6 Ways Social Media Can Affect Your Mental Health
March 01, 2024
5 mins
Social media has become an essential part of our daily lives, helping us to stay connected to the world around us.
But constantly being online can have detrimental effects on our mental health.
Acknowledging the complex relationship between mental health and social media improves our awareness of potential issues and promotes mindful usage for better mental health.
In this article, we’ll look at how constantly being online can affect your mental health, the potential causes of these issues, and tips for avoiding an unhealthy relationship with social media.
Ways Social Media Can Harm Your Mental Health
Comparison and envy
The curated nature of content shared on social media often sets an unrealistic benchmark for personal success, appearance, and happiness.
This constant exposure to people’s ‘perfect’ lives can cause some users to feel inadequate, leading to low self-esteem and envy.
In fact, studies have shown that over 90% of social media users regularly compare themselves to others online, causing feelings of jealousy.
Over time, it may become more difficult to distinguish between reality and social media, which can distort your perspective of your own life.
This can make everyday accomplishments seem insignificant, cultivating a perpetual sense of falling short, which may contribute to mental and emotional health issues.
Increased exposure to bullying and harassment
Social networking sites expose you to a large audience who may not always agree with what you post. This increases the risk of being subjected to cyberbullying and harassment.
Research indicates that nearly 64% of young Americans and 41% of adults have experienced cyberbullying.
There are no immediate repercussions for this type of behavior and this can, unfortunately, encourage people to leave rude comments without thinking of the consequences.
Victims of cyberbullying may experience a range of negative emotions, including increased feelings of anxiety and depression.
In extreme cases, they may even become suicidal. Studies also show that victims of cyberbullying are almost twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to non-victims.
Addiction
Social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible.
This can lead to addictive behavior — or social media addiction — where users constantly check their feeds and waste a significant amount of time online.
Emerging research shows that unhealthy social media habits are already harming adolescent health, affecting almost 40% of young adults.
Over time, this can disrupt sleep, reduce physical activity, and interfere with face-to-face interactions, which may contribute to poor mental health.
What Causes Unhealthy Social Media Use
Fear of missing out (FOMO)
The fear of missing out — or FOMO — is a feeling that others might be having enjoyable experiences while you’re not there.
This feeling may drive people to constantly check their social media to stay updated with friends’ activities, leading to excessive screen time that can contribute to addictive behavior.
FOMO can heighten feelings of inadequacy and missing out on social experiences, leading to anxiety, stress, and dissatisfaction with your own life.
Relying on social media as a security blanket
For many people, social media can act as a security blanket that provides comfort and an escape from reality.
This dependency can develop when individuals use social media to avoid dealing with uncomfortable emotions, situations, and interactions.
As users become more absorbed in their online worlds, they may start neglecting real-life relationships and experiences.
This can increase feelings of loneliness or depression, and may even contribute to the development of conditions like social anxiety.
Underlying issues
Unhealthy social media use may be a symptom of deeper, underlying psychological issues.
Individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or loneliness may turn to social media for validation or to distract themselves from their problems.
However, this temporary sense of relief doesn’t address the cause of these issues and excessive social media use can worsen them over time.
Where Can You Learn More About Healthy Lifestyle Habits?
If you’re concerned about how social media affects your mental health or you want to learn more about maintaining your well-being, LifeMD is here to help.
LifeMD can connect you to a team of medical professionals who can assist you with information on mental health and provide guidance on managing your social media use — all from the comfort of your own home.
Make an appointment with LifeMD to learn more, today.
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