The rise of social media has been one of the greatest changes our culture has seen over the last two decades. What began as a niche activity for younger generations has become a worldwide phenomenon for everyone of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Social media has allowed us to talk to and engage with friends and family across the globe with ease, access professional services from our homes, receive news and information with the click of a button, and engage in our hobbies and interests anytime and anywhere. However, as social media use continues to become more and more prevalent, and many users find themselves using social media more frequently, many people have found themselves experiencing harmful consequences as a result.
Social media usage has been found to impact our mental health, including increasing anxiety, depression, stress and loneliness. Research has found that the more time one spends on social media, the more symptoms of anxiety and depression increase. Likewise, the more social media platforms someone engages in, the more likely they are to experience increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. For younger generations, social media interactions have frequently replaced face-to-face interactions, increasing feelings of loneliness, isolation and overall well being. Compared to youth who engage in more face-to-face social and recreational activities, youth who engage in more screen-time are more likely to experience depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. For those diagnosed with mental illness, social media use has been linked to decreased mood and an increase in depressive symptoms (Naslund et al. 2020).
Another way social media affects our mental health is socially, including through harmful social comparisons, isolation and rejection. Cyberbullying and harassment have also become widespread issues on social media sites, especially for younger generations, and has been evidenced to worse symptoms of anxiety and depression. For example, youth who identified moderate to severe symptoms of depression were much more likely to experience negative comments and hostility than those without depressive symptoms. These experiences on the internet have real-world consequences for both our mental health and social relationships (Naslund et al. 2020).
Social media can also impact our mental and physical health in other ways. The spread of misinformation on the internet has been a growing area of concern, not only as it relates to the news and politics, but also on our health. One recent example of this is during the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused not only confusion to the general public, but limited knowledge and access to potentially life-saving diagnoses and treatments. Despite not being a doctor or otherwise licensed to do so, individuals on the internet can promote “treatments”, “remedies”, or other information about illnesses while having no experience or qualifications to do so. Whether misinformation is presented intentionally or unintentionally, it may pose serious mental and physical health risks. Privacy and confidentiality concerns on social media also pose risks to our relationships and everyday life, especially for those living with mental illness who perceive a greater threat in these areas (Naslund et al. 2020).
Although social media has many risks, it is not likely to go away anytime soon. As you use social media, try to recognize the effects it has on your mental, physical and social health. Try to limit your screen time and daily use and discuss any changes you notice in your physical and mental health with a licensed professional.
Works Cited:
Naslund, J.A., Bondre, A., Torous, J. et al. Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice. J. technol. behav. sci. 5, 245–257 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00134-x