Social media is part and parcel of life nowadays. For connecting, for sharing, and for staying in touch with trends, everyone spends countless hours flipping through feeds. As useful in numerous ways, its role in mental well-being is a complex and contentious one. I have seen firsthand how social media can shape a mental state, for and against, both positively and negatively. I remember a saying, “Rolling through Instagram is like seeing everybody’s best part and getting stuck in your blooper reel.” And, I must say, that rang a bell. The real question is: Do we use it in a healthy way for, or an unhealthy way for, our mental well-being? How does social media affect mental health in both ways, and how can we find balance?
How social media helps with mental health
The greatest virtue of social media is connectivity with fellow humans. Those with no one in life, or with social anxiety, seek refuge in virtual groups. I have students who don’t speak much in school but speak through social forums, and for them, it feels safer and understood. How does social media affect mental health in cases like these? It provides a space for belonging where traditional social settings might fail.
Access to information about mental health
Educational information about mental well-being is in abundance through social media, and many professionals and groups post useful information, tips, and networks, and psychological care is easier to access than ever. I recall finding a post about sleepless anxiety techniques during a sleepless night, and surprisingly, it helped me more than I can say!
A space for personal expression
Creativity flourishes in cyberspace. With artwork, with writings, with videos, and with YouTube views to gain visibility, social media opens doors for one to vent, and venting can have a healing about it. One of my students started a site for poems for a lark, and it’s a community now. That sort of virtual expression can transform lives.
Negative impact of social media on mental health
Rolling through beautifully posed photos can make everyone owe in arrears. Folks don’t post about failure, and a warped picture of reality is painted. I can speak firsthand – I have seen a fellow jetsetter effortlessly about, and I, mired at my computer, and sometimes I wonder about my life choices. But then I remind myself, surely they have demons, too, just like everyone else. The question of how social media affects mental health in this aspect becomes even more significant.
Cyberbullying and online harassment
Toxicity can have long-term psychological repercussions. Harassing, trolling, and cyberbullying run rife and can make one suffer anxiety and depression. Even one cutting comment can dent a person’s confidence. I have a mate who shut down all social media platforms following one particularly foul thread. It took her several months to regain confidence, and even today, she’s not happy to sign up again.
Social media addiction and worry
Endless scrolling, constant buzzing, and a desire to remain in the loop can become tiring. Many have a compulsion to respond at all times, in case one misses a critical update. I have been seen sneaking glances at my phone, not even knowing I have been – I almost have no alternative, and I mean, let’s face it, how many times a week must one update? How does social media affect mental health when it leads to such dependency? It can create an overwhelming sense of pressure that is hard to escape.
Sleep interruptions
Using social media at night will disturb sleep quality. Screens’ blue lights will inhibit melatonin, and sleeping will become even harder to do. I have fallen victim to it more times than I’d care to admit – I say to myself, “One more video,” and then, boom, 3 AM. Let’s say my next morning isn’t a lot of fun.
Controlling social media for a healthier state of mind
Limiting use of a screen is one of the easiest actions to reverse any detrimental impact. Apps that monitor use can make a healthy routine, cutting off infinite scroll sessions in their tracks. I have tried it, and I can say I was surprised at how much I squandered my time with nonsense.
Creating a healthier feed
Following profiles that motivate and inspire, not ones that make me doubt, is key. I always say to everyone, “Unfollow profiles that make you less,” and surround yourself with posts that enrich your life. I, for one, have ceased following a few influencers, and simply that little tweak changed my scroll life for the better.
Going offline for a bit
Periodical social media abstinence can rekindle purpose and purity of mind. Whether a weekend detox or cutting off notifications for a little, these little actions can ease tension a lot. I have taken a whole week off socials – hardest ever at first, but by day three, I actually felt. serene. How does social media affect mental health when you take a break? Sometimes, stepping back is exactly what’s needed to regain clarity.
Utilising social media with purpose
Instead of purposeless scrolling, purposeful use of social media can have a real impact. Whatever your purpose, whether mastering a new skill, connecting with professionals, or communicating useful information, purposeful use keeps them out of negativity’s clutches. I started using my accounts for work-related pursuits, and my timeline no longer seemed a time suck but a tool.
Building online presence without worry
To become successful at social media sometimes comes down to getting seen and heard. Most fall prey to putting out and tracking for eyeballs, and in practice, it can become exhausting. Instead of getting stressed out over statistics, I have seen producers switch gears towards wiser approaches – leveraging smart growth strategies that counteract organic reach headaches. I probably could have avoided a lot of unnecessary headaches, I believe, had I been in the know years ago.
Final thoughts
Social media isn’t necessarily a positive, nor is it a negative – how one employs it is important. As much as it can serve with support, information, and avenues for expression, overusage and comparisons can wreak havoc in one’s head. By erecting borders and employing it purposefully, one can indulge in its positivity and not become a victim of its negativity. Balance is important – something I, and many, strive for even to date.
So, then, how does social media affect mental health for you? How do you make your social media use work for your well-being?
Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
This article was written by Adam Mulligan from www.psychreg.org
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