Social Media and It's Impact on Mental Health

Name: Turin Tajrean

ID: 24101478

In today's digital age, social media has ingrained itself deeply into our lives. It allows us to communicate with our friends and stay informed about current events.  While it provides several benefits, its effects on mental health cannot be neglected.  Like any other technology, social media can bring both benefits and danger. Excessive use can lead to anxiety and addiction.

Social media offers many advantages. For example, it makes it possible to stay in touch with family and friends even across long distances. We can access news, resources, and educational contents easily. We may express our opinions to individuals through social media. However, social media can also be detrimental to one's emotional health. Studies show that early teens are especially vulnerable to the destructive effects of social media.

There are many different types of postings and photographs on social media, which frequently cause people to make irrational comparisons and feel insufficient. Many might feel like they aren't as good as the others on the social media platform. They might feel sad and inadequate. The constant pressure to portray a perfect image, as well as the fear of missing out (FOMO), can induce melancholy, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and stress in young people and adults. Moreover, social media platforms can lead to online harassment and cyberbullying, which have terrible effects on mental health, especially on teens and younger people.  It can make them feel bad about themselves and hurt one's feelings. It can result in social anxiety disorders, loneliness, isolation from human interactions, and, in the worst situations, suicide.

Additionally, excessive use of social media can lead to addiction. Too much scrolling through social media activates the brain's dopamine system. It may feel good in the moment, but the unbalanced release of dopamine can lead to addiction and other mental health issues. It interrupts sleeping patterns, makes us less productive, and disrupts our concentration.

The use of social media must be balanced in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. To lessen the negative impacts of social media, we can consider limiting our screen time, unfollowing accounts that trigger negative feelings, prioritizing real life and self care, practicing meditation and yoga, or taking breaks from social media. We can also seek help from trusted family members, friends, or mental health professionals. It's important to keep in mind that our mental health matters far more than our social media presence.