Social Media’s Role in Mental Health: Impact, Challenges, and Solutions

Social media: Role in mental health issues

Social media has become a prominent part in the lives of many individuals. It allows you to connect with other people all around the globe within a virtual network. In social media platforms, you can share, exchange or co-create various forms of digital content in terms of messages, photos or reels.

Due to excessive use of social media platforms, individuals are facing challenges of mental illness. As per a recent study, it is reported that individuals who are you using social media platforms have mental disorders depression, psychotic disorders or some severe mental illness as well.

In this blog, we will discuss the unintended consequences social media is having on our mental health and how can we craft a better experience for yourself in the online platform.

In research conducted by Rideout and Fox in 2018, it is found out that young people with depressive symptoms are preferring communicating and social media rather than any person.  In research conducted by Batterham and Calear in 2017, It is found out that people are preferring online mental health concerns rather than in person encounters for help.  One possible reason can be that social media platforms don’t require immediate response needed in face to face communication. Howsoever, it may overcome less social interaction due to some psychotic symptoms that adversely affect face to face conversations.

• 4 most common stressors on social media:

The 4 most common stressors on social media, if unchecked, have potential to become full blown mental health issues, and this is by no means an exhaustive list.

1. Highlight reel: Just like the sports highlights, say cricket, the highlight reel is a collection of brightest moments. Social media has become our personal highlight reel. In the social media platform, we struggle with all the insecurities because we compare ourselves with others. Though we try to put up our best at the social media platform, but still we face this insecurity and fear.
2. Social currency: In terms of social media, “like, comments and share” have become a form of currency by which we attribute value to something. In terms of marketing, let us called economy of attention. Everything in the social media platform is competing for your attention and it turns out to be a transaction attributing some value when you like it. With social media is that we are the product and we are letting others attribute value to us. We are thinking about how people will react to our posts and tying up our self worth to quantify it so that others can see it.
3. Fear of missing out: It is an actual social anxiety from the fear that you are missing a potential connection, even or opportunity.  The fear of missing out you feel, the highlight reels, associate currency, those are all results of a relatively ‘Normal’ Social media experience.
4. Online harassment: What if going on social media platform everyday was terrifying experience where you not just question yourself worth but you questioned your safety? Undoubtedly, online harassment is the worst stressor on social media platform. Surprisingly, 40% of adults have experienced online threats and harassment.  73% have witnessed online harassment. and the unfortunate reality is that it is much worse and much more likely if you are female. The problem is that in the news we are seeing these big stories when they are too late. But what about the everyday online harassment? When the micro moments happen over and over again over the period of time that’s when we have a macro problem. We have to recognise these everyday instances as well because if they go and checked and the effects are unnoticed, we are going to have many bigger incidences.

What to do then?

Being totally absent from social media platform is a tough option. Instead, you can practice ‘safer’ use of social media platforms. When we talk about the dogs slide of social media, we are talking about the dark side of people. These stocks sites need to be focused on. We need preventative strategies.

• 4 steps to Social Media Wellness

1. Recognise the problem: Do you know the power of suggestion, when someone tells you about something and you start seeing it everywhere. That’s why awareness is critical. It will at least help you to recognise the effects if they ever happen with you.
2. Audit your social media diet: The same way we monitor what goes into our mouth, monitor whatever goes into your head and heart.
3. Create a better online experience:  You can create a better online experience as per your own priorities.
4. Model good behaviour: Social media is a tool which can be used for good and positive groups. Therefore, you can modern good behaviour in social media platform.

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