Users consider Instagram to be the worst social network for influencing mental health, according to a survey conducted in Britain.

According to the BBC, in the study of the Royal Society of Health took part 1479 people aged 14 to 24 years. They were offered to evaluate which of the five popular social networks has the most negative effect on its users.

Participants had to answer a series of questions about how YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter affect their health and well-being.

They put points for each platform on 14 criteria related to problems such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, harassment and body perception.

According to the results of the survey, users have a positive impact on mental health on YouTube, as well as Twitter and Facebook. Instagram and Snapchat received the worst ratings.

"It's interesting that Instagram and Snapchat were at the end of the rating in the context of mental health and well-being - both platforms are sharpened for images, and this seems to make young people feel inferior and worrisome," says Shirley Kramer, head of the Royal Society of Health.

The study warns that social networks can increase mental problems among young people, but they can also have a positive impact if online platforms will work on this purpose purposefully.

The Royal Society of Health, among other things, urged the social network to notify users about too long use of the resource, and also to identify people with mental health problems on the Internet.

In the opinion of the organization, social media should also notify users that the posted photos have been processed. This applies, for example, to celebrity accounts and advertising publications.