The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Health experts say sitting can be hazardous to our health. In fact, prolonged sitting has been linked into a number of diseases and health issues. However, perhaps what’s more concerning is what we do while sitting – mindlessly scroll and browse through our social media feeds.

Indeed, social media has become an important and inescapable part of our everyday lives. Yet a growing number of studies are showing that heavy social media usage might be significantly affecting our brains more than we realize.

How Social Media Can Drain Your Brain

Social networking platforms have provided an indispensable benefit to connect people and have allowed us to share thoughts and conversations.  Yet, despite the phenomenally positive effects of the social media, it also has many faults. Together with the positivity, connection, and engagement that the social networking platforms promote, there is a great deal of toxicity, self–entitlement, fear, and peer pressure being shared.

The Damaging Impacts of Social Media on Your Mental Health

Heavy social media use exposes us to toxic and negative posts which can potentially take a toll on our mental health much more than we may realize. Here are some of the damaging impacts of social media on the brain:

1. It is Addictive
   Social media has influenced many users to the point of preoccupying their mental thoughts, altering their moods, and unknowingly neglecting their personal lives. People who have become dependent on social media develop a form of withdrawal symptom and anxiety as soon as they attempt to stop using it.
2. It Damages Your Self Esteem
   It appears that ‘social media depression’ does exist as social media addicts develop a feelings of inadequacy brought about by comparing themselves to their friends and social media connections
3. It Alters Your Ability to Think Independently
   Social media dependency has been attributed to lower self–control and its ability to compel individuals to succumb to peer pressure; thus reducing their ability to think and decide independently.
4. It Triggers Sadness and the Feeling of Isolation
   Ironically, instead of making people feel connected, frequent social media interaction triggers depression and sadness and we find people less appreciative of what they have. The more an individual uses social media the greater the possibility that the individual will feel inadequate and develop a feeling of social isolation.
5. It Decreases Your Ability to Focus on Multiple Activities
   You might think that your ability to switch to various social media platforms and constantly check your messages and emails makes you good at multitasking. However, switching through multiple accounts and aimlessly browsing on various feeds significantly diminishes your ability to focus on other more important activities. Heavy users of social media are more prone to be distracted by irrelevant environmental stimuli and end up struggling to prioritize activities that matter the most.
6. It Can Disrupt Your Circadian Rhythm
   Constantly checking your phone and scrolling through your social media accounts can alter your body’s ability to regulate melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleeping. Lower level of melatonin is attributed to sleep disruptions and insomnia.

Do you regularly monitor or limit your time on social media?  It might be something to consider.