Running head: SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH 1

Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health and Well-being

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September 05, 2020

SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH 2

Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health and Well-being

The use of social media often has a negative effect on mental health. However, it has

a reverse result on what people believe. Social media provides the ability to engage with

others and provides sufficient anonymity to allow mentally ill individuals to express

themselves without exposing their identity. In other words, without danger of stigma, it

permits self-expression. Social media encourages positive changes in lifestyle. Social media

can be used as a motivating tool to reach healthy goals like not smoking or regularly visiting

the gym[ CITATION Far171 \l 16393 ]. Sharing a goal via social media and updating it frequently

encourages the accountability of others, generates a meaningful bonding of contacts, and

stimulates an online “social support system” that may help aspirants shape or join third

community groups engaging in related activities. It is a typical example of “healthy emotional

contagion.” Public communication not only encourages responsibility but allows you to

remain focused, and improves your chances of success significantly, whether it be weight

loss or the sobriety of addicts/alcoholics to recover.

With so numerous health services accessible online today, social media gives a

protected space where anybody can pose inquiries and access a myriad of health assets. From

countless health discussions to free online counseling, there are numerous online services

accessible to help individuals with questions or concerns[ CITATION Nes20 \l 16393 ]. Social

media has presented innumerable techniques for correspondence and data sharing to

standardize help looking for behavior. However, there is a more negative impact of social

media on mental health and well-being as compared to a positive impact. Social media was

intended to expand social communication, yet individuals who invested more time in social

media consistently felt lonelier than the individuals who checked their social media

less[ CITATION Nes20 \l 16393 ]. Not just has social media been demonstrated to cause

unhappiness. However, it can also prompt the advancement of mental well-being issues, for
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example, tension or depression when utilized excessively or without alert. Sharing unending

selfies and all your deepest considerations on social media can make unhealthy self-

centeredness and separation you from real-life connections.

The light from phones and different devices can disrupt individuals’ sleep, which can

seriously affect their emotional wellness. FOMO (Fear of missing out) has been around far

longer than social media sites; for example, Facebook and Instagram appear to compound

sentiments that others are having some good times or carrying on with preferred lives on with

over they are. The possibility that individuals are missing out on specific things can affect

their confidence, trigger nervousness, and fuel much more noteworthy social media

use[ CITATION Bas161 \l 16393 ]. FOMO can urge people to get their telephone like clockwork

to check for updates, or compulsively react to every single alarm—regardless of whether that

implies facing challenges while they are driving or organizing social media cooperation over

real-world connections. Fatigue is another side effect of overusing social media. If people

spend too late on social media accounts, they might lose valuable sleep. Social media will cut

time so they would spend or exercise outdoors.

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References

Bashir, H., & Bhat, S. (2016). Effects of Social Media on Mental Health: A Review. The

International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(3), 125-131. doi:10.25215/0403.134

Farpour, H. R., & Habibi, L. (2017). Positive Impact of Social Media Use on Depression in

Cancer Patients. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 18(11), 2985–2988.

doi:10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.11.2985

Nesi, J. (2020). The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health. North Carolina

Medical Journal, 81(2), 116-121. doi:10.18043/ncm.81.2.116