The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
Social networks play an important role in our lives - with their help we communicate with friends, learn and share information, and create communities of like-minded people.
However, along with the positive aspects, social media can have an impact on mental health, and not always positively!
Negative impact:
1. Frequent use of social networks can cause addiction. Some people can spend hours scrolling through the news feed and watching endless videos, says Ksenia Matura .
2. Social networks can also cause negative emotions such as envy, dissatisfaction with oneself, and even aggression towards others. Looking at visually ideal pictures and images that are broadcast in society, people begin to compare themselves to them.
3. If you are blogging, you expect likes, comments and subscriptions. Sometimes their absence or a negative comment can lead to stress, disappointment and a feeling of rejection, low self-esteem and even depression!
4. As a consequence of social media addiction, there is a fear of missing out on events, news or messages, the so-called “FOMO” (Fear of missing out). This often leads to constant checking of the news feed and increased anxiety.
5. Constant use of social media leads to information overload, fatigue and emotional burnout, where you can literally feel sick from scrolling through social media.
6. Feeling lonely with constant communication in the Internet space. Social networks create the appearance of communication, but do not provide what real communication gives - closeness and emotions.
7. There is a lot of information being spread on social media, including false information. This can lead to misinformation and even panic.
8. There may be cases of breach of confidentiality and leakage of personal data.
9. Also worth noting is the trauma of a witness - when we become witnesses to a tragedy and cannot stop thinking about this situation. With the development of social networks, every large-scale event is replicated in many blogs, so there is a feeling that you are reading the same thing, but cannot stop.
However, social media also has a positive impact. It provides an opportunity to communicate with friends and family, find support in difficult times, promote your personal brand, and expand your social circle.
In the reality of our life, we cannot give up social networks, therefore, it is necessary to reduce their negative impact on our mental health.
To do this, it is important to maintain a balance: limit the time spent on social networks, monitor your emotions and be able to separate the virtual world from reality!
Earlier we talked about three habits that prevent a person from becoming happy.
