Social Media and Mental Health

Social Media and Mental Health

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The internet today has enabled the exchange of information and is a major means of communication for young people. Digital technology has technically assumed control over the lives of teens and young individuals. Exposure to screens starts early in the lives of an individual, and in the United States, most children devote an average of 42 minutes per day in the screen media. Social media has become a key component in health communication as nurses, and other health professionals use the platforms to disseminate important health updates. However, the different social media platforms are not without their negative impacts. Social media has both beneficial and undesirable influences on the mental health of teens and young adults. 

The influence behind the invention of social media platforms possibly meant good for society. Unfortunately, this technology is highly linked to mental health, especially in teens and young adults. The use of social media results in the development of various conditions, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, among this population. According to Berryman, Ferguson & Negy (2017), individuals who engage more on the social media are likely to develop poor mental health, which emerges as psychological stress. Cyberbullying is one of the issues affecting young people on social media. Some are notorious for posting hurtful comments and content online, coercions, and bullying towards others on the platform. It can be in the form of photos, graphics, or videos that are destined to cause distress to the target audience. Victims of this bullying find it difficult to avoid as it exists within their individual and private spaces. The people who witness bullying are many due to the ability of social media to make information or content reach a larger population within seconds. Consequently, the actions become humiliating and may lead to a loss of confidence and self-esteem.

The suicide rates in the United States have declined since 2019, although it persistently remains a concern among the younger population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified that suicide rates among females aged 15-24 increased by 87% over the past two decades. The same exhibited an increase of 30% for males between 15 and 24 years within the same period (Luxton, June & Fairall, 2012). The incidents mostly follow cyberbullying from social media. Teens and youths are vulnerable and have inferior emotional and psychological abilities to handle cyberbullying. Others have committed suicide because of body shaming from online peers and followers. Most individuals posting content on social media fake their appearances and lifestyle. For example, celebrities post extravagant lifestyles on social media, have unique fashion, and have high taste in social standards. Teens and young adults who follow these celebrities enter into peer pressure and try to imitate these figures. The challenges and difficulties of matching such lifestyles push these individuals to engage in bad behaviors, and others end up committing suicide due to their low self-esteem. 

Social media is also associated with poor sleep quality when used for long hours. According to Nesi (2020), teens and young adults spend more time on the screens and end up having minimal time to sleep or even take a break. Most young individuals enjoy connectivity to the world through their social media handles. They constantly check their devices for messages and new updates at night and breaking their sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and a lack of opportunity for the brain to refresh. Lack of quality sleep is associated with various detrimental effects. It can also affect academic results and the behavior of individuals. Students who spend much time on social media at night show signs of tiredness while at school, lack of concentration, and eventually poor performance in class. The individuals may also suffer tension headaches due to insufficient or interrupted sleep. As a result, they experience headaches that may last between one hour to the entire day.  

On the positive side, social media helps teens and young adults to get emotional support and prevent and counter mental health issues. The case applies to young individuals representing the minority groups such as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, or the transgender community (LGBT). It also applies to people with disability and those representing the black and minority ethnic groups. These groups grow through social media to become a global community and reduce the sense of isolation. Engagement in online networks allows these groups to meet others with a similar identity and gain mutual support, advice, and solidarity. For example, the LGBT group has formed global networks that unite through social media and champion their acknowledgment and rights. This minority group has initiated social media groups and handles that attract followers globally, and they have representatives from different countries to spearhead their movement. 

Social media also allows teens and young adults to express themselves positively and allows them to solicit a positive image. It also gives the population a platform to share creative content and express their interests and passion. It allows them to strengthen the development of a positive identity among themselves and allows them diverse opportunities to experiment with diverse interests. This is important for young individuals living in rural communities who find it difficult to develop social networks in the offline environment. Students who go to study abroad use social media platforms to maintain contact with their families and friends at home. In the new environment, these students are usually alone and isolated. The friends they make at school can help with their social life, but they need the families and friends they grew up with. Therefore, social media activity allows this interaction and connectivity. Young people also can maintain or build social connections through the media. According to Valkenburg, Meier & Beyens (2022), a strong adolescent friendship can be enhanced by interactions on social media. Young individuals use the platforms to enforce their friendships from the offline world and develop a new network of friendships that would not be formed offline.

In summary, the force behind the invention of social media platforms was influenced by the greater good for society. Unfortunately, this technology is highly linked to mental health, especially in teens and young adults. Teens and youths are vulnerable and have inferior emotional and psychological abilities to handle cyberbullying. Others have committed suicide because of body shaming from online peers and followers. On the other hand, social media helps teens and young adults to get emotional support and prevent and counter mental health issues. The case applies to young individuals representing the minority groups. These groups grow through social media to become a global community and reduce the sense of isolation. Students who go to study abroad use social media platforms to maintain contact with their families and friends at home. In the new environment, these students are usually alone and isolated.

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References

Berryman, C., Ferguson, C. J., & Negy, C. (2017). Social Media Use and Mental Health among Young Adults. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(2), 307–314. doi:10.1007/s11126-017-9535-6 

Luxton, D. D., June, J. D., & Fairall, J. M. (2012). Social media and suicide: a public health perspective. American journal of public health, 102 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), S195–S200. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300608

Nesi J. (2020). The Impact of social media on Youth Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities. North Carolina medical journal, 81(2), 116–121. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.81.2.116

Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current opinion in psychology, 44, 58–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017