Introduction: Rise Of Social Media
Have you ever thought of scrolling for just 15 minutes but ended up wasting your whole afternoon? If yes, then you are not the only one. At some point, all of us have felt submissive to social media. It’s so addictive that once you start, there is no end to it.
Social media is now part of our routine. Before, people would begin their day with a walk or some quiet time, but now, the first thing most do is look at their phone. There are 5.24 billion active social media users across the globe, which makes up approximately 64% of the world population.
Social Media is a great source of entertainment, it has made connecting with people so easy. But everything has pros and cons; apart from enjoyment, it also affects the mental health of the users. Especially the people who are addicted to mobile phones.
In this blog, we’ll explain both the positive and negative sides of social media and how to make a balance between both of them to make the most out of it.
What are the negative aspects of social media?
As per the reports of the World Health Organization, 970 million people are living with mental disorders around the globe as of 2019. This number keeps increasing year by year.
Social media has a big impact here. It helps people feel connected and less alone, and things like short videos can cheer them up. But the bad part is, some people get hate from others or start feeling like they don’t matter, just because they don’t get many likes or followers. It can make them feel bad and upset inside.
As social media keeps growing, it’s important to see that it can also have some downsides. Below are a few reasons for the negative impact of social media on mental health:
Digital Abuse
Cyberbullying is a crime of threatening, spreading hate, trolling, abusing, and leaking personal information about a person. It can cause feelings of self-hatred, anxiety, and even the development of anger issues.
Addiction
Excess of anything is not good. Using social media for hours and hours willingly or unwillingly is called addiction. People who have more screen time tend to feel frustrated and irritated by small things.
Comparison
Users tend to compare themselves with people who have more reach. They feel low about themselves if their reach is small. This develops a feeling of inferiority and jealousy.
Negative Body Image
Trollers have to say anything bad, it's their job. But sometimes people take things so seriously that they start hating their physical appearance because of that.
Sense of Exclusion
Peer pressure is indeed powerful. The fear of being left out comes naturally to users when they see others having fun and enjoying gatherings.
Negative Content
Consumption of negative content can also be the reason for sleep deprivation. It can cause negative thinking, which leads to depression.
Need for Validation
Users constantly need validation in the form of likes, comments, and followers. They depend on external approval. It causes a sense of belongingness and acceptance in them.
Social Isolation
People who spend most of their time on their phones run away from face-to-face interactions. Later, they feel lonely when they have nobody to chat with.
Disrupted Sleep Cycle
Excessive use of social media can also disturb your sleep cycle. That can cause fatigue and weakness in both physical and psychological aspects.
Depression, anxiety, frustration, self-hatred, and anger issues are some of the most common mental problems among social media users.
Does social media have any positive impacts?
A coin has two sides, but we only tend to look at one. Similarly, social media comes with both advantages and disadvantages, but we focus on only the bad impacts. It can be used for various purposes, whether it be education, entertainment, hospitality, business, or community building.
Did you know that 38.3% of internet users across the globe consume social media for only professional work? This signifies that social media, if used wisely, can be of great help.
Herein, we’ve listed some of the positive impacts of social media:
Connectivity
Social media connects people from all around the world. Users can link with people who are up to their liking and develop connections. It assists people in overcoming loneliness.
Communication
There are numerous platforms to talk through chat and calls. This helps people to connect with their friends and family even when they are far away from them.
Entertainment
Most people use social media for entertainment purposes. It is useful for lightening the mood and controlling anger issues.
Digital Marketing
Social media plays a major role when we talk about marketing. All social channels are used to market products and services. This can boost the sales of a business if done through the right channels.
Building Communities
Facebook is popularly known as a community-building platform. Social media enables people to create a community and connect with people who have the same interests or values.
Access to Educational Content
Students can learn from mentors from across the globe, just by sitting at home. They can take online classes and tests. They can connect with them through various channels such as YouTube.
Evolvement of the Creative Field
Social Media has empowered the evolution of various creative fields such as editing and designing. These fields are essential for social media channels to stay relevant.
Public Awareness
People can spread awareness through social media. In this way, they will have more public support for their cause.
How to use social media wisely?
Even the worst things can turn out to be beneficial if utilized properly. Social media is a very powerful and informational platform for those who want to use it for their betterment. Nothing can harm us, until and unless we allow.
Similarly, if we use social media in a specified way, it’ll be beneficial. If you want to explore only the positive impact of social media on mental health, then follow the listed suggestions:
Timing
For a better experience, you can set a time limit on your social media. This way, you can keep track of time and use it more efficiently.
Privacy Settings
You should turn on the privacy settings on your social media handles. It helps to protect your privacy.
Personal Information
Don’t share your personal information with unreliable sources or people. Personal information is very confidential and private; better not to reveal it to strangers.
Use it for Education and Research
To make the most out of it, use it for beneficial purposes such as education and research. The algorithm will catch your search for future content suggestions. This way, your social media feed will only show informative content.
Post Acceptable Content
Think before posting anything in front of people. There are a lot of things that should not be posted or discussed on social media. If you want to be on the safer side, keep a note of it.
Follow the Guidelines
Users should obey the rules and guidelines given by the platform that they are using. These guidelines are to provide a safer platform.
Be Respectful
Don’t use hate words or symbols, nor abuse anybody. These platforms are not for spreading hate or negativity; rather, use them to boost your confidence.
What path should you choose?
Social media is a double-edged sword, it can either ease our lives or take away our peace. The consequences depend on the way we use it. Even if it provides entertainment, knowledge, and information, it can also lead to major mental disorders. Hence, a balance in its usage is very important.
It is in the hands of the users what they want to share and consume. By following the above-listed precautions, users can make the most out of social media. We should choose to shape our digital lives in a way that supports our mental health and others.
FAQ
Q. How is social media a double-edged sword?
A. Social media has both positive and negative impacts, which is why it is called a double-edged sword.
Q. What are the effects of social media on mental health?
A. Negative effects of social media on mental health can be depression, anxiety, anger issues, etc.
Q. How do I quit social media?
A. To quit social media, you have to uninstall all the apps and engage in other activities that are not digital.
Q. How to avoid social media?
A. You can avoid social media by engaging in physical activities such as playing sports.
Q. How to avoid the leak of information on social media?
A. If you want to prevent your information from being leaked, you should follow community guidelines and enable all security options on your account.
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