Social media has taken over our way of living and communicating. However, social media’s effects are putting a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious, depressed or ill over their social media use. We rely on social media platforms to express ourselves and connect with others. When users use social media, it activates the brain to produce dopamine. Despite this, according to the Pew Research Center, 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. use social media.
Psychology Professor Leila Azarbad believes that while social media has many benefits, it also can be harmful if used excessively or in the wrong way.
“The benefits include social connection with others and providing an outlet to publicly diary one’s experiences,” said Azarbad. “The harmful aspects include social comparison that can lead to lowered self-esteem, feelings of being left out, and cyberbullying.”
Disrupting your health
Dominican University student Nick Dowdle uses social media often. He’ll end up comparing himself to others when he sees their accomplishments. It makes him feel like he is behind in life, or that he is not on the right track due to others’ posts.
“People post on social media for many reasons, some of the most popular reasons could be for their self-esteem, to compare their social activity to others and the fear of missing out,” Azardbad said. “FOMO is a scientifically documented concept, and there are even psychological scales out there used to measure it. FOMO is positively correlated with social media usage.”
One of social media’s effects that can hinder health is our sleep cycles. Staying up late scrolling through social media is a quite common behavior that disrupts people’s sleep. According to McLean Hospital, “A 2018 British study tied social media use to decreased, disrupted, and delayed sleep, which is associated with depression, memory loss, and poor academic performance. Social media use can affect users’ physical health even more directly.”
Communication is key
“Researchers know the connection between the mind and the nervous system can turn anxiety and depression into nausea, headaches, muscle tension, and tremors,” according to McLean Hospital. Triton College student Taylar Jones admits that social media has caused her depression and anxiety in the past. She believes her anxiety stemmed from wondering whether she will get enough interaction on her posts or what people will think when she did create a post.
Although social media makes communication easier, it is important to realize that it cannot be a replacement for real-world connections. In-person connections and contact with others allow the hormones in your body to help relieve stress, make you feel happier, healthier and overall, just more positive. Social media helps bring people closer together. Unfortunately, spending too much time on it can make people feel isolated.
Azarbad believes social media’s effects can be addictive. “The concept of ‘likes’ for example activates the reward pathway of the brain, similar to addictive substances. We may find ourselves chasing likes obsessively or using them as an indicator of our self-worth,” she said.
Social media can also have negative effects on health. Social media can trigger feelings of inadequacy which may lead people to feel as though their life or appearance does not compare favorably with that of others on social media, leading to feelings of envy and dissatisfaction, according to Medical News Today.
Put the phone down
Dowdle has taken breaks from social media due to the negative effects it has on his mental health at times. “Sometimes whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed or need to take time to focus on myself, I delete my social media until I’m ready to get back on them,” he said.
“Excessive usage of social media may also cause people to become distant from their responsibilities, family and friends,” said Azarban.
Jones admits to using social media more than necessary. She explains how seeing things on social media has hurt her self-esteem and realistic expectations.
“It gets hard seeing the way other people live, you always end up comparing yourself,” she said. “Someone who has the body type or income that you want can bring your self-image down.”
Self-worth
Jones also acknowledges that social media’s effects can make you feel like you are not doing enough in life. It can make you wonder what you are doing wrong. It’s important to remember that not everything is always what it seems. Everyone struggles in their own way and has rough times. People opt to post only the positive aspects of life.
Despite all the negative effects social media has on health, it has some positive effects. It gives people who struggle with social skills and anxiety a platform to express themselves and socialize. According to Medical News Today, “It can be particularly advantageous for marginalized groups, such as LGBTQIA+ communities, as it enables people to meet and interact with other like-minded individuals.”
It can allow people to find the comfort that they are never alone in life. Social media is also positive as it educates users on what is happening globally or locally. Based on how people use social media, it can be beneficial for self-expression and expressing one’s creativity.
