The use of social media has increased significantly in recent years. According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans living in the United States use social media.
People use social networking tools to stay in touch with family and friends, get news, and share political views. This has led some researchers to question the long-term effects of social media use.
Because social media use is still relatively new, there are no long-term studies documenting its effects. However, several studies have shown that social media affects mental health in a variety of ways. With increased dependence on and use of social media, many Americans are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, loneliness, envy, and even bad moods due to social media use.
Why social media is becoming more popular
Social media has become an important communication tool during the pandemic, besides the fact that it allows people to reconnect with family and friends who live far away or have lost touch with each other.
Social media helps connect
When stay-at-home orders prevented in-person gatherings, people turned to social media to share information and connect with others. It became a way for me to gain social support and connections that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
social media makes people feel good
Social media tends to reinforce usage. People can easily become obsessed with checking their own comments, likes, and viewing other people’s posts.
Using social media can release dopamine, also known as the feel-good chemical, which activates the brain’s reward centers. This release of dopamine makes people want to repeat that pleasurable experience and keep coming back.
social media increases self-esteem
Social media can boost your self-esteem, especially if you are viewed favorably online and get more likes and interactions with your content. Social media also allows some people to share parts of their identity that are difficult to communicate directly.
Social media is especially helpful for people with social anxiety who have difficulty interacting with people in person.
Social media and mental health issues
Despite the above benefits, researchers are discovering that social media has some downsides, especially when it comes to mental health.
Social media use may contribute to depression
Technology that is supposed to bring people closer together can have the opposite effect, especially when disagreements erupt online. Social media is associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. It can make people feel isolated and alone.
A 2017 study found that young people who used social media for more than two hours a day were much more likely to classify their mental health as fair or poor than those who used social media occasionally. I understand that.
A large study of young people in the United States found that occasional users of social media were one-third less likely to experience symptoms of depression than heavy users.
Social media can hurt your self-esteem
While social media can boost your self-esteem, it can also cause you to feel inadequate about your life and appearance. Even knowing that the images you see online are doctored or represent someone else’s highlight reel can cause feelings of anxiety, envy, and dissatisfaction.
fear of missing out
Another mental health phenomenon associated with social media is known as FOMO (“fear of missing out”). Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram feed fears that we are missing something or that others are better off than we are.
In extreme cases, FOMO can leave you tied to your phone, constantly having to check updates and respond to every alert.
Social media can lead to narcissism
Endlessly sharing selfies and our innermost thoughts on social media creates an unhealthy sense of self-centeredness, where people are more concerned about building an online image than creating memories with real-life friends and family. You may end up concentrating on
Indeed, engaging in impression management and exerting great effort to obtain external recognition can have psychological costs, especially if one does not receive the approval sought. After all, a lack of positive feedback online can lead to self-doubt and self-loathing.
Impulse control problem
Excessive use of social media can lead to impulse control problems, especially when using smartphones to access social networks. This means you have 24-hour access to your account, which not only makes it easier to stay connected, but can also affect your ability to concentrate. It can also disrupt your sleep and damage your interpersonal relationships.
Social media can be used as an unhealthy coping mechanism
Social media can be an unhealthy way to deal with uncomfortable feelings and emotions. For example, if you turn to social media when you’re feeling down, lonely, or bored, you may be using social media as a way to distract yourself from unpleasant emotions.
As it turns out, social media isn’t a great way to self-soothe. Especially since browsing social media can often make you feel worse instead of better.
Press play for advice on how to reduce play time
This episode of the Very Well Mind Podcast, hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, shares effective ways to reduce screen time. Click below to listen now.
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Signs social media is affecting your mental health
There is no set amount of time that is recommended to spend on social media as everyone is different. Instead, you should evaluate how your social media use is impacting your life, including how you feel when you’re not using social media and how you feel after using it.
A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study suggests that self-monitoring can change how you perceive social media. Lead researcher Dr. Melissa G. Hunt said using social media less than usual can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and depression. By using self-monitoring and making adjustments, people can significantly improve their overall health.
social media is distracting
If your social media use is affecting your relationships or distracting you from work or school, there may be a problem. Additionally, if scrolling through social media makes you feel envy, depression, anxiety, or anger, you should reevaluate your usage.
You may need to detox from social media and spend some time offline to protect your mental health.
Use social media to avoid negative emotions
Social media can also be a problem if you tend to use it to fight boredom or cope with loneliness. While these feelings are uncomfortable and it’s natural to want to alleviate them, turning to social media for comfort and distraction is not a healthy way to deal with difficult feelings and emotions. I can’t say.
So it might be time to reevaluate your social media habits. Here are additional signs that social media may be having a negative impact on your life and mental health.
- Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness are on the rise.
- You spend more time on social media than you do with friends and family in the real world.
- You tend to compare yourself unfavorably to others on social media and feel jealous of others because of it.
- I am being trolled and cyberbullied by others online.
- People do dangerous things and take outrageous photos in order to get likes.
- The amount of time you spend on social media is disrupting your work, home life, and schoolwork.
- We have little time for self-care activities such as mindfulness, self-reflection, exercise, and sleep.
summary
If you’re spending a significant amount of time on social media and are starting to notice feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness affecting your life and relationships, it’s time to reevaluate your online habits. maybe. .
If you notice that you are still experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety even after adjusting your social media use, it is important to see your health care provider for a diagnosis. With proper treatment, symptoms will improve quickly.