Published on: July 8, 2025 at 8:37 pm
During a time of layoffs, economic turbulence, political polarization, and generalized uncertainty, the use of social media is amplifying people’s anxieties.
According to Academy of Management Scholar Nancy Rothbard of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, the pervasiveness of social media leads workers to feel turmoil more intensely.
“They’re seeing what happens to their coworkers; they’re seeing people’s comments,” Rothbard said. “They’re seeing whether people agree with them or not about various issues, and they’re worrying about whether other people can see what their views and opinions are.
“They’re really worried about how they’re being perceived in the midst of these kinds of layoffs and the turmoil that contribute to the generalized uncertainty that we’re seeing in the world,” she said. “It’s a very fraught time in that sense.”
Rothbard said the stress level is increased because social-media interactions may include both bosses and colleagues.
“The fact that people are connected across hierarchical boundaries creates a lot of stress,” Rothbard said. “You have to be much more vigilant.
“You have to be more cautious about who you connect with and what content you either ‘like’ or put out yourself,” she said. “Those are some really important decisions; they need to be strategic.”
Rothbard pointed out there are also ways that managers can use and talk about social media to reduce their team members’ stress, especially in difficult times.
“People like to be appreciated when times are good, but they especially like to be appreciated when times are bad—small acts of appreciation even a ‘like’ or positive comment on a social-media post, or something like a text or email that says ‘good job’ or ‘thinking of you,’” Rothbard said.
“Something that is a small gesture can go a long way in engendering loyalty, continued engagement, and hard work,” she said. “There’s a lot of organizational behavior research that shows non-monetary incentives actually can be incredibly cheap but go a long way to motivate people and have them feel a sense of belonging.”
