Let’s be honest… If you’re reading this right now and you have a social media account, you probably spend more than an hour a day scrolling. But do not worry, you’re not alone. I do it too as do 80% of Americans, according to DataReportal. The average use of social media in America is 2.5 hours (Dixon). That being said, the real questions we should be asking ourselves are how much of this is good for our mental health? Is social media influencing our lives too much? And what is it that draws us to social media?
Social media was built on the basis of connecting individuals from different parts of the world through a screen socially. We are able to see what our family, friends, peers, public figures, etc. are doing and what opportunities there are out in the world. However, this can actually be hurting the mental health of individuals.
What draws us to social media?
There is psychological reasoning behind all of this. It is normal for humans to crave attention and validation from others and that is what social media does. It allows us to like, comment, and share other people’s posts. When we get this positive feedback, we want to keep using it. This release of dopamine makes social media addicting. However, sometimes this can be harmful. When a person does not achieve their ideal amount of likes and comments on a post, they put themselves in a hole and feel defeat.
So how is Social media hurting us?
A big one, personally, is FOMO (the fear of missing out). FOMO is a disruptive behavioral phenomenon that causes emotional stress. Social media is becoming a toxic place where people begin to feel alone because they perceive that others are living happier lives. An example of FOMO is seeing your friends out to dinner and you not being there. You presume that they are having a fun time and you feel like you are missing out. As a result, you become anxious and feel a sense of loneliness, so you isolate yourself. To prove this theory, researchers sent out a questionnaire to 1,700 U.S. adults from the ages of 19-32. Approximately 27% said that they felt high levels of social isolation (Miller).
Is social media influencing our lives too much?
Many users want the power that comes with social media. It is a great way to connect with companies, start your own business, and make a name for yourself. But social media has created standards that individuals believe they have to live up to. Girls starting at a young age are beginning to feel self-conscious and think they need to change the way they look to meet this social media beauty standard. Because social media gives fame to the individuals who are seen to fit this standard, the public believes they need to act, dress, and look this certain way to gain respect from the media.
Social media and media literacy
Media literacy is all about getting the facts straight and considering the whole truth. Social media creates the ability to hide the truth, and it is just an image of what people want to portray to the public. It is important when using social media to note that a majority of what you see is fake– from Facetune and Photoshop to the exaggerated emotions individuals are presenting in the picture.
Being a college student, it is easy to feel alone, especially in the world of social media. I scroll on social media on nights when I stay-in and then see people who are out posting that they are having a fun time and I feel like I made a mistake. However, I have also been on the other end. We all post and when you post, you want your life to look like it is filled with adventure, happiness, and excitement. There was one night where I went out and I had a horrible time. But the very few highlights of the night I posted on social media and when I came back to my room, my friends who didn’t attend told me it looked like I had such a fun night out. This was very eye-opening because it just shows how deceiving social media can be. They were shocked when I told them it was a very boring night.
More importantly, it is important to remember that it is your life that you are living. It doesn’t matter what other people are doing as long as you are listening to your mind and body, and you doing everything you need to do to make your life the most enjoyable. So, take a step back from obsessing over the lives of others and prioritize your own.
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