Table of Contents

Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Litreture Review ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................ 5
Recommendation:....................................................................................................................................... 16
Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 16

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Acknowledgement

It has been an absolute privilege for us to research on the following topic “The
impact and outcome of social network on mental health”.
This work would not have been possible without the help of our honorable Course
instructor Ms. Saifa Haque, Senior Lecturer of Department of English, East West
University.

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Introduction

With the evolution of internet communication has come a long way. From the mid
2000’s we have seen the inception of newer networking platforms that had taken
over the world in less than 20 years. The newer generation of users or the
millennial has been found to mainly rely on the social networking platforms to not
only communicate but also use other features that comes along with these
platforms. It has been a blessing for humanity, but it also has major drawbacks.
The mental impacts of social networks, as research have found, are mainly anxiety,
depression, loneliness, compulsive behavior, narcissism and a few others.

Litreture Review

We use social networking platforms for communicating with others on the internet
by messaging, sharing pictures, leaving comments on a ‘friend’ or ‘followers’
contents and through using other features. It will easily allow you to connect with
anyone across the globe given they have a connection to the internet.
The lesser known facts that has surfaced, perhaps deliberately by the big
corporation’s interventions, is the negative impacts it brings on the table.
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp, Skype, Reddit are popular
among them. According to a report more than 3 billion people, around 40% of the
world’s population, use online social media and spends an average of two hours
every day sharing, liking, tweeting and updating on these platforms. These
activities may look harmless, but they are the causes of many mental illnesses like
anxiety, depression, chronic compulsions and insomnia. The impact is so acute that
it even drove people to self-harm and contemplate suicide.
A study in Britain found that youngsters and millennials are constantly engaging
with others on social networks. The same generation scored consistently as being
more anxious than the older generations when they were unable to use the
platforms.

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Another research had found that hospital admissions for self-harming behaviors
because of social media induced stress increased by 68 % in recent years.
Researchers from the university of Melbourne have warn that prolonged use of
social network increase suicide risks.
A 2015 study by the University of Missouri found that regularly using Facebook
could lead to symptoms of depression if the site triggered feelings of envy in the
user. People become envious when they are exposed to contents expressing
extravagant and superficial lifestyle of a very niche group of people in the society
which in turn may lead to depression.
Forbes says, ‘Unsurprisingly, it turned out that the more time people spent on these
sites, the more socially isolated they perceived themselves to be. And social
isolation is one of the worst things for us, mentally and physically,”
According to Cornell University's Steven Strogatz, social media sites can make it
more difficult for us to distinguish between a meaningful relationship that we build
in real world and numerous causal relationship built on social platforms.
People aged 18-30 years and heavy user of social networks has unusual sleeping
routines, which is detrimental for their health.
Another area of concern is the impact it has on one’s self-image. For instance,
Women were found to compare their photos with the other woman’s photo. This
leads to judgmental habits basing on one’s photos. A study was held in 2013
regarding well-being where people were asked how they felt and how much they
used Facebook. The more time people spent on the site, the worse they felt later
on, and the more their life satisfaction declined over time.
Recently a researcher proved that only photo based social network causes more
effect on mental health. Instagram ranked number 1 for causing mental effect on
teens and snapchat ranked 2. Instagram is platform where people mainly share
photos. It was also associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and
FOMO, or the “fear of missing out.” Because it shows people’s success and
failures most. YouTube came first for spreading positivity. Surprisingly YouTube
offers more good contents than television.

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Data Analysis

Recently Dhaka ranked number 1 depressed city in Asia. There are many reasons
behind it but social media is one of the biggest reason. We took a survey on people
aged 18-25 on the usage of social network and what they thought about it. We
found the following result.

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Q1. Do you use social network site? What type of user you are?
Answer was 100 % affirmative.

25% 25%

Heavy

Moderate

Light

50%

->Heavy user use internet either for work or

connectivity

Q2. What is your favorite social networking site?

0% 5%

15%
Facebook

Instagram

Whatsapp
10%
Twitter

Snapchat
70%

-> Facebook is most popular social networking system,

then whatsapp and most of the user are youth.
Bangladesh has 22 million active facebook account.

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Q3. What is the main reason for you to use social networks?

30%

Entertainment

News

Wok
1.00%
Connectivity
3%
67%

Q4. How much time do you spend on popular social network platforms on a daily
basis?

0%
3%
15%

30% More than 2 hrs

More than 3 hrs

More than 4 hrs

More than 5 hrs

Less than 1 hr
30% others

20%

-> Avarage usage time is 3-4 hours

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Q5. Do you think using social network platforms make you actually more social in
person?

1%

Yes No

99%

It is making people isolated from society

Q6. Do you feel social media use has become compulsive that you have to use it?

14%

16% Yes
Not at all
Sometimes

70%

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Q7. Do you find it difficult not to engage in the social network even when you
don't want to?

45%
Yes No
55%

Q8. Do you think social networks can cause distractions and contribute to a loss of
productivity?

40%
Yes No

60%

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Q9. Does communication over Internet gives real expression of the users?

25%

Yes No

3.2

->People easily believe people depending on it

Q10. On a scale from 1 to 10, how much would you rate the accuracy of the
information portrayed across the social networks with the actual physical and
personality trait (characteristic) of an individual?

35%

1--5
6--10

65%

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Q11. Do you think prolonged usage of social networking sites can lead to
depression? Have you ever feel depressed frustrated after using a social network
for a long time?

20%

Yes No

80%

Q12. Do you believe certain behaviors are influenced by social network usage?

30%

Yes No

8.2

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Q13. Have you ever faced any misunderstanding among people or friends because
of social networking sites?

85%

Yes No

3.2

Q14. With self-presentation being the principle user activity on social networking
sites, do you think this may lead to narcissist behavior?

40%

Yes No

60%

It makes them frustrated, narcissist after prolonged use.

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Q15. Do you think social network platforms spread more hate, trash talk, bullying
than in general? (cyberbullying)

20%

Yes No

80%

It spreads more trash talk and bully then in general

Q16. Do you think one of the main reason of depression arising from social
network usage is due to not getting adequate attention?

35%

Yes No

65%

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Q17. How often do you feel you are comparing different aspects of your life with
others on social networks?

10%

35%

Sometimes
Everytime
Not at all

55%

Some people are hungry for attention. Generally,now -a-days

girls want more than boys.

Q18. Would you allow kids or younger siblings at your home to use social network
before they are completely above the implications of their usage?

30%

No

50% Depends on situation

Yes without any hesitation

20%

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Q19. Do you think it is important or necessary to teach youngsters before using
social network?

15%

Teaching ethics about internet

20% Giving internet Orentation
More than that

65%

Q20. How many hours do you go out weekly only to have face to face social
interaction?

18% 16%

less than 2 hours

less than 5 hours

21%
less than 7 hours

less than 10 hrs

45%

Heavy user goes out only for social interaction on an average of 3

15 | P a g e hours weekly.
Recommendation:

Prevention is better than cure. We recommend a balanced dose of physical

interactions and online interactions. Education maybe the most important weapon
in the fight against social media induced mental illnesses. Education regarding the
negative impacts of social networks will raise the awareness of the problem in the
society.

Living consciously and practicing mindfulness would lead us to gain back the power
that social platforms have taken from us and increase our life satisfaction in general.
One should make a mentor if he/she is suffering with low self-esteem. we should
stop torturing ourselves by comparing our life with everyone else’s positively biased
representations of theirs. We should seek to improve our own life in a realistic
manner. Choose to look at the positives and to celebrate our wins. Internet is not a
curse if we use it with a manner and routine.

Appendix

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for-you-the-evidence-and-the-
unknowns

http://www.theweek.co.uk/checked-out/90557/is-social-media-bad-for-your-mental-health

http://time.com/4793331/instagram-social-media-mental-health/

http://www.sternbergclinic.com.au/social-media-and-its-impact-on-mental-health/

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ad43/c20a709dc32ac1d6ca81cc1946174255a826.pdf

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ad43/c20a709dc32ac1d6ca81cc1946174255a826.pdf

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