The impact of social media on our mental health

Social media has invaded our lives and changed our daily routine. We use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn for communication, entertainment, news, work and more. While social media has improved our lives in several ways, it can also negatively impact our mental, emotional, and physical health. Let's take a look at how social media affects our lives and how we can protect ourselves from its negative effects.

Negative Effects of Social Media:

1. FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)/JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out)

Social media creates a sense of fear of missing out on things that others like and post. We have the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), which can pressure us to spend more time on social media than we would like. On the other hand, social media can also cause us stress when we see what others are doing and wonder why we don't experience it in the same way. This can lead to the opposite: JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out), where we consciously choose to stay offline and enjoy our own time without guilt.

2. Cyberbullying

One of the biggest problems of social media is cyberbullying. It can easily be done without disclosing their identities and the consequences are sometimes devastating. Cyberbullying can manifest in various forms, such as spreading hateful messages, sharing personal information/stories/photos against the will of the person, as well as trolling, threats, exclusion and harassment.

3. Addictive behavior

Social media is designed to keep us scrolling and swiping no matter how much time we've already spent on the platform. Social media has been proven to have a positive effect on our brains and give us a sense of reward, but it can also develop an addictive behavior. This can lead to a waste of valuable time, reduced productivity, lack of concentration, less sleep, and so on.

4. Negative self image

The tendency to use social media as a frame of reference can lead to a negative self-image. People can become insecure about their body image, the quality of their life, their whereabouts, their beauty, talents, and so on after exposing and confronting things they've seen on social media. This can lead to feelings such as dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety and depression.

How we can protect ourselves from the negative effects of social media

1. Use a timer or set limits on social media hours/use per day.

2. Assess the kind of people and content you follow. Remove or block users who negatively impact you online.

3. Be aware of what you share online. Be careful not to share any personal or private information that could hurt or destroy you.

4. Speak up if you witness online harassment/cyberbullying. Seek help if it affects you.

5. Treat social media as a tool and not a necessity or identity. Try to stay offline and focus on your real life and relationships.

6. Seek support and guidance as you try to recover from the negative effects of social media. Even small steps can lead to positive changes.

Positive effects of social media

Besides the negative effects, social media also has benefits and positive effects that we can use to improve our lives in a healthy and more efficient way:

1. Communication

Social media provides an easy and fast way of communicating with our friends, family and colleagues. It also allows us to easily keep in touch with people who live far away.

2. Empowerment

Social media allows people to speak up and express themselves on issues that matter to them. It is a powerful tool to initiate important movements and changes.

3. Connections

Social media offers the opportunity to meet new people and connect with people who have similar interests, regardless of distance or age. It provides easy access to a community that would otherwise be hard to find.

4. News and information

Social media provides fast and instant news and information, making it easy to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends in various fields, including politics, science, health and entertainment.

Conclusion

Social media has greatly changed our lives in several ways. While it's easy to focus on the negative effects, we shouldn't forget that social media also has its benefits. We need to be aware of the negative effects, how to protect ourselves and use these tools in a healthy way