Impacts of Social Media on the Human Mind

By Jyoti K 7/4/23

Many people in today’s world seem to have various issues regarding their mental health. There are many factors which lead to the progression of critical medical conditions of the mind such as family issues, judgmental society, lack of self- esteem, and the need to belong. However, these multiple factors come from one common source, social media. This platform provides lots of great opportunities for people all over the world by connecting them through similar interests, and it has led to people appreciating each other’s talents and capabilities. Many people have even found successful careers through social media, but it comes with a lot of downfalls, too. Social media is supposed to be a friendly environment for everyone, but recently people have been stressed because of it. People are spending a ton of their time thinking about what to post each day and reading comments that can be hurtful. Therefore, social media is leading to the growth of mental health related issues because it is reducing self-esteem, creating a judgmental platform, and societal issues.

The main reason social media is harming mental health is by reducing people’s self- esteem. When people post personal information, they receive a lot of negative comments, and they also seem to underestimate themselves by viewing other people’s posts. For example, Sinclair-McBride, who specializes in body image issues and eating disorders, elaborated her research in CNN news, “And a lot of teenagers who are still getting used to their growing bodies are comparing themselves: ‘Well, I don’t look like her.’ But she does not look like her either! But you do not know that because you are looking at her social media feed. But now you are feeling inadequate because of what you are seeing on your screen.” Her statement accurately shows how teens feel about their appearance through social media. In addition, studies on the “selfie effect” declare, “Studies have shown that scrolling through an unlimited supply of carefully crafted images and then comparing them with your own real-life circumstances can have a noticeable effect on mood and psychological health.” This study proves that social media is causing people to reflect on themselves negatively, and therefore it is reducing a lot of self-confidence.

Another reason social media is leading to many mental health issues is by creating a judgmental environment. It is creating a foundation for the acceleration of mental illness due to exposure to contemptuous behavior. For example, research conducted in the Pew research center to reveal the amount of cyberbullying showed many people getting hurt emotionally due to the offensive behavior of peers online. “Some 42% of teens say they have been called offensive names online or via their cell phone. Additionally, about a third (32%) of teens say someone has spread false rumors about them on the internet, while smaller shares have had someone other than a parent constantly ask where they are, who they are with or what they are doing (21%) or have been the target of physical threats online (16%).” These rude actions from people then put negative thoughts and pressure on certain parts of their brains. When people receive such contempt, they proceed to do self-harm and put a lot of burden on their minds. Another site known as Pro Con.org demonstrates the opinions of people about social media. “Opponents of social networking say that the sites prevent face-to-face communication; waste time on frivolous activity; alter children’s brains and behavior making them more prone to ADHD; expose users to predators like pedophiles and burglars; and spread false and potentially dangerous information.” This source provides an example of a mental health issue (ADHD), which can be increased by social media. Such illnesses can develop even more due to the harshness conducted online.

Finally, a further way social media is encouraging more harm to mental health is by causing more societal issues. Since anyone can use social media, and people break age restrictions to use apps such as Instagram and TikTok, anybody can be exposed to harsh news going on around in society. For example, a young child can come across news and videos which can be inappropriate for their age. This can lead to some serious damage to their naïve minds and leave a trace of emotional damage as they grow up. “Characters on TV and in video games often show risky behaviors — like drinking alcohol, using drugs, and smoking cigarettes — as cool, fun, and exciting. When these things seem acceptable, kids and teens might be tempted to try them. That might lead to substance abuse problems.” In addition, in an article in Child’s mind institute it states, “The average American child will see 200,000 violent acts on TV by age 18. Many of these are done by the "good guys," whose kids are taught to admire. Kids who view violence on screen are more likely to show aggressive behavior, and to fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.” This provides examples of how people are exposed to negative news and violence via social media. These exposures can then lead to illnesses such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, and depression.

Although social media comes with many negative outcomes, many of these problems can be solved. First, to avoid such mental health conditions, parents can set limits to when their child is using apps like Instagram, Tik Tok, YouTube, and Snapchat. They can discuss their condition with their parents, guardians, counselors, or any other trusted adults. Also, they can reach out for help from mental health helplines, which is proven to help reduce stress and the likelihood of suicide. They can also reach out to doctors and therapists, who are available to help in severe cases. People are eligible to also take medications such as fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, and paroxetine. Mental illnesses can be treated and take time to get cured just like physical illnesses, and it takes a lot of motivation, encouragement and self-confidence for such medical conditions to be overcome. Therefore, we can encourage others who are dealing with stress by spreading more support to destroy the judgmental surrounding and create a better atmosphere for those with a sensitive mind.

References

Andrea Kane. “This is your brain on social media.” Updated 2:08 PM EDT, Tue March 21, 2023
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/16/health/social-media-effect-on-brain-gupta-wellness/index.html

Rachel Ehmke. “How using social media affects teenagers.” Published on 2022

https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/#top_of_page

Emily A. Vogels. “Teens and Cyberbullying 2022.” Published on December 15, 2022

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/

ProCon.org. “Is social media good for society?” Updated on November 18, 2022

https://socialnetworking.procon.org/