Social Medias Effects on Mental Health
In a time where everything and everyone is connected through screens there are many downfalls and one of the biggest is the lasting impact these social medias leave on a teens brain. With many teens becoming addicted to many types of social media whether it is Instagram or Tik Tok these platforms can cause mental health issues.
One of the biggest issues that comes out of the extreme usage of social media use is basic insecurities. Though this may not seem like a bad thing by the sound of it this issue can lead to eating disorders or depression. With many models or celebrities being on social media teens believe they need to look like them to be beautiful or get a relationship. Due to social media teens can have inadequacy about their life or appearance due to what their friends or people they support post on social media platforms.
Many teens also experience fear of missing out or FOMO due to social media. This makes many teens think that they are missing out on life and can impact self-esteem, trigger anxiety, or fuel a greater usage of social media. With the fear of missing out teens can lose sleep believing they will miss something on the social media platforms and along with that teens can easily become obsessed with social media. Seeing friends or family posting about fun things they have done can cause feelings of anxiety or loneliness in people of all ages.
Along with these issues a major one is cyber bullying. In a world where everyone is connected through screens it's easy to share hate from behind a username. At least 10% of teens reported that they were cyber bullied on social media. Though they may not know who was bullying them or who started the rumors cyber bullying leaves and everlasting impact on someone. Along with that cyber bullying can lead kids to depression, self harming or even suicide.
There are many ways you can tell if social media is taking over your life a few of those are spending more time on social media then with friends, having low self esteem from comparing yourself to people on the internet, experiencing cyber bullying, suffering from sleep problems, and so many more. Becoming addicted to social media can harm you in many ways and make you think badly on yourself and your mental health.
Though there are many issues with social media that doesn’t mean it's all bad. Some good that can come out of social media is an easy way to communicate with friends and family, a way you can share stories or experiences, raising awareness on important issues, or finding a way to share your creativity. When on social media you must be careful not to become addicted to your phone or screen when enjoying some leisure time on the apps.
