The Negative Effects of Social Media
AUSLEEN ACOSTA | FEB. 19, 2021
Although social media can be a powerful marketing tool, it is clear to say that social media can fuel feelings of anxiety, depression, and poor mental health. Social media has transformed the way we communicate in our daily lives and instead of making us feel more connected, it somehow makes us feel more lonely and isolated. Why is that?
One of the negative experiences of social media is the unintentional habit of comparing your life with others. In a 2016 study by researchers at Penn State University, they stated that “viewing other people’s selfies lowered self-esteem because users compare themselves to photos of people looking their happiest.” Although we are aware that people tend to share content when they are on top of the world, it is inevitable to feel envious towards them. We begin to rethink, “why am I not as happy or successful as them?” This becomes a vicious cycle of jealousy and dissatisfaction that is hard to break. We need to shift our perspective and realize that social media is nothing but a “highlight reel”. When viewing someone else’s curated life online, it’s easy to see their perfect pictures and think their lives are better than yours. It’s rare for people to share moments when they are at their lowest, and the reality is, not everyone looks or feels their best all the time!
Social media has also created a need for external validation. When someone likes a new photo or gives you another follow, there is a rush of dopamine that goes through your brain and leaves our brain craving for more likes. Social media provides immediate rewards and changes the regions in our brain that control emotions, attention, and decision-making. This results in feeling a wave of disappointment and sadness once we stop getting a certain amount of likes on our photos. The key to solving this issue is to use social media in moderation. Social media is special because it allows us to stay in touch with friends and family, but indulging in social media for hours can alter our brain chemistry.
Another common feeling associated with social media is FOMO, which is the “fear of missing out”. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is loosely defined as, an “uneasy and sometimes all-consuming feeling”. Especially during times of the pandemic, social justice, and political news, the idea of missing out on information can trigger anxiety. This leads to us always checking our phones for the latest news and compulsively responding to every alert. It’s important to remember that the information that you’re desperately seeking will ALWAYS be there, and it’s unnecessary to constantly be checking your phone.
Overall, social media shows damaging effects on our mental health but it’s possible to break this cycle by re-examining our online habits! A healthy media diet includes boundaries, awareness, respect, and communication. We should be as mindful about our media consumption as we are about the foods we eat. Put that phone down!
REFERENCES:
https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/social-media-good-bad-and-ugly
https://www.lexico.com/definition/fomo
