Is social media bad for your mental health?
Yes
Studies have linked prolonged social media and mobile phone use with symptoms of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating issues, low self-esteem and increased suicide risk.
Scrolling through platforms can trigger feelings of envy and inadequacy about your own life, not to mention the exposure to toxic subcultures glorifying self-harm and eating disorders.
People who use social media in the evening are more likely to suffer mood problems such as neuroticism and bipolor disorder. Research shows they rate themselves as less happy and more lonely.
Ironically, socially isolation can be an outcome of social media. Loneliness is spreading like a virus, plaguing young people even more than the elderly.
No
Most studies examining social media and mental health have no way of determining if spending more time on these plaforms leads to depression or anxiety, or if depressed and anxious people spend more time on social media.
Social media allows you to express your feelings and mental stresses and it’s a great way to entertian yourself after a busy day. It can also be a source of inspiration and encouragement to achieve bigger and better things.
It is important to look at other factors going on in your life before assigning blame to social media, including austerity, pressure at school, pressure to get into University (and pay for it), pressure to find a job, buy a house and relationship woes.
Sites such as Facebook can be a fun and healthy way to stay connected with family and old friends and to share interesting and important aspects of your life.
