey type is exactly what universities and non-profits need to uncover anxiety, depression, and sleep issues linked to nonstop feeds and viral content. Health app developers and counselors can use these insights before and after digital detox challenges, or as part of regular check-ins on well-being.
Deploy this survey before you launch a well-being initiative, or after a major news event that could spike stress through social feeds. Annual audits in schools or youth programs will reveal how much progress you’re making—or whether TikTok is still sabotaging everyone’s bedtime. The beauty of using these survey types is that you get:
- Clear data on mood swings and emotional triggers
- Early warnings when social media becomes overwhelming for your audience
- Actionable feedback for tweaking campaigns or app features
It’s hard to create programs that promote healthy digital habits without honest answers. So if your mission is boosting happiness and calm, make mental health impact surveys a regular checkpoint.
5 Sample Questions
On a typical day, how often does social media leave you feeling anxious or overwhelmed?
To what extent do you believe social media interrupts your sleep?
How strongly do you agree: “I feel pressure to present a perfect life on social media.”
In the past month, has social media affected your overall mood positively or negatively?
How likely are you to take breaks from social media for mental-health reasons?
A study found that 56.1% of participants reported that social media use had at least a moderate impact on their sleep patterns. (ejournal.svgacademy.org)
Create your survey, it's 100% free
Creating your own survey about social media effects with HeySurvey is easier than you think. Just follow these three simple steps to get started, plus a few bonus tips to make your survey look great and work even smarter.
Step 1: Create a New Survey
- Head over to HeySurvey and click "Create New Survey."
- You can start from scratch or, even better, open a pre-built template designed for social media impact surveys (there’s a handy button below this instruction for that).
- Give your survey a memorable name so you can find it easily later.
Step 2: Add Questions
- Use the Add Question button to insert your questions one at a time.
- Choose from question types like multiple choice, Likert scale, or open-ended to capture the kinds of answers you want.
- Enter your survey questions—feel free to copy the ready-to-use ones provided in this guide.
- Mark important questions as required to ensure you get all the critical info.
Step 3: Publish Your Survey
- When you’re happy with your questions and flow, click the Preview button to see how it looks for respondents.
- Make any tweaks if needed, then hit Publish to generate your unique survey link.
- Share this link wherever your target audience can find it—email, social media, or embed it on a website.
Bonus Step 1: Apply Branding
- Go to the Designer Sidebar to upload your logo and tweak colors, fonts, and backgrounds.
- Customizing the look helps your survey feel professional and aligned with your organization’s style.
Bonus Step 2: Define Settings
- Under Settings, you can set start and end dates for your survey’s availability.
- Limit the number of responses if you want a manageable dataset.
- Add a redirect URL so respondents land on your thank-you page or website after completing the survey.
Bonus Step 3: Use Branching Logic
- If you want to tailor questions based on earlier answers, use the branching feature.
- For example, if someone says they experience anxiety from social media, you can send them to follow-up questions about coping strategies.
- This makes the survey more personalized and efficient.
Ready to create a social media impact survey that gets meaningful answers? Just click the template button below, and HeySurvey will open a perfectly structured starting point for you to customize and publish in minutes!
Social Media Usage & Addiction Survey
Why and When to Use This Survey Type
We all know the scroll can be endless—and that’s why usage and addiction surveys matter. Screen-time tracker app makers need to spot over-use trends before they spiral into burnout. Therapists and workplace wellness leaders can use these insights to support digital well-being or when introducing features meant to curb compulsive use.
Quarterly check-ins are perfect for this type of survey. Run it each time you’re gearing up for new app features that limit distraction, or if employees seem glued to phones during meetings. These surveys help identify:
- Patterns of automatic or mindless checking
- Times of day when people are most vulnerable to overuse
- User openness to breaking bad scrolling habits
If you want better engagement (and healthier clients or teams), measure social media influence—not just in likes, but in the minutes and mood swings it creates. These questions are your lens.
5 Sample Questions
Approximately how many total hours per day do you spend on social media platforms?
How often do you open a social app without thinking about it?
Have you tried to limit your usage in the last six months?
How irritable do you feel if you cannot access social media?
Rate your agreement: “Social media interferes with tasks I need to complete.”
A study found that 29.1% of medical students exhibited smartphone addiction, with higher usage correlating to increased addiction scores. (mededu.jmir.org)
Brand Perception & Customer Engagement Survey
Why and When to Use This Survey Type
After months of witty tweets or jaw-dropping Instagram reels, how do you know if your brand is connecting? A brand perception and engagement survey gives marketers and PR teams the pulse on how people really see your campaigns outside of vanity metrics. Launch this right after running a splashy influencer partnership, unveiling a new tagline, or when you suspect a viral meme is reshaping your vibe.
Use these surveys to:
- Gauge campaign sentiment and brand authenticity
- Measure “wow” factor with followers versus competitors
- See which platforms give you the most enthusiastic fans
Deploy post-campaign to see if you’re winning hearts (and wallets), or after dramatic public moments that could suddenly boost or bruise your reputation. Real feedback from real people is pure gold for refining your strategy.
5 Sample Questions
Which three words best describe our brand based on our social media presence?
How authentic do our social posts feel to you?
After viewing our social content, how likely are you to recommend our brand?
Which platform delivers the most engaging content from us?
How does our social media compare with competitors in tone and usefulness?
Purchase Decision Influence Survey
Why and When to Use This Survey Type
Every brand wants to know: Did a meme make them buy it? The purchase decision influence survey is crucial for e-commerce and DTC brands who spend big bucks on ads and influencer tie-ins. If you want to prove that your TikTok campaign nudged customers from “maybe” to “heck yes,” this is the tool to deploy.
Run these surveys after purchase or when someone abandons a cart—think of it as your secret shopper. Pre-holiday spikes or during special influencer promos are also prime survey moments. With this information, you can:
- Link social media touchpoints to actual sales
- Pinpoint which platform seals the deal
- Discover the power of reviews and peer posts
Knowing exactly when and how social media flips the “buy now” switch lets you optimize every campaign (and never guess which post did the trick).
5 Sample Questions
Did social media content influence your decision to purchase this product?
Which social platform most impacted your buying choice?
How important are user-generated reviews on social media in your decision?
Rate the effectiveness of our social ads in explaining product benefits.
After seeing our product on social media, how quickly did you complete your purchase?
A 2023 report by the International Council of Shopping Centers found that 85% of Gen Z consumers say social media influences their purchasing decisions. (retaildive.com)
Information Credibility & News Consumption Survey
Why and When to Use This Survey Type
Enter the wild world of news feeds—where truth can be stranger than fiction, and everyone’s an “expert.” Information credibility and news surveys help media organizations, journalism educators, and fact-checkers measure just how much social media is warping or informing public opinion. If you’re running a campaign during election season, or teaching students how to spot fake news, this survey shines a spotlight on trust issues.
Deploy during heated news cycles, right after viral misinformation spreads, or as a module in digital literacy classes. This survey is built to:
- Reveal which platforms are trusted (or doubted) for news
- Track how many people actively verify what they see
- Uncover the sneaky spread of false stories from friend to friend
If you want to measure how well you’re fighting the facts-versus-fakes battle, these questions light the way.
5 Sample Questions
How confident are you that news you read on social media is accurate?
How often do you verify headlines you see on social platforms with other sources?
Which platforms do you perceive as most reliable for news?
Have you ever shared a news story later proven false?
Rate your agreement: “I can easily distinguish sponsored content from real news on social media.”
Social Comparison, Self-Esteem & Body Image Survey
Why and When to Use This Survey Type
Mirror, mirror on the ‘Gram—who’s got the best filter of them all? The social comparison and self-esteem survey is a must-have for psychologists, parents, fitness coaches, and diversity program creators. Social media’s parade of “perfect” can leave users doubting their own worth and bodies, especially teens and young adults.
Drop this survey into teen wellness programs, or as part of a workplace initiative aimed at healthy self-image. It’s tailor-made to help:
- Spot dips in self-esteem after scrolling
- Discover how photo editing and “like-chasing” hit confidence
- Surface buying pressures tied to body improvement products
Run these questions after major cultural events, or when launching campaigns about body positivity and digital authenticity. It’s your check for invisible bruises left by idealized feeds.
5 Sample Questions
How often do you compare your appearance to people you follow on social media?
After scrolling through social feeds, how satisfied are you with your own life?
How strongly do you agree: “I edit photos of myself before posting.”
Do “likes” or comments affect your confidence levels?
How often do you feel pressured to purchase products that promise body improvements seen online?
Best Practices: Dos and Don’ts for Crafting Social Media Effect Surveys
Before you fire off those carefully-worded prompts, remember: the quality of your survey shapes your insights. The best surveys aren’t one-size-fits-all—they flex to your goals, your audience, and even the quirks of each social platform.
Here’s how to make your next social media effects survey a winner:
Do segment questions by platform (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) for details that drive smarter decisions.
Do balance positive and negative statements to avoid nudging people toward yes/no robots.
Do pilot-test your survey with a small group—and listen hard to their confusion or eye-rolls.
Don’t ask leading questions that assume social media is always harmful, or always a blessing.
Don’t forget demographic filters, since age, gender, and more can shift the entire story you uncover.
Do use a mix of question formats: Likert scales for nuance, multiple choice for simplicity, open-ended for unexpected gems.
Don’t let surveys run past 10 minutes—drop-off rates soar, and your data gets messier.
Above all, every survey should feel like a genuine conversation, not a pop quiz. That’s how you unlock clear feedback, candid opinions, and, occasionally, those delightfully quirky insights that charts alone can’t predict.
Conclusion: Turning Survey Insights into Actionable Strategies
Every type of social media effects survey gives you the power to act—targeting the right wellness program, sharpening campaigns, keeping audiences informed, or nurturing body confidence. These insights are a map to smarter policies, sharp data dashboards, and bolder A/B tests designed to lift engagement or trust.
Use them as levers for change—refining your questions, evolving your products, and redefining what healthy, impactful social media really means.
So, grab these question sets, tweak them for your needs, and keep monitoring those social ripples. Your next big insight is just a few clicks away.
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