Written By Jess Schmidli
Social media has recently been banned for kids in many countries. In just 6 months, Brazil, the UK, Indonesia, Australia, Austria, and Canada have all banned social media for people who are under the age of 16. While it has been a help to society in many ways, it has also been a destruction of mental health. Is social media our friend or our hidden foe?
Social media has been a huge part of our lives, but what is it? Social media is something that affects us currently and will in the distant future still; it connects people and gets them online. Apps such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and so forth. It has affected everyone all over the world. It is something to connect people with one another.
Mental Health America mention some pros to social media are as follows; Identity exploration, connection, learning new things, and acting. However, they also list some cons; FOMO (fear of missing out), comparison, cyber bullying, information overload, and safety hazards. There are many more additions to each side, but how much does social media do on each side?
When it comes to Psychologyinsights, they catch us up to date with the effects that social media can have, and they do not look good. Anxiety, depression, loneliness, and addiction are all mentioned, and none of these are something to look forward to. So, is there a way to avoid it or a “correct” way to utilize it? Insightspsychology says yes!
They give us a list of suggestions to follow;
• Set boundaries
Set screen time, put in “no-phone” zones, and take regular breaks.
• Curate feed mindfully
Unfollow uncomfortable accounts, follow positive creators, and limit exposure to negative news.
• Engage meaningfully
Make useful comments, reach out to friends, and utilize gratitude.
• Practice digital detox
Reconnect with the real world and recharge your mental energy.
The Worldmetrics site shares some helpful statistics when looking into this.
• 61% of consumers make a purchase after seeing a product on social media.
• 52% of users have changed their opinion on a brand after seeing a negative post on social media.
• The average social media user has 12.6 social media accounts, with 6.2 being active daily.
• 58% of global social media users are aged 18-29, with 36% aged 30-49.
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