Social Media Harms Mental Health

Social Media Harms Mental Health

Social media are applications and platforms that enable people to create and share content across a network. How many people can live without visiting the social media, especially in modern society? I think no one, and if they are there, then the number is tiny. Social media has made us its captives, and the addiction is too much such that we cannot avoid it. It has taken the lives of kids, teens, and even parents. Having people on their mobile phones all day isn’t funny because it has become part of the life of this generation. People are using their phones everywhere, in vehicles, dining rooms, class, kitchen, or even in the bedroom. Social media connects people and ideas, but we should also know that it is harmful to our mental health.

Social media leads to the mental problem of depression and anxiety. Many people who get into social media are either directly or indirectly involved in other peoples’ lives. Through liking and commenting photos of others, for example, on Instagram, we end up comparing ourselves with them and wish if we could be like them wherein real sense, it can’t happen that way. The lives of other people, which may be though perfect as seen in social media, create feelings of envy and jealousy that would later make people sad, anxious, and depressed. Women are good victims of this mental health problem.

Social media leads to low self-esteem. When we are using our phones, it is always easy to keep abreast of everything that your friends are doing. Some people are perfect in editing their photos and bringing out different looks from their real selves. Many peers wish they could be like other whom they see in social media, something which intensifies their feelings and increases their self-doubt. Research done at the University of Copenhagen has revealed that people who are not on facebook or Instagram are more satisfied with their lives. Comparing yourself with others will lower your self-esteem and make you dissatisfied with your life.

Too much reliance on social media makes us lack sleep. How many people feel like dozing in this room? I think those who are doing so or those are feeling worn-out spend much of their time in social media. Many people spend too much time on social media during the hours that they should be asleep, and this is a severe mental problem. What makes people lose sleep is feelings of anxiety and envy that prevent them from relaxing enough. It has also been found that the light which comes from mobile phones precludes the formation of melatonin, a hormone that facilitates sleep. Lack of sleep is a severe mental problem that many people are not aware of.

Spending too much time on social media is associated with memory loss. Social media is instrumental in looking back fondly on memories and recounting how past events occurred. What people don’t know is that social media also limits one’s ability to remember certain things and events in life. College students are greatly affected by the mental problem of memory loss because, in most instances, they use search engines to get what they want. There is also a hidden addiction where people don’t want to remember things because they have somewhere to confirm. The effect is, many people will end up suffering memory loss as they come of age.

Social media also cause the mental problem of a reduced attention span. We should know that it is not only the subconscious brain that we should worry about. We should fear whether our minds will be able to concentrate when we are awake. Social media swallows away our concentration, and this may make us miss specific vital details in life. It can also make us weak in giving details. A reduced attention plan is a serious mental problem that many people are currently suffering, yet not aware of.

Finally,

It is the highest time that we call for an action to fight mental health problems by detaching ourselves from the captivity of social media. Yes, social media connects us with people and enables us to gain access to critical information, but when we use it responsibly, it will benefit us more. First, when we are carrying our phones, we should always turn off our notifications because they are the ones that raise an alarm that forces us to check our phones at any place. We can also limit ourselves from social media by setting a timer on how long we should be on social media. If we are idle, we should also look for any hobby like playing the piano instead of spending it on our phones or computers. In case we are using platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, we should stop comparing ourselves with others because this will help us fight anxiety and depression. It is the highest time we promote good mental health by overcoming social media addiction. The task is not for specific people but for all who can access social media platforms.

Thank you for your time.