With the ongoing global pandemic, everyone has been trying to deal with pandemic stress. Many things have changed over the past year, and, as individuals, it has been difficult for us to keep up. Many of us have been experiencing mental health problems since the start of the quarantine period, especially with the social distancing guidelines and the quarantine protocols. It is safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an isolating experience for many of us.
Due to the stress brought by this pandemic, individuals all over the world have been looking for ways to cope. There have been many online trends and new hobbies popping up on our news feeds on social media. One common denominator of these trends is how they have come about, and that is through various social media platforms.
The use of social media in itself may not be a negative thing. It might have only gained its negative reputation through various factors such as the proliferation of cyberbullying. This could be the reason behind the correlation between mental health concerns and the use of social media. It is essential to be aware of our online habits, especially nowadays when reaching out and offering comfort is difficult.
While the use of social media may have its negative implications, social media platforms still offer a good communication platform these days that prevent individuals from feeling isolated. Phone repair services are available to help you stay connected with friends and family by keeping your smartphone in good working condition.
Social Media Habits
Tracking your social media habits is important not just for your mental health but for your physical health as well. Staying online and staring at a screen for a prolonged period might be detrimental to your eye health as well as your weight due to a sedentary lifestyle.
Nevertheless, we should take a look at a study on social media platforms to see how it has affected the average daily life.
According to a study, Facebook is one of the most widely used online platforms in the U.S. Many Facebook users visit this online platform daily. The study also shows that a majority of these daily users also visit the social media platform several times a day. With this insight, it can be said that Facebook, at the very least, has grown to be an essential part of our daily lives.
While this data shows how dependent we have been on social media platforms, it does not show how the use of social media has affected our mental health.
Cyberbullying: What Is It?
Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that takes place on electronic technology such as social media platforms. It entails challenges that are unique to its medium, given the nature of modern technology.
Contrary to popular belief, cyberbullying can happen to anyone, but young ones are most vulnerable to the negative effects of cyberbullying on mental health due to their young and impressionable minds.
While cyberbullying should be advocated against, there are ways to protect themselves from further abuse. Victims of cyberbullying can choose to unfriend, block, or report any person who bullies them online. They should also document the event, avoid responding, and avoid keeping it a secret so that other people can help.
Cyberbullying, despite its electronic nature, can be as detrimental or even more damaging to a person than traditional bullying, and this is one of the things that an individual should watch out for when using social media platforms to help protect their mental health from being compromised.
Social Media and Mental Health
Social media platforms are neither good nor bad. It is an innovation in technology that can be put to good use if utilized properly, such as communicating with friends and loved ones amid a pandemic. On the other hand, the use of social media may lead to mental health concerns that could be damaging to a person’s overall health.
Social media anxiety disorder is a condition that is similar to other anxiety disorders. It exhibits symptoms such as checking social media in the middle of a conversation, lying about the amount of time spent on social media and withdrawing from family and friends. In line with this condition is Facebook depression caused by the pressures of online culture such as friend tallies and status updates, which can make individuals make comparisons with their own lives.
These are concerning conditions, but the existence of these does not equate to social media’s negative impact. It all boils down to how an individual uses the platforms. Social media in itself can, in fact, be utilized for the betterment of a specific community.
No matter how our lives seem to have integrated seamlessly with Internet culture, social media platforms remain their status as simple tools that allow us to move forward in our everyday lives. Perhaps what our generation needs is a guide on how to properly utilize the benefits and services that social media platforms could offer society.
Meta title: Facebook Depression and Internet Culture: All You Need to Know
meta desc: Many of us live every day according to what we want to post online. This online dependence may or may not be detrimental to one’s physical and mental health.