In this era of digitization, social media platforms seem inseparable from our daily lives. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and TikTok have grown exponentially in the past few years. It has advanced communication networks and revolutionized the way we connect and share information. However, the mental health impact of social media is a different story altogether.
Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and low self-esteem with direct relation to social media consumption have increased alarmingly. Social media has a massive impact on mental health, both positive and negative. The possibility of getting pleasure from social media communication diminishes, making way for more negative trends such as cyberbullying, body shaming, and social comparison.
One of the primary causes behind social media’s significant influence on mental health is the culture it endorses. Many people on social media compare themselves to others, giving in to an incessant need to be better – look better, have more followers, and lead a more exciting life. This creates a massive issue of self-esteem, low self-worth, and self-criticism. With the popularity of influencers, the need to fit into perfect social norms is amplified, causing psychological distress in young people.
Cyberbullying is another menace that impacts mental health through social media. It has become prevalent among youngsters, leading to depression, anxiety, and in the extreme cases, suicides. Apart from it, body shaming and social comparison are two other major negative impact points of social media. It’s not uncommon for social media users to feel unhappy with their appearance, lifestyle, or so-called self-image standards due to excessive false imagery on social media.
Apart from this, social media platforms are designed to keep users engrossed, often resulting in addiction. People tend to spend significant amounts of time scrolling through social media feeds, browsing profiles, watching videos, and engaging in endless discussions. This brings about challenges such as reduced productivity, low motivation, and sometimes lack of sleep, leaving a negative impact on mental wellbeing.
On the other hand, social media also plays a positive role. It enables individuals to remain connected and allows them to support each other in times of crisis. Platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp have vast community groups of people with various mental disorders, giving their opinions and insights that can help other people in distress.
One way of coping with the negative impact of social media on mental health is to limit social media usage time. Set a specific period each day and switch off social notification notifications after this time. Try avoiding comparisons and expectations spread through social media, and take a break or ‘digital detox’ to unplug from being constantly connected.
In conclusion, social media’s impact on mental health is a complete two-way street. Social media has both positive and negative impacts on mental health. While the positive aspects of social media can help individuals connect, the negative aspects need to be recognized and mitigated for better psychological well-being.
