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Social media has drastically altered how we interact with others and the world around us. It has evolved from a simple means of sharing travel pictures to a comprehensive platform that facilitates relationship management, content creation, and interpersonal connection. While it has become a core aspect of our everyday lives, social media also brings various mental health issues. These challenges are mainly due to its addictive properties and the social divisions it can create (DeAndrea et al., 2012; Pantic, 2014).
A New Age of Connection: From MySpace to Now
Social media was originally designed to enhance human connection. The early days, marked by platforms like MySpace, allowed individuals to customize personal profiles complete with music, backgrounds, and a list of their closest friends. This empowered people to display their personalities, interests, and social connections openly. Today, the impact of social media in our lives is even more pronounced. Whether it’s posting a new video or sharing life updates, the fundamental purposes of connection, self-expression, and relationship building have stayed consistent. With a massive number of individuals engaged on these platforms, their influence is clear. However, this influence has been linked to increasing mental health issues, largely due to social media’s addictive qualities and its role in fostering social fragmentation (DeAndrea et al., 2012; Pantic, 2014).
One key way in which social media impacts mental health is through its allure of addiction. Similar to substance dependencies, social media can activate a dopamine feedback loop that promotes compulsive behaviors (Pantic, 2014). Dopamine, often labeled the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is triggered during enjoyable experiences or when anticipating rewards. Social media platforms are engineered to stimulate dopamine release by offering engaging content (Pantic, 2014). When users receive likes, comments, or notifications, they experience a surge of dopamine, which creates a sense of gratification. This drives them to scroll endlessly, chasing after more content, which can lead to an addiction to the perpetual flow of information. Social media algorithms are particularly crafty, presenting material that aligns with user engagement, which keeps individuals continuously hooked (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017). The content is often crafted to evoke emotional reactions, such as humor, surprise, anger, or awe. The longer users spend on these platforms, the more they desire the next dopamine surge. This cycle of “doom scrolling” can quickly become habitual, resembling other addictive behaviors that are notoriously difficult to relinquish. This unending cycle of content viewing is further magnified by companies leveraging these platforms for marketing; they understand that appealing content retains user attention, leading them to create captivating posts. Likewise, those seeking to cultivate an online presence, like influencers, craft engaging material to earn likes and shares. Consequently, users are bombarded with a constant influx of enticing posts, videos, and advertisements that stimulate the brain’s reward systems, perpetuating the urge to stay connected to their screens (Pantic, 2014; Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017).
Social Media and Social Division: The Risk of Echo Chambers
Despite the potential for social media to connect individuals, it has a troubling aspect—it can intensify social divisions. One of the platform’s fundamental features is allowing users to express diverse perspectives and opinions. However, this variance can lead to tension and polarization. The abundance of differing viewpoints on platforms like Twitter or Instagram—where anyone can share their thoughts—often results in contentious debates (Pantic, 2014). This is especially the case when celebrities, politicians, or well-known figures voice their opinions; there are usually opposing views. On social media, these disputes extend beyond private disagreements to a public spectacle. The comment sections often become arenas for conflicting viewpoints, as users strive to convince others of their stance. This division is worsened by social media’s algorithmic nature, which amplifies exposure to ideas that mirror our existing beliefs (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017). As we engage with specific content types, these platforms learn our preferences and serve us similar material, resulting in echo chambers that reinforce our viewpoints and make us resistant to differing opinions. As inherently social beings, we naturally seek out groups with shared values and beliefs. These virtual collectives fortify our views, complicating discussions that are balanced or respectful. Consequently, empathy and understanding can diminish, and social media can devolve into a battleground for ideological conflicts rather than a space for meaningful conversations (Pantic, 2014).
How to Mitigate the Negative Effects of Social Media
So, what measures can we take to alleviate the mental health challenges posed by the addictive and divisive aspects of social media? The initial step involves awareness. Understanding how these platforms function and their impacts on our minds is crucial for making informed decisions regarding our usage (Pantic, 2014).
- Establish Limits and Control Screen Time: A highly effective strategy for countering the addictive traits of social media is to create firm limits. This may involve utilizing built-in features on your devices or apps that help monitor and restrict your screen usage. For instance, both Instagram and Facebook provide options to set daily usage thresholds, aiding users in being more conscious of the time spent on these platforms.
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Your spending habits on these platforms can greatly affect your experience.
- Diversify Your Feed: To reduce social division, it’s crucial to vary your feed. Start following accounts that offer diverse viewpoints and engage with content that challenges your beliefs. This can help foster a more balanced and open-minded perspective toward the information you consume.
- Take Breaks from Social Media: Regular breaks from social media can help recalibrate your brain’s reward responses and decrease feelings of anxiety and competition that often come with excessive use. Think about taking a digital detox for a weekend or even a week to improve your relationship with social media.
- Consider Your Mental Health: Notice how you feel after using social media. If you encounter unpleasant emotions, take a step back and assess your mental state. It may be beneficial to practice mindfulness or indulge in self-care activities to help manage your emotions.
Conclusion
Social media serves as a significant tool for connecting with others and expressing ourselves. Nevertheless, its addictive characteristics and potential to create division can have profound impacts on our mental health (Pantic, 2014; Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017). By enforcing boundaries, enriching our feeds, and promoting empathy, we can harness social media in ways that contribute to our well-being rather than detract from it.
References
DeAndrea, D. C., et al. (2012). Reputation, relationships, and social networks: A study of the connections between social media and well-being. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29(3), 456–475.
Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(10), 652–657.
Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). Can you connect with me now? The effect of mobile communication technology on the quality of face-to-face conversations. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(1), 39–56.
This article was exclusively authored by the individual named above. Views and opinions expressed may not reflect those of GoodTherapy.org. Any questions or concerns about this article can be directed to the author or shared as comments below.
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