Almost 1 in 3 Brits turn to social media for a daily dose of positivity with animal content leaving us smiling the most

Nearly one in three Brits turn to social media for a daily positivity boost (31%), with animal videos and memes (23%) and random acts of kindness posts (21%) the most smile-inducing content we view as a nation.

That’s according to a study of over 2,000 British adults by Sky Mobile, which found that over half of us (56%) love to use our smartphones to seek out uplifting content, and nearly half (45%) agree that when they view positive stories and inspiring posts online, it increases their mood for the day.

The findings have prompted Sky Mobile to team up with Vanessa King, an expert on positive psychology, and board member at Action for Happiness, to explore Brits’ habits online and how they can use their phones to easily access cheerful content 24/7.

#Positivity

Alongside animal content and random acts of kindness posts, other popular types of social media content that people view most include light-hearted ‘when things go wrong’ videos (16%) and travel or holiday pictures/videos (15%).

The nation also seeks comfort in the past to lift their mood too, with childhood TV clips (11%) and nostalgic British pop culture content (11%) both inspiring our sentimental sides and making the top ten.

People most commonly seek out positive content online by watching short funny clips or videos (30%) or memes (17%) and bolster their wellbeing by connecting with family and friends (29%) too.

“What we consume online impacts how we feel” comments Vanessa, “Even small positive mood boosts can make a difference. And these don’t just feel good, science shows these can add up – for example helping us be more open to others, more flexible in our thinking, better at creative problem solving.”

Positivity on the go

It’s no secret that Brits turn to their handsets several times a day for a quick check on the latest social media updates as part of their daily routines. And it’s the end of the day that proves to be the sweet spot, with bedtime (14%) being the most popular time to tune in for a positivity boost, followed by before getting up in the morning (10%).

People spend on average two hours each day seeking out positive content, increasing to almost four hours for those aged 16-24. While Gen Z will visit TikTok as their go-to for uplifting content (42%), the 55+ age bracket are more likely to head to Facebook (70%).

When it comes to spreading the positivity, 19% will send posts to their friends or family directly or tag a friend (15%), doing so to make them laugh (43%) and spread the same mood boost they felt (30%).

Vanessa King adds: “Connecting constructively with people we care about and doing kind things for others are important for everyone’s happiness and wellbeing. Showing we are thinking of others and sharing positive content online that we think loved ones will enjoy or find uplifting contributes to this.”

It was further revealed that one in four scroll across different social media channels until they find something they’re interested in, compared to nearly 20% of people going to the same social media source they know will lift their mood. And it doesn’t stop there, with over a third (35%) admitting they would unfollow social media accounts which don’t lift their mood.

Commenting on the findings, Paul Sweeney, Managing Director, Sky Mobile, said: “With more than half of us using our phones daily to see positive and uplifting content, Sky Mobile is here to help you easily tap into your rolled over data to access the latest memes, humorous videos and more 24/7.”

“It’s important we’re aware of how social media impacts our mood and manage what we access. We of course need to keep in touch with what’s happening in the world around us, and it’s encouraging to see that Sky Mobile’s research shows that over half (52%) agree that listening to positive individuals on social media makes a difference to our psychological wellbeing,” 

Vanessa concludes. “What’s great is that there are plenty of practical resources packed with ideas for happier living, such as those freely available from Action for Happiness, to help people boost psychological wellbeing.”

The top 10 things that make us smile or give us a positive mood boost when on social media include:

1. Animal videos/memes (23%)
2. Random acts of kindness posts (21%)
3. Light-hearted ‘when things go wrong’ videos (16%)
4. Travel or holiday pictures/videos (15%)
5. Cute/funny baby videos (14%)
6. Comedians sharing snippets of content (13%)
7. Food pictures/videos (12%)
8. Childhood TV clips (11%)
9. Inspiring or motivational quotes or mantras (11%)
10. Nostalgic British pop culture content (11%)

(Lead image: Ilargian Faus / Pexels.com)