How does social media affect mental health?
Social media has now firmly become a part of our everyday lives, and as a society, we are becoming increasingly reliant on this ever-evolving technology.
Excessive usage of social media is postulated to create anxiety, depression, low-esteem levels, as well as disrupt sleeping patterns. But when used in a responsible way, it can also foster psychological well-being. Knowing the influence of social media on mental well-being can lead to healthier digital behaviors.
A study in the British Journal of Health Psychology has examined the impact of social media usage on mental health, especially in young people and adults. It has been said that poor mental health and relationship may be caused by social media usage in adolescents.
Mental health is often framed as something that’s beyond our control. But you might be surprised to learn that social media greatly impacts your mental well-being.
The Link Between Social Media and Mental Health
The relationship between social media and mental health is complex. While platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook can enhance connectivity and provide emotional support, they can also expose users to cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and information overload. The effects largely depend on how individuals engage with social media, the type of content they consume, and the amount of time they spend online.
Research has found that excessive social media use is associated with increased levels of anxiety and depression. A study by the University of Pennsylvania found that limiting social media usage to 30 minutes per day led to significant reductions in feelings of loneliness and depression. This suggests that while social media itself is not inherently harmful, overuse and negative interactions can have detrimental effects on mental health.
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Negative Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
1. Increased Anxiety and Depression
Repeated exposure to carefully curated social media content can have adverse effects. The best about people’s lives gets posted, leaving people with the impression that everyone else’s lives are perfect. This can create feelings of inadequacy in others, resulting in depression and anxiety. Exposure to pictures of luxurious holidays, toned bodies, or apparently flawless relationships can make others less satisfied with themselves.
Moreover, doomscrolling—continuously reading bad news—may increase stress and anxiety. Continuous exposure to disturbing events around the globe may make people feel helpless and overwhelmed, further affecting their mental health.
2. Low Self-Esteem and Body Image Issues
Social networking sites, especially visual-based social media like Instagram and TikTok, tend to encourage unrealistic physical beauty standards. Filters, camera apps, and beauty-enhancing features of a photo lead to an unrealistic physical appearance standard that results in body dissatisfaction, mostly among teenagers and young adults.
A UK Royal Society for Public Health report concluded that Instagram was the most harmful to the mental health of young people, fueling anxiety, depression, and body image issues. The compulsion to obtain the “perfect” body figure can result in unhealthy habits such as eating disorders and excessive exercise.
3. Cyberbullying and Harassment
In contrast to common bullying, cyberbullying provides the means for people to victimize others anonymously, which simplifies it for individuals to become involved in injurious acts without being punished. Harassment online may exist in numerous formats, such as hate speech, threats, and public humiliation. Cyberbullying victims frequently feel emotional pain, which may cause them to withdraw socially, experience anxiety, and, in extreme cases, think about committing suicide.
Based on a Pew Research Center study, approximately 59% of American teenagers have been victims of cyberbullying. Social media is a hazardous platform for vulnerable people due to the ease with which negative messages and misinformation can be spread online.
4. Sleep Disruptions
Most individuals utilize social media in the late night hours, sometimes scrolling through feeds right before they go to sleep. Too much screen time right before bed can disrupt melatonin secretion, which is the hormone that controls sleep. Blue light from screens causes disruption of the body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it more difficult to sleep and reducing the quality of sleep.
Lousy sleep contributes to higher levels of stress, mood disorders, and cognitive dysfunction. Inability to get peaceful sleep can magnify mental problems, leading to a cycle of continuous social media misuse and anguish.
Conclusion
Social media impacts mental health on a deep level, affecting self-esteem, emotional well-being, and satisfaction in life. Both excessive use of social media as well as awareness can lead to anxiety, depression, and disturbances in sleep patterns. Social media can provide support, increase consciousness, and bring about healthy tendencies. By installing boundaries, curation of contents, and personal development through usage of these technologies, one may utilize the pros of social media while safeguarding their mental wellness.