Problematic Social Media Use and Its Effects on Young Individuals
In the United States, depression and self-esteem issues have risen amongst individuals aged 25 and younger. These emotional issues can be linked to problematic social media use. This is important and relevant in our society today because young individuals are flooded with different social media sites. Problematic social media use can be described as addictive behavior to any social media networking platforms. Problematic social media use can be associated with a variety of emotional issues that in fact include depression, lack of self confidence, and anxiety. It is important for our society to acknowledge that there is an epidemic when it comes to problematic social media use. We should also understand the impact of the emotional disorders that can come along with binging to social media and how it affects our youth.
A research study demonstrates that “Among U.S based 13 to 17 year olds, 94% use one or more social media platforms. A majority of youth, 89% also have access to smartphones, which enable social media use as they move through their homes, schools, and communities” (Weinstein, E , 2018). This excerpt from Sage Journals highlights how impactful social media is in everyday life. It consumes a lot of time out of young individuals.
“FOMO” which translates to the fear-of-missing-out. “Fear-of-missing-out refers to feelings of anxiety that arise from the realization that you may be missing out on rewarding experiences that others are having” (Franchina, V., Van Rooij, A., and De Marez, L. ,2018). A research study of 2663 teeanagers found that FOMO was strongly associated with social media platforms that were more private. These social media platforms include Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram. Public platforms would be those such as Twitter and Youtube where the feed is broad and geared towards a more general audience. Private social media platforms include specific friend lists where you can see related posts only in regards to the individuals you follow or add. Those who used social media platforms paid more attention to others. Individuals reported wanting to stay on top of who posted what pictures, what their followers were up to, and the experiences they were possibly missing out on. Teens who felt more of a fear of missing out used social media more consistently. They also used more social media networking sites to check up on others or post their own experiences. This constant eager and competitiveness was associated with anxiety. Individuals felt anxiety over feeling like they were not doing enough with their life or missing out on experiences.
Individuals who are addicted to social media platforms and incorporate it in their everyday lives expose themselves to a high risk of emotional disorders such as depression, lack of self confidence, and anxiety.
“The Key to digital media use and happiness is limited use. Aim to spend no more than two hours a day on digital media, and try to increse the amount of time you spend seeing friends face-to-face and exercising — two activities reliably linked to greater happiness.”
-Jean M.Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University
