How Does the Social Media Has Become the Number One Enemy of Well Being?

Communication Technology Comes With the Price

Nowadays, a lot of people consider their smartphones to be their virtual companions. These gadgets notify users of updates on friends, favorite celebrities, and world events through electronic social media networks. For many people, social media has become an essential part of their everyday lives. In the United States, 72% of people use social media, according to the Pew Research Center.

Primarily, social media is an efficient way of communication that has transformed how people interact. It accelerates the speed at which individuals communicate and share ideas, thoughts, and information over virtual networks. Social media does have drawbacks, though. There is evidence to suggest that using it excessively can have a number of negative effects on mental health.

How Social Media Affects Mental Health?

Particularly for regular users, social media has been linked to feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression. According to a Common Sense survey from 2015, teens may use the internet for up to nine hours every day. Many of these individuals are themselves worried about how much time they spend on social media. This wave of concern indicates social media use may have a very big impact on users' mental health. The result was verified by the investigators of a 2017 Canadian study. They observed that students who use social media more frequently than twice a day are far more likely to rate their mental health as poor than less active users.

Another 2019 study linked social media use to delayed and disturbed sleep. Regular, high-quality sleep is crucial for overall well-being and research shows that sleep disorders can increase mental health issues like depression and memory loss. In addition to its harmful impact on sleep, social media can also worsen mental health issues by exposing users to cyberbullying. Researchers discovered that roughly half of the more than 6,000 people in the survey, who were between the ages of 10 and 18, had been the victims of cyberbullying in 2020. One of the drawbacks of social media is that it allows people to spread harmful rumors and use abusive language, which can cause long-lasting emotional damage to others.

Moreover, many national surveys and population-based studies show the negative effects that social media can have on users' mental health. According to survey data, there was a 25% rise in teenager suicide attempts in the United States alone between 2009 and 2017. The time period matches with the increasing use of social media platforms, even though social media may not have played a part in all of these incidents. This effect is confirmed by a 2021 study and according to the study, girls who used social media for at least two hours a day starting at age 13 had a higher clinical risk of suicide as adults.

Negative Effects and Linked Conditions

Social media may foster depreciation complexes. Envy and dissatisfaction can arise when people believe that their appearance or way of living does not compare favorably with that of others on social media. According to a 2018 study, high social media use makes people feel more alone rather than less, creating distance from friends and family as well as cyberbullying. It also stated that cutting back on social media use enhances people's well-being by making them feel less alone and isolated.

Furthermore, unregulated social media usage causes FOMO, which many refer to as fear of missing out. For example, when people believe that others are having more fun than they are or there is a special clothes sale happening, it may harm their sense of self-worth and lead to poor decision-making and mental health problems. Because of that, people might prioritize social media over in-person connections and meetings or they might obsessively check their phones even at the expense of sleep.

Positive Effects

Despite many disadvantages, social media is still a useful tool for bringing people and communities together globally.

Many people benefit from small-group social media-based networking. Children who suffer with social skills and anxiety can express themselves and interact with others through social media. Since it makes it possible for people to connect and meet with other like-minded people, it can be especially beneficial for excluded communities like the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Social media provides a voice-giving platform for the voiceless. People who have experienced abuse and violence, for instance, may express their opinions, discuss their struggles and find support in communities like the #MeToo community. Also, social media may be a tool for self-expression and creativity as well as for education and information.

To conclude, by restricting social media use to 30 minutes per day, people can help themselves avoid some of the negative impacts, which will lessen FOMO and its associated negative effects. Improving one's awareness of how much time is spent on social media can benefit one's mood, concentration and mental well-being.