Is social media usage detrimental to mental health?

Published in

An Idea (by Ingenious Piece)

4 min readSep 27, 2020

Photo by https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-ovgig

By 2021, it is forecast that there will be around 3 billion active monthly users of social media. Overtime, we have come to adapt and accept social media as a vital part of our everyday dealings. From dawn till dusk, it is now almost customary for individuals to scroll through numerous applications and web pages whilst begrudgingly remaining active with their ‘normal daily routines’. Numerous social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have ensured people in every corner of the world get their ‘social media fix’ and remain connected 24/7.

This has led to an over reliance on social media which can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, with studies showing the average Brit checking their phone as much as 28 times a day. A number of studies have found a possible link between internet addiction (along with excessive social media usage) and depression, anxiety, poor quality of sleep, eating issues, and increased suicide risk (as cited by this article on The Conversation). Due to the fact that this remains a relatively virgin area of qualitative research with insufficient data, it is often disputed and dismissed in the psychiatric literature.

The constant overflow of perfectly filtered photos and videos that appear on Instagram are known to affect many people’s self-esteem, while excessively refreshing Facebook and Twitter feeds for updated posts late at night could be contributing towards your poor quality of sleep. The urge to get ‘a hit’ of short time pleasure and instant gratification fuels the repetitive checking of social media feeds and if not curtailed, could become very detrimental to an individual’s mental health.

In March 2018, it was reported that more than a third of Generation Z from a survey of 1,000 individuals stated that they were quitting social media for good as 41 per cent stated that social media platforms make them feel anxious, sad or depressed.

Here are some key indicators that highlight the negative impact of social media on one's mental health.

You are having less interactions with your ‘real friends’ and more on social media.
When you start to experience cyberbullying or become a medium for propagating hate speech online.
Constant distraction and inability to concentrate at the workplace, school or in the presence of loved ones.
Depression and hyper-anxiety that occurs as a result of comparing yourself to others who project a ‘perfect life’ online.
Unending sleeping disorders.
Self esteem issues that arise due to isolation and the inability to relate with people ‘face to face’.
Eating disorders such as anorexia that occur due to people having unrealistic weight expectations of themselves (this is usually propagated by the false images posted on social media).
‘Clout chasing’ (this is when people start to engage in risky and abnormal behaviors just for the ‘likes’ and gratification from the ‘online community’).
Inability to ‘live in the moment’ means you constantly find yourself trying to capture and not enjoy special moments first hand.
Constant ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out) feeling that makes people over compensate by posting excessive contents that ideally should not be brought online (this can also be linked to the feeling of self absorption).
Increased suicidal thoughts (this occurs when people start to feel like they have failed and there is absolutely no way out; some start with self harm and ultimately end up taking their own lives).

CRC Health’s proclaims that “The possibility of becoming addicted to social media sites is gaining more credibility.” Also, Psychology Today warns that: ‘There’s nothing wrong with getting an ego boost from likes on your photos or funny tweets, but when you start craving that feedback more and more, it may be time to reassess how reliant you are on the like button for your happiness.’

Further validation emanates from a recent study conducted by the University of Guelph that “showed people who spend more time on social media are more likely to report feelings of jealousy in their lives” as they compare the often inflated and glorified lives of friends, family members and even co-workers whose posts may, in actuality, be falsified. Bear in mind some of these individuals may be fighting their own personal battles with narcissism or concealing struggles with their insecurities and low self-esteem.

In conclusion, in order to maintain your sanity, you must ensure by any means necessary that you limit the amount of time you spend with the A.I enabled features on your various social media platforms and find balance and satisfaction in the other pleasures of life. Just make sure you read my other stories before you curb your addiction.

REFERENCES

Is social media usage detrimental to mental health?

Written by Folajomi Agoro