In a recent survey, wall street journal Facebook revealed it was aware of the mental health risks associated with using the Instagram app, but kept the findings secret. The social media giant’s internal research shows that Instagram exacerbates body image issues for one in three teenage girls, with all teenage users of the app quoting it as an experience of anxiety or depression. It turned out that they were connected. This isn’t the first evidence of social media’s harm. Watchdog groups have identified Facebook and Instagram as conduits for cyberbullying, and there have been reports that TikTok has been linked to dangerous and anti-social behavior, including a recent spate of school vandalism.
Facebook has 2.85 billion users, and as social media becomes more popular around the world, so too does concern about how the platform is impacting individual and collective well-being. Social media has been criticized for being addictive by design and for its role in spreading misinformation on important issues from vaccine safety to election integrity to the rise of right-wing extremism. There is. Social media companies and many users champion their platforms as a way to foster creativity and community building. Some research also refutes the idea that social media increases the risk of depression in teens. So, how healthy or unhealthy is social media?
Two experts from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia Psychiatry share insights into one important aspect of social media’s influence: its impact on the mental health of youth and adults. Deborah Glassofer, associate professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, conducts psychotherapy development research for adults with eating disorders and teaches cognitive behavioral therapy. She is the co-author of the book Eating Disorders: What Everyone Should Know. Claude Mellins, a professor of medical psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Social Medicine, has researched the well-being of undergraduates and graduate students, among other things, and is a member of a peer support program for Columbia University faculty and staff with mental health issues. I am the Program Director for Coop Columbia. He was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She co-led the SHIFT research study to reduce sexual violence among undergraduate students. Both use social media.
What do we know about the mental health risks of social media use?
Mellins: Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms are important sources of socialization and relationship building for many young people. While social media has important benefits, it can also provide a platform for bullying and exclusion, unrealistic expectations about body image and sources of popularity, and the normalization of risk-taking behavior, which can be detrimental to mental health. may give. Girls and young people who identify as sexual or sexual minorities may be particularly vulnerable. Young people’s brains are still developing, and young people are developing their own identities as individuals. What you see on social media can be inaccurate and define expectations in ways that can destroy your identity formation and self-image. Adolescence is a time of risk-taking, which is both strength and weakness. As played out in the news, social media can exacerbate the risks.
While social media has important benefits, it can also provide a platform for bullying and exclusion, unrealistic expectations about body image and sources of popularity, and the normalization of risk-taking behavior, which can be detrimental to mental health. may give. – Claude Mellins
grass fir:For people who are prone to developing eating disorders, social media can be particularly unhelpful as they easily compare their appearance to friends, celebrities, and even old images of themselves. Research shows that depending on how much you engage in photo-related activities, such as posting and sharing photos on Facebook and Instagram, you become less accepting of your body and more obsessed with your appearance. . For adolescent girls in particular, the more time they spend on social media, the more they absorb the idea that thinness is the ideal, the more they strive to be thin, and/or the more they over-scrutinize their own bodies. directly related to Additionally, people who are prone to eating disorders may be particularly drawn to seeking out unhelpful information. It is easily found on social media.
Are there any good sides to social media?
Mellins: For young people, social media provides a platform to understand who they are. For very shy or introverted young people, this can be a way to meet people with similar interests. During the pandemic, social media has allowed people to connect in many ways when face-to-face interactions were not possible. Social support and socialization have important effects on coping and resilience. Friends who weren’t able to meet in person kept in touch online, providing an important connection. On the other hand, fewer opportunities to interact with friends and family in person means that some of the negative effects of social media are less likely to be seen in the real world.
Whether it’s on social media or in person, a good peer group makes a difference. A group of friends who are connected by common interests, such as art or music, and who are well-balanced when it comes to food and appearance, are positive. – Deborah Glasfer
grass fir: A great peer group makes a difference, whether it’s on social media or in person. A group of friends who are connected by common interests, such as art or music, and who are well-balanced when it comes to food and appearance, are positive. In fact, a good peer group online can protect you from negative influences in person. Body positivity and recovery groups exist on social media for people with a history of eating disorders. Some people find these groups supportive. For others, it is more beneficial to move on and pursue other interests.
Is there a healthy way to use social media?
Mellins: If you find social media a negative experience, you may need a break. Disconnecting from social media permanently is even more difficult, especially for young people. These platforms are powerful tools to connect and stay informed with friends and family. Also social events. If you don’t use social media, you’ll rely on your friends to reach out to you personally, but that’s not always the case. it’s complicated.
grass fir: If you find yourself feeling bad about yourself in relation to what other people are posting about you, social media won’t do you any good. If there’s anything on social media that’s negatively influencing your behavior or choices, like if you start restricting your diet or overexercising, it’s time to reevaluate. Parents should check in on their children’s lives on social media. In general, I recommend limiting social media and creating boundaries that are effective and reasonable for yourself. That way you can spend time with the people in your life. I also recommend a social media vacation. It’s good to take the time to notice the differences between the virtual world and the real world.