Social media is something most people are using these days. Even if they’re not actively participating, almost everyone knows a little bit about how it works. The internet and its social platforms grow every day, making it hard to know its effects until after they’ve become either a huge success or a serious issue. Humans are social beings and crave connection. There are many positives to being so connected to others via social media. However, mental health can often decline with the use of social media. Bullying is common in the form of hate comments, threats, or gossip. Studies have linked social media to several mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Creating an image for yourself online takes more thought and allows you more time to question yourself than in-person social interaction. The space that social media allows us to choose how we are perceived can cause both anxiety and depression. Seeing others’ success or happiness can lead to feelings of inadequacy. I could go on forever about how different social media can cause different issues. However, I don’t think social media is the root cause of our current mental health epidemic. It just has the ability to seriously worsen mental health issues. On the flip side, it can make people feel not so alone. The pros and cons of social media are endless. You can argue either side and never be 100% right.
This link shares many of these pros and cons as well as how to use social media to your benefit.
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