{"id":2012,"date":"2021-04-15T18:25:04","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T22:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/masi2021\/?page_id=2012"},"modified":"2021-05-15T10:27:54","modified_gmt":"2021-05-15T14:27:54","slug":"social-media-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/masi2021\/social-media-and-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Media & Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] How Is Social Media Affecting Our Mental Health?\u00a0 \u00a0[\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n

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The Pew Research Center surveyed social media use in 2021, reporting higher usage in younger generations and a notable decline in older generations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In our digital age, social media has increasingly become more prominent in our everyday lives. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok are means of connection to friends, family, and even strangers. Staying connected is easier than ever, but are these platforms causing more\u00a0harm than good?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A 2019 survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association found that 45% of respondents thought social media had both negative and positive effects.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Currently, studies into the impact of social media on one\u2019s mental health are split. The consensus seems to be that these platforms are likely to impact mental health negatively. However, some studies suggest that social media can have a positive effect. One\u2019s experience on social media is subjective and based on the type of interactions one experiences on social media.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being aware of the negative and positive aspects of social media can help develop a better relationship with these platforms. Understanding the risk and reward can help you better control your presence and usage on these platforms.<\/p>\n

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The Negative Effects<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n

Research into the effect on mental health is still a relatively new field, and the results are mixed. While this field of research is split the negative effect of social media on mental health is becoming more apparent. According to a survey released in 2021, 72% of U.S. adults report having used social media.<\/strong> This percentage is larger within younger demographics, at 84%, which is also the most vulnerable to the toll social media can have on your mental health.<\/p>\n

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Lowered Self-Esteem<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Social media often only captures the best parts of someone’s life and can lead to feelings of inadequacy to develop. Unhealthy comparisons to people online can feed into self-stigma. This lowers self-esteem, creates envy toward others, and causes an overall negative mindset about yourself and your position in life.<\/p>\n
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Mood Disorders<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Prolonged social media use has been seen to cause higher levels of anxiety. This anxiety can be general, but can also be due to socialization, and is similar to the anxiety felt in real-world communication. higher rates of social anxiety disorder are being recorded to be a result of social media.\u00a0Depression is also a possible consequence of constant social media usage, also relating to the lack of socialization and\/ or the content you are viewing online.<\/p>\n
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Isolation<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Research has shown that frequent social media use can lead to feelings of isolation. When you communicate with people in person your body releases dopamine, which can lessen feelings of anxiety. The brain is not triggered in the same way when communicating via social media, so the benefits of this biological response are not experienced. In people with social anxiety, this is heightened.<\/p>\n
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Addiction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Strong compulsions to constantly check social media can lead to all previously mentioned impacts so far. FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out is one causation of this constant checking, and feelings of anxiety can occur when one goes a bit without checking. This feeling of missing out can turn checking social media into a necessary action rather than one done out of enjoyment and feeds into the dependency you form with these online platforms.<\/p>\n
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Danah Boyd analyzes the relationship between teens and social media in his book ‘It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens’.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The Positive Effects<\/em><\/span><\/h1>\n
While there are negative effects of social media, more recent studies are beginning to record positive impacts of it as well. It has been seen that social media can have a positive influence if used properly. Caution should always be taken when interacting with and on social media, but as a tool, it offers the potential for self-improvement.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Connecting<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Not only with family and friends, but social media can also allow you to meet new people. Social media can allow you to find and create a community with people that you otherwise wouldn’t meet. This community building can be invaluable to people who may not have a real-life support system, and can in some instances help ease feelings of loneliness (though this should not replace real-life socialization as a whole).<\/p>\n
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Education<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Social media offers the opportunity for people to learn. This learning can take many forms, from simply learning a new fun fact to engaging in discussions and being exposed to other opinions. This connection makes it easier to be exposed to a diverse group of ideas, cultures, beliefs, etc. that you may not have otherwise been able to learn about.<\/p>\n
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Raising Awareness<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Social media platforms allow for the quick dissemination of information. This can help bring attention to important situations and topics, and rally support quickly. Social media platforms can help you be aware and informed on important contemporary topics and mobilize your online presence to enact real-world change.<\/p>\n
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Social media can provide an outlet for self-discovery and expression.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Help-seeking<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Mental health is a very personal topic, and if you are struggling, reaching out can be difficult. Online groups and forums can offer support and anonymity, which can help in opening up without feeling pressured. Encouragement, even from people you may not know, can go a long way in helping direct someone onto the path to seek help. Online resources such as therapy and help-lines can be a more accessible option for some who would otherwise forgo needed help and treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] How Is Social Media Affecting Our Mental Health?\u00a0 \u00a0[\/perfectpullquote] In our digital age, social media has increasingly…<\/p>\n
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