How Social Media Addiction And AI Personalization Could Affect Mental Health —

In an era where there has been a great shift into the digital scope of innovation, Social Media and AI are practically nearly as important to us on a day-to-day basis. Though these techs have advantages of their own, they are also becoming a speaking medium that is causing mental detriments as well. What follows is an examination of the nuanced connections between addiction to social media, AI personalisation and mental health, as well a discussion on what some possible solutions could be.

The appeal of infinite scrolling

Addictive Social media platforms They use psychological techniques to keep users interested for long durations. Getting a like, comment or share here and there are giving millions of people the required dopamine hit to satisfy their desires. Over time, this can lead to dopamine dependency and it becomes harder to escape the plug of social media.

AI algorithms, for instance, also define how we see certain content on social media. Algorithms tailor content to our online behaviour, fostering an echo chamber of information which we are accustomed / exposed mostly/primarily where it conforms with what we already think. This can result in filter bubbles and algorithmic amplification that eventually restrict our exposure to different points of view as per the terms we are used to, disrupting critical thinking.

The Mental Health Toll

Overuse of social media is associated with a number of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, loneliness and low self-esteem. Continuous social comparison to the polished perfect online selves can breed feelings of inadequacy, as well anxiety relating to body image. In addition to potentially causing the psychological FOMO, it can also result in artificial urgency and promote you be always on so that eventually affects your sleeping patterns which will relate back into stress levels.

Although the primary purpose of AI personalization is to improve user experience, it may exacerbate mental health issues as well. AI can be used to create a perception of segregation — we already discussed content tailoring which leads to increasing the sense that you need technology in your life. Finally, precautionary measures concerning data privacy and the use of private information cause worry and pressure.

Taking Back Our Mental Health

Tackling the issues related to social media and AI is complex. People are encouraged to follow their own instance of digital health through such measures as regulating time spent on mobile devices, participating in mindfulness activities and growing real-world hobbies. In the meantime, we must educate ourselves on how algorithms affect our online experience / and make conscious efforts to expose ourselves to alternative viewpoints.

Parents are encouraged to outline rules around screen time for children and have honest conversations about the dangers of social media. Inclusion of digital literacy and media education in school curriculum can have a positive impact.

Tech companies or policy makers, all have responsibility towards well being of the users. This covers the creation tools and mechanisms for digital wellbeing, enforcement data protection laws more stringently as well invest in research into what impact technology is having on mental health.

Conclusion

Now nearly a decade since Zephoria was established, and decades of behavioral data provided to newsfeed algorithms later, the relationship between social media AI etc. has grown significantly more complicated. There is no arguing the power of these, but we must not forget with great power comes great responsibility. By acknowledging these realities and empowering ourselves to fight back our mental conditioning, we can use technology as a tool for empowerment instead of simply becoming its pawns.

Please note this is a high level overview of the problem rather than discussing it in depth. For further analysis, we recommend you consult mental health professionals and exploration into the subject.

Potential Sources:

Source: American Psychological Association

U.S. National Institute of Mental Health

Pew Research Center

World Health Organization

Machine Learning, Social Media Addiction & Depression