Is Social Media Bad for Our Mental Health?
Social media is a technology with a lot of wonderful benefits.
It allows people to share and connect, get news and information, and even meet new people.
But there can be a downside too, especially for college-aged young adults who have grown up in a world of screens.
I sat back and pondered how life used to be without the internet in our face all the time, and I actually miss those days.
However, without the use of the internet we wouldn’t be self teaching ourselves, having an available outlet for quick reference and help on navigating endless information.
Ways through which social media affects mental health
Social media is a constant source of comparison, we watch how others live their lives and count how many followers we obtain on specific platforms.
When we see other people’s lives on social media, it can make us feel inadequate or like our lives aren’t as important, even worth living for.
The younger generation follows countless Tik-Tok videos that can portray anything from makeup tutorials to weight challenges and even self harm.
Overwhelming information can harm our mental state by flooding unneeded information.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets.
Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content.
Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else.
It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation.
Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
- Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok
- Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices
- Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet
- Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit
- Online gaming communities
Social Media is highly addictive
Taken from the Addiction Center,
“Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that is characterized as being overly concerned about social media, driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on to or use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other important life areas.
Addictive social media use will look much like any other substance use disorder and may include mood modification (i.e., engagement in social media leads to a favorable change in emotional states), salience (i.e., behavioral, cognitive, and emotional preoccupation with social media), tolerance (i.e., ever-increasing use of social media over time), withdrawal symptoms (i.e., experiencing unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms when social media use is restricted or stopped), conflict (i.e., interpersonal problems ensue because of social media usage), and relapse (i.e., addicted individuals quickly revert back to their excessive social media usage after an abstinence period).”
Take a Break
8 Ways to Take a Break From Social Media
- Set A Time Limit for Social Media Use
- Use Screen Limiting Apps
- Leave Your Phone in Another Room at Night
- Turn Off Notifications
- Delete Unnecessary Apps
- Try a Social Media Detox
- Temporarily Disable Your Accounts
- Let Friends and Family Know You’re Taking a Break
This post was written by Lauren K., and published by Convenient Counseling Services.
Live in New York and want to learn more about working with us? Check us out here!
Check out more content like this here.
