How does social media affect mental health?

Social media affects mental health in a variety of ways, most notably through cyberbullying, addiction, and excessive use.

One recent study showed that half of mental health hospital patients under 18 gave diagnoses related to excessive or problematic internet use. Additionally, social media has been shown to be effective in the spread of misinformation and there's a link between these two tendencies as well. For example, fake news stories have capitalized on people's need for content that reaffirms their personal values and belief systems with emotionally evocative headlines that offer no real insights into the validity or fact-checking of the information they are reading.

According to Tanya Goodin in an article written for the Telegraph , "nine out of 10 young people suffer bullying online." According to the CDC, cyberbullying can lead to many negative effects such as "increased risk of anxiety and depression, increased feelings of loneliness, a decrease in self-esteem," and other health concerns. Bullying is also known to have major psychological effects on children during their development years. While parents certainly want to be aware of their children being bullied in the real world, many times there is a lack of awareness of the amount of bullying in the online world of social media platforms.

In addition to the negative effects of cyberbullying, social media is also known to have addictive properties. In a study by Jean Twenge and her colleagues published in "Psychological Science," it was found that teenagers who spent more time on new media platforms such as social media were more likely to be depressed than those who spent more time communicating via older technologies such as texting or talking on the phone. She explains this rise in depression through an increase in screen time. This idea supports Jeremy Bailenson and Nick Yee's research which states that the body acts similarly whether experiencing real-life events or virtual experiences. Their research also suggests that engaging with these technologies can cause disruption in personal relationships, sleep disturbances, obesity, and other health concerns.

This is not to say there are no positive mental effects of social media. Dr. Larry Rosen explains that social media can improve self-esteem and satisfaction, but only when the content being posted is positive in nature. The problem arises when users are allowed to post negative information about themselves, others or situations.

It has also been shown that there may be a correlation between excessively checking social media and a decrease in brain function. Checking social media excessively was correlated with lowered memory function in one study conducted by Dr. Glenn Wilson and colleagues at Gresham College . This study showed that the participants who checked their social media feeds most frequently experienced a 13.5% reduction in memory recall and comprehension while spending time on the site, as compared to those who browsed less.

A recent study by researchers from California State University, Fullerton found that those who used Facebook compulsively were more likely to experience depression than those who did not. The study showed that compulsive behaviors could lead to mental health issues, especially if they do not receive treatment for their disorder.

Like any technology we interact with today, the online social media environment can be a source of connection or a place of constant stimuli that can be distracting to the point of interrupting normal daily routines. ?

The vast majority of online social media platforms are designed to promote constant use, which increases the risk of mental health issues linked with excessive use. ?

It is important for individuals and their friends and family members to be aware of how much time they spend on social media in order to identify any changes or patterns that may indicate signs of addiction, cyberbullying, or excessive use.