While in-person social interactions are limited due to COVID-19, people are connecting more online than ever before. For example, during the first wave of the pandemic, his social media engagement increased by 61%. For many, social media has become a lifeline to the outside world, especially as people seek ways to stay connected and entertained.
So, with social distancing measures in place around the world, is Instagram really better than our current reality? Not exactly, according to mental health experts. Social media plays an important role in staying connected with friends and family during forced separation, but users are aware that scrolling mindlessly for long periods of time can have a negative impact on their mental health. need to be recognized.
Jeremy Tyler, Ph.D. in PsychologyHe is an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the Anxiety Treatment Research Center at the Perelman School of Medicine, specializing in the treatment of anxiety-related disorders. Tyler, who often speaks with patients about the effects of social media, is well aware of the many ways social media can exacerbate social anxiety, comparison, and perfectionism. He also recognizes that social media can be an important resource for people seeking connection during the pandemic.
“The isolation that we’ve experienced over the past year has really weighed on people,” Tyler said. “We are all working to understand a new and different sense of connection.”
How to navigate social media during the pandemic
The need for increased connectivity was clear at the beginning of the pandemic. Screenshots of new challenges like Zoom parties and the #see10do10 push-up challenge make it clear that users want to stay engaged while dealing with a new common reality. But more than a year later, pandemic-related challenges have subsided, and social media feeds are riddled with many of the same old pitfalls that have made mental health difficult for years, including misinformation and heavily edited photos. It’s coming back.
These unrealistic representations affect users, especially those who use social media frequently. For example, people diagnosed with social anxiety are already more likely to experience the negative effects of social media.
“Initially, it was thought that people with social anxiety might benefit from the use of social media because it could serve as a stepping stone for social interaction,” Tyler said. To tell. “But in many cases, the pressure to get more likes and more friends has had the opposite effect. Instead of making us connect, it makes us realize how disconnected we are.”
Additionally, the increased use of social media has also increased opportunities for social comparisons, thanks to feeds full of doctored photos and sometimes exaggerated positive experiences.
“Social media perpetuates the idea that perfectionism is possible and feeds into the problem of confirmation bias,” Tyler says. “People start believing negative perceptions about themselves when they see others who look perfect, are well-liked, or have something they don’t have.”
Tyler explained that content posted on social media is biased in nature because few people post photos or updates about their flaws. It’s important for people to take a step back and realize that what is being posted is not reality.
The effects of increased screen time extend far beyond those who suffer from social anxiety. As the pandemic has reduced opportunities for face-to-face interaction, many people are feeling less connected than they did in the pre-pandemic world, despite their intentions to use social media. more Connectivity.In fact, in the first experimental study on the use of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, psychologists Melissa G. Hunt, PhDAssociate Director of Clinical Training at Penn University’s Department of Psychology found that social media use actually increases depression and loneliness.
The impact of social media misinformation
The overwhelming amount of misinformation on social media is also a major cause of anxiety and stress. The spread of potentially harmful information has become so prevalent during the pandemic that many sites, including Facebook and Twitter, have begun flagging and, in some cases, removing content that is not factual. Despite these efforts, social media users are still exposed to images, articles, and posts that spread misinformation and reinforce already heightened fears.
The impact of this information can be extremely stressful, especially when users are trying to figure out their emotions related to social and political issues over the past year. To combat the negative side effects of increased social media use, Tyler recommends another social media challenge: moderation.
“Try taking a day off from social media or turning off your phone during dinner or a movie,” Tyler said. “We can all use social media to have fun and have more quality time in our daily lives.”