Social Media and Mental Health
Social media is booming, serving as an outlet for self-care, expression, and exploration, engaging users of all ages. However, researchers exploring mental health have noticed a trend of increasing anxiety with platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even LinkedIn. In fact, researchers have found that using social media obsessively causes more than just anxiety. It has been found that using too much internet can cause depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), paranoia, and loneliness. While social media is excellent for connection and exploration, the reality is that users may be comparing their life with others that they see on multiple platforms. For instance, you may see someone on Instagram who has a beautiful or handsome girl/boyfriend, a million followers, and seemingly living a wonderful life, and many would feel happy for them. Yet, others can feel depressed, jealous, and lonely in comparison if it is not as "perfect" as those they see on these platforms.
Compare and Despair. One of the more prominent concerns regarding anxiety and social media is the compare-and-despair factor. We have all been in a predicament when scrolling through amazing pictures of friends on vacation across the country, making your Netflix filled weekend pale in comparison, which in turn provides us with a short wave of anxiety rooted in lack of accomplishment and excitement. As a result, feelings of self-consciousness or a need for perfectionism may manifest, which often spin into social anxiety. Comparing can also lead to anxiety as it relates to followers. For example, youth using Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have indicated that it's more about quantity rather than quality—that is, the number of your followers, re-tweets, and "likes." Users can take these complex numbers and twist them to support negative thoughts, contributing to feelings of disconnection and disfavor.
Benefits of Social Media. Social media isn't all bad. In fact, social networking sites can be helpful for those with social anxiety to more easily initiate and establish social connections. Sites like Instagram and Facebook may make it easier for some to become involved in connecting with others. Individuals may experience less anxiety when interacting online versus offline, allowing them to practice social skills in what feels to be a safer environment.
Tips for Safe Social Networking for Teens (Connect Safely, 2017)
Be your own person. Don't let anyone pressure you to be someone you aren't.
Be nice online. Or at least treat others the way you would want to be treated. If someone is unkind to you, it may be difficult but try not to react or retaliate. It you are feeling distressed, talk to a trusted adult or a friend who can help and remember we can block and follow people we do not like.
Think about what you post. Please be careful and mindful about what is being uploaded to the internet. Things might be fine in the current moment but sometimes shared provocative photos or intimate details online can cause you problems later on in regards to jobs, school, and networking.
Passwords are private. Do not share your passwords, even with trusted friends. Things happen, friendships change, and relationships fall out but nobody wants to be hacked. When choosing a password, try one that is something you can remember, but no one else can guess. One trick is to create a sentence like "I graduated from King School in 15!" for the password "IgfKSi15!"
Don't measure your own life based on what others post. People typically post happy photos and stories online. But what we do not see are the mundane moments, the sad moments, or unflattering photos. Thus, we should not assume that others have better lives than we do based on what they post. Simply appreciate the snapshot that they shared and get back to working on your masterpiece called life.
References:
ConnectSafely. (2017, August 12). Tips for Safe Social Networking for Teens. Retrieved from https://www.connectsafely.org/social-web-tips-for-teens/.