5 Reasons Why Social Media Can Benefit Your Mental Health
By Amanda Monticue — May 28, 2023
Some say that you should spend less time on social media. Others say you should not get on it at all, but time on these social platforms can actually be more beneficial than harmful.
Over the years, researchers and many studies have found that social media tends to develop issues that lead to mental health challenges that has impacted users.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines mental health as:
“Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.”
From high screen times to self-comparison to feeling lonely, these actions and feelings have led to specific mental health illnesses such as general anxiety, depression, dysphoria, and sometimes even suicide. As a result, there has been a rise of attention and concern on this subject which has guided the way to approach these matters by implementing discussions on social media platforms themselves.
Not only this, but there are more specific reasons to why this new presence has been beneficial to users.
1. A Place for Mental Health Resources
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was not a major focus on mental health compared to how it is viewed now. During this time, many were found to be alone due to isolation and found the new changes from the pandemic to be stressful. As a result, they coped in different ways, especially by having an increased screen time.
According to a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine:
“By increased screen time during the pandemic, social media (SM) could have significantly impacted adolescents’ and students’ mental health (MH)…This review found that adolescents with more hours spent on SM were more likely to have moderate to severe anxiety symptoms [31].”
The regular social content changed to be more informative, especially during the time of the pandemic.
Therefore, with these findings, mental health resources on social platforms can be a self-check and support system on how to approach mental health concerns when someone feels unwell and gives them a break from social media norms.
2. A Place for Online Peer Support
All social platforms consists of millions and millions of users, and these users are capable of forming large online communities. These communities can include local, cooking, lifestyle, or even fan-based. On the topic of mental health, online therapy communities can be valuable for those who seek help.
Lifestyle indicates points out that that online communities can provide:
- Convenience
- Privacy
- Support
- Sense of belonging
- Opportunity to help others
- Empowerment
- Understanding
- Relief
3. A Place to Learn More Education
In general, learning can always guide someone to expand their perspective expansively. It is not false that mental illness can hinder an individual’s learning experience. However, learning is a life-long skills that helps us to grow.
We learn to grow to be confident in ourselves and what we know. Education on social media can help us be productive in this action.
The University of Arizona Global Campus states:
“Social media promotes self-directed learning, which prepares students to search for answers and make decisions independently.”
4. A Place to Follow Inspirational Lifestyle Influencers
Posts, likes, shares, and follows are the foundation of social media’s purpose. When it comes to the act of following, it does matter on who you follow.
Who users choose to follow can depend on two main elements— motivation and inspiration.
No one will ever be able to be the same as another individual but following another’s ways and approaches can guide them to being a better version of themselves.
According to The Jed Foundation, “It’s not enough just to talk about mental health; it also matters how these stories are told.”
In other words, real-life experiences are the key to discussing mental health, especially when coming from the accounts of those who may be in the public eye. It can be easy to assume a public-figure has everything that they could ever want and could not possibly go through any difficult experiences after that. Nevertheless, this is untrue, and when they do speak on issues that are relatable to their followers, it can create a space for comfort and reassurance that they are not alone.
5. A Place For Staying In Touch
There was a time, not too long ago, when people did not have the ability to stay connected with their friends on the Internet like they do today. Users can now stay up to date with their friends by knowing where one is at, what they post, what they share, etc.
HelpGuide.org states:
“Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life.”
It is important to note that social media does not serve the purpose to be an alternative to making real-life friendships, but instead to build from the current ones.
Conclusion
All in all, social media can lead to harmful influences on one’s mental health, but it does not have to. When one keeps in mind on who or what they follow and how it will positively impact them, a social media user can have a healthier mental state with a more positive and constructive social media presence.
