The Positives and Negatives of Social Media and Mental Health

Social networks have largely taken over our daily lives in 2023. Did you check your phone the moment you woke up today? Before going to sleep, did you check your Instagram feed? Social media is a factor for the majority of people, no matter what their day has in store. Social media sites are enjoyable to use, but using them excessively might be bad for your mental health. It’s simple to get sucked into all the posts we read about our friends’ holiday vacations, dinner parties, or political stances. Although we could believe that these posts are innocuous, they can gradually impact our mental health. This blog will examine how social media affects self-esteem, problems with body image, and feelings of loneliness.

The positives and negatives of social networks

We can be impacted by every post. Although social media can have a positive impact occasionally, there are a lot of ways that it can also make us feel lonely, worried, and low in self-esteem. After going through your social media, you might be putting your phone down and feeling something without knowing what or why.

It’s crucial to examine who and which pages you are following while more deliberately going through your emotions. Take a close look at your feed and consider the stuff you are viewing and engaging with. There might be some cleaning up to do now and then.

Social media and confidence

According to research, excessive social networks use contributes to anxiety and sadness. While using social media might help us feel more connected to people and more at home, it can also make us very anxious. We frequently compare ourselves to one another on social media, which may make us feel as though we are missing out on something. Our friends’ continual posting of workout videos online could lead us to believe that we are not exercising enough. We can believe that there is a problem with who we are as people and how we live. We feel pressure from our social media platforms to adopt specific behaviors, act in particular ways, and visit particular locations.

We can believe that our life isn’t good enough if we aren’t doing these activities. We eventually experience self-doubt and discontentment. Social media and problems with body image

Ever glance at a photo of someone on Instagram and wish you looked like them? We all have our own insecurities, so how can seeing altered and severely edited photographs of people who appear nearly flawless not make you feel worse about yourself? Everyone publishes their most beautiful photo on social media, from your pals to your favorite advocate, influencer, or superstar.

Women said that they frequently make unfavourable comparisons between their appearance and that of their peer group and celebrities in a study of 227 female university students.

The truth is that we have no idea how these photographs were altered, but we nevertheless instantly judge ourselves by comparing them to our own bodies.

We frequently evaluate ourselves against inflated beauty ideals that are promoted on social media. We are exposed to countless diets and fitness videos that urge us to follow certain routines in order to conform to unattainable standards of what is beautiful.

It’s crucial to constantly remind oneself that our bodies serve more purposes than merely outward looks. Keep in mind that you only have one body, and that body is keeping you alive. Thank your body for all of its organs and processes by being polite to it.

The isolating effects of social media

There really is such a thing as FOMO! Glancing at our social media feed and observing everyone enjoying the “greatest time” while out and about might make us feel lonely and isolated. Looking through your feed while you are going through a family dispute, breakup, or other issue is likely to make you experience a lot of emotions. More than anything else, you’ll feel alone. You might also feel sad, irritated, or perhaps a little jealous.

Social media may make you feel more in contact and connected to your friends and family digitally, but it replaces the in-person connections that people need and want to feel connected and pleased.

Suggestion for read: Addiction to social media: causes and consequences

Not every social media platform is awful. Naturally, using them may be a lot of fun. You must keep an eye on how much you use your platforms if you want to keep it that way. Being aware of your feed and the stuff you are exposed to is even more crucial.

Here are few certified therapists who you can get in touch and book a therapy session with:

Allison Banister

Daniel Bateman

Jo Pang