Social Media and Mental Health

Local Life - Local perspectives

Author: Alexandra Kontou

Social media is the offspring of the digital revolution of the 80’s when computers and the internet entered (although some say invaded) our lives. This entry has been long debated regarding its positive or its negative effects on people of all ages. With a myriad of digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Discord, it seems like social media are on the up and show no signs of reducing. So, it’s more important than ever to explore a question like “Are social media bad or good for mental health?”

Like every subject that is worthy to become an article, the answer is not simple. Social media clearly fill certain needs and that is why they are so commonplace. Social media allow people from all over the world to unite under common themes and communicate between them. It allows marginalized communities like LGBTQ people to link together, meet each other and organize common activities. It allows people stranded in their houses to learn about and contribute to many different themes. It allows people with social anxiety to communicate in a safe place. Finally, it allows the creation of an online persona, free from the shackles of reality, that can showcase its best moments and inspire others. But as every child of the digital sphere, it also has a dark side. There are no limits to who can have access to social media and some demographics are much more sensitive to them than others. For example, children and adolescents are much more impressionable and sensitive than adults.

There have been many occasions of online bullying that have led to anxiety and depression in children and even suicide. In addition, it is quite easy to get addicted to social media and opt for them to be your only way of communication with other people, reducing this way the social skills used and needed in face-to-face interactions and ultimately marginalizing people more for the sake of an online community over a real-life one. Finally, social media is a great way for showcasing only your “best self” with pictures of successes, holidays, great jobs, and great families that make people feel like their lives are lacking in comparison. It is extremely common to scroll social media for hours and finish off feeling overwhelmed by other people’s life stories that make yours seem boring or unsuccessful in comparison. So, what is the answer to the question “Is social media good or bad for mental health?”

The answer lies somewhere in between. In my personal opinion, social media need a certain amount of maturity and a good grounding, in reality, to not be detrimental to someone’s mental health. People need to be aware of the fakeness of social media and not fall prey to the perfect lives of others. They must also make an effort to create face-to-face friendships and communities, so they don’t escape from the digital world so much. Lastly, they need to know when to switch off their computer if someone is being abusive towards them for the fun of it. As everything that is used in such huge quantities, from medicine to food, social media must be taken in small doses and only for its benefits, so it doesn’t become a danger to people of all ages.