Social media has become an ingrained part of our daily lives, with many people spending hours scrolling through their feeds and interacting with others online. Since people now have easy internet access and have high-quality services such as those offered by providers like CenturyLink Internet, it is hard to miss out on any notification ping on your devices.
While social media has many benefits, such as connecting with friends and family, gaining access to information, and staying informed about the world around us, there are also significant concerns about the negative impact it can have on mental health. This has been a rising argument in the prevalent times.
So, how is social media have a bad impact on one’s mental health? Is it the true villain in everyone’s anxious stories today?
Lack Of Sleep
Ever had that one urge to quickly look at your phone one last time before you go to sleep? But then that minute turned to hours… In the same way, many people use their phones and tablets to scroll through social media in the hours before bed, from one page to another. This can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to insomnia.
The blue light emitted by screens can also significantly suppress the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.
The Feeling of Isolation & Loneliness
Social media allows us to connect with people from all over the world, it can also foster a sense of disconnection from the people around us in our day-to-day lives. This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, especially for those who already struggle with social connections in real life.
People have thousands of friends online, but in real life, they might not be able to speak to any. In times of need, this can surely cause a strain on your mental health and easily make you feel lonely.
Heightened Sense of Competition
Social media has been creating a culture of constant comparison and competition, particularly when it comes to likes and followers.
People tend to present their best selves on social media, often portraying a highly curated and filtered version of their lives. Ever heard the phrase ‘Fear of Missing Out’? This makes people feel like they are not measuring up or missing out on anything going around.
Apart from this, since people use social media as a platform to mainly boast the ‘happy’ side of their life, it can get toxic for the users, and leave many with a complex.
Poor Impact on Body-Image
Social media can affect one’s mental health by impacting their self-esteem and body image. The constant stream of images and posts featuring ‘perfect’ lives and bodies can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, especially in younger users.
Research has shown that increased social media use is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
With social media influencers constantly using photo editing applications and retouching their images, it is negatively impacting the younger generations’ minds. This gives them an illusion of the perfect image.
Increased Anxiety & Stress Levels
The constant bombardment of news, updates, and notifications on social media can also lead to an overwhelming sense of anxiety and stress, which can make people feel overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed.
Especially with the current global economic and political status, the all-time updates truly get terrifying at times.
This also brings in the factor of misinformation that sends chaos among the masses, highly affecting their mental health.
Concluding Remarks
It’s important to note that social media is not inherently bad. It’s how we use it that determines its impact on our mental health. Some studies also suggest that social media use can also have positive effects on mental health, such as providing social support and a sense of community.
Henceforth, social media can have both positive and negative effects on mental health, and excessive use of social media is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. To minimize the negative impact of social media on mental health, it’s important to be mindful of the time spent on social media, the types of content being consumed, and the way social media use is impacting feelings and behaviors.
Therefore, setting boundaries and limiting the use of social media could be a solution to minimize its negative impact on mental health.
