Social media has become an essential aspect of our lives in the current digital era, particularly for youngsters. There is no doubting its widespread existence, regardless of whether we accept it, hate it, or just put up with it. I deal with the difficulties of social media use on a daily basis as the principal of a school community. These problems are frequently complex and have no simple answers. Despite the intricacy, a growing corpus of research provides insightful advice on how to use social media effectively.
Numerous studies indicate that social media may actually make loneliness worse, despite the fact that it is frequently praised as a cure for loneliness. Not unexpectedly, it may lead to a risky comparison game that makes people doubt their own value. With mental health conditions like anxiety and depression lurking in the background, the repercussions may be severe. We will explore these concerning facets of social media in this thought-provoking piece, looking at them objectively.
Is your emotional state affected by social media?
Social media and mental health have not yet been shown to be directly causally related by researchers. But the fact that young people's rates of anxiety and depression have increased in tandem with their use of social media appears to be more than just a coincidence.
Although social media can foster connections and lessen loneliness, research indicates that excessive use has a detrimental effect on life satisfaction and self-esteem. Although not yet proven, it is also connected to a rise in mental health issues and suicidality.
Smartphone use has increased in tandem with rising depression rates. More than 500,000 US students in years 8 through 12 participated in a 2017 study that examined their use of social media and smartphones, depression, and suicide mortality rates. The findings was published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science. They discovered that the number of teenagers with severe depressive symptoms increased by 33% between 2010 and 2015, and that the number of suicide deaths increased by 31% as well. Women accounted for nearly all of the rise.
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What impact does social media have on sleep?
In a number of ways, social media can significantly affect sleep patterns:
1. More time spent on screens:
Spending a lot of time looking at screens is a common part of using social media. The hormone that controls sleep-wake cycles, melatonin, can be suppressed by the blue light generated by screens, making it more difficult to fall asleep.
2. Lack of sleep:
Social media engagement might result in overuse, which shortens sleep duration. It can take a lot of time to browse social media feeds, comment on postings, or participate in online debates, which delays going to bed.
3. The fear of missing out, or FOMO:
Social media services create a fear of missing out by showcasing the events, activities, and experiences that other people are experiencing. Even when people should be sleeping, this dread can cause anxiety and make them unwilling to unplug from social media.
4. Mental exercise:
Social media frequently offers a steady flow of fresh content, discussions, and alerts. People may find it difficult to unwind and rest before bed as a result of this cerebral stimulation. It makes it more difficult for them to fall asleep fast by keeping their mind engaged and busy.
5. Impact on emotions:
Numerous emotions, such as exhilaration, fear, jealousy, and even despair, can be triggered by social networking. These emotional reactions might interfere with sleep cycles and make it more difficult to get a good night's sleep.
6. Disturbances in sleep:
Getting alerts or updates while you're asleep might disturb your sleep by waking you up and keeping you from getting a good night's rest. A lot of individuals put their cellphones next to their beds, which makes them easily accessible and may cause disruptions.
Before going to bed, it's a good idea to start a digital detox to reduce the negative effects of social media on sleep. This entails establishing limits on screen time, avoiding social media use at least an hour before bed, and creating boundaries. Better sleep can also be encouraged by establishing a calming nighttime routine that includes activities like reading or practicing relaxation methods.
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Sleep and poor self-esteem
As previously mentioned, sleep is one important item that social media can replace. According to a recent study by pediatric researchers Scott, Biello, and Woods, which involved almost 12,000 teenagers, using social media more often was generally linked to worse sleep habits. For instance, individuals who used social media extensively were more likely than average users to have difficulty falling back asleep after waking up in the middle of the night and late sleep onset and wake times.
Teenagers' mood, emotional control, and capacity to get along with adults can all be adversely affected by sleep deprivation, according to the Child Mind Institute. Lack of sleep causes depression, and vice versa, so sleep and depression may spiral out of control.
Negative behavior is bred by toxic social media.
Narcissism: Self-obsession may be encouraged by social media. Undoubtedly, you have witnessed individuals obsessed with capturing the ideal "selfie" for their social media profiles. According to reports, Facebook in particular has led to what experts refer to as a context collapse, in which users are forced to adopt a single character and "self-edit" their social media posts to fit this persona. But the attitude Christ urges us to—a selfless desire to put God first and love and serve others—contrasts sharply with self-absorption (Mark 12: 30-31).
Getting likes doesn't make you happier.
Studies have shown that receiving "likes" on social media posts doesn't increase people's happiness, even if it may provide a momentary rush.
According to a 2017 British Psychological Society research, getting likes didn't improve people's moods or make them feel better about themselves. The research's author, Dr. Martin Graff, said: "Although this is just a relatively small-scale study, the results indicate that the ways we interact with social media can affect how we feel and not always positively."
Consider carefully what you post on social media.
Even while a lot of content published on social media appears to be innocuous, it's important to keep in mind that not everyone is acting with the best of intentions. Social media posts may provide as excellent material for cyberbullies, trolls, and, worse, pedophiles. Extreme caution is necessary.
It is possible that posts made by your young person might end up in the wrong hands. For instance, posting a revealing photo hastily might result in regret later on if an employer searches for it.
Secondary students at ACC are taught how to use social media and technology responsibly in an effort to keep them safe online. Parents should also provide an example of appropriate use in their families.
30 Days Without Social Media: Breaking Free
It might be time to step back and start a 30-day social media detox if you're caught in a vicious cycle of social media addiction.
Taking a 30-day vacation from social media might have a profound impact. It enables you to prioritize your mental and emotional health, reestablish control over your time and attention, and re-establish a connection with the present. You make room for introspection, personal development, and deep relationships with people around you when you unplug from the cyber world.
You'll experience the liberation that comes from letting go of the incessant drive for approval and comparison during this social media detox. You'll discover how to develop self-worth inside rather than relying on likes and comments to get approval from others. You'll have the chance to concentrate on things that make you happy, including exercising, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing interests.
You'll discover that your everyday life is more aware and present when you're not distracted by social media. You'll observe the beauty of your surroundings, the little pleasures, and the sincere relationships that may be developed offline. As you accept your individual journey and lessen your exposure to other people's well manicured highlight reels, your mental health will improve.