‘Woke up like this’, most youths begin their mornings by posting such stories on Instagram. Smartphones are the first thing that we all start our mornings with and the last thing we touch before going to bed. While this practise appears harmless, it has a significant impact on young minds. According to research conducted by the World Health Organisation, “More than 1 in 10 adolescents (11%) showed signs of problematic social media behaviour, struggling to control their use and experiencing negative consequences. Girls reported higher levels of problematic social media use than boys (13% vs 9%). The aforementioned data is alarming, infusing a dire need to address the situation. We spoke to Dr Arvind Otta, Senior Psychologist and Mental Health Activist, New Delhi to understand the impact of social media on young minds.
Impact of Social Media On Mental Health Of Youths
Here are the impact of social media on the mental health of youths:
The Comparison Trap
Dr Arvind stated that youth consistently compare their lives with others based on what their friends and sometimes known individuals post on social media. Youth portray only those moments in their lives that are so-called 'fun', like travelling, promotions, celebrations, etc. This culture of comparison leads to poor self-esteem and even some depressive symptoms.
Extreme Desire For Likes And Comments
The hunger for likes, comments, and followers showcases the psychology of validation. Dr Arvind highlighted youths measure themselves by the number of likes, comments, or followers they receive. Whenever these metrics fail to meet their expectations, they may feel rejected or insignificant; this degrades true self-esteem and reduces the youth's resilience to mood disorders.
Extended Alertness Due To FOMO
Dr Arvind mentioned that many students fear that if they do not continue their journey, they will miss something important due to the constant presentation of other people's lives and actions through social networks. Friends going to parties, travelling, or achieving something on social media may fill a person with remorse for not being part of it. This constant awareness of what others around them are doing can increase anxiety, reinforce feelings of loneliness, and deepen depressive thinking.
Cyberbullying And Online Harassment
Dr Otta said, social media also has its disadvantages; people act more anonymously here, which often leads to bullying and harassment. Adolescent cyberbullying can cause persistent anxiety, perceived control and helpless tendencies, and depressive symptoms over a long period. Indeed, young people who become targets of harassment and abuse experience the outcomes as aversive, and they can't deal with the situation, which adds another layer of stress.
Sleep Disruption
Dr Otta highlighted that scrolling social media, and short-format videos, especially before bed, affects sleep patterns because the blue light emitted by screens inhibits melatonin secretion. Lack of healthy sleep results in increased anxiety and mood change, also influencing the mental health of youths.
Decreased Physical Interactions
Dr Otta emphasised that social media platforms are an alternative to physical interaction that must strengthen interpersonal connections. However, the lack of offline interaction depresses youth, thus highlighting the need for encouraging offline interaction. Finally, the flow of social media, with all its opportunities for communication, is an opportunity to get lost in loneliness.
How To Combat Social Media Stress
Here are a few ways to combat social media stress in youths:
Set Time Limits And Boundaries
Dr Otta recommends strict time barriers should be set for how long a person or group can be on social media. Avoid multitasking over the phone and set particular hours in a day when you cannot use the internet. It forms a structure and, therefore, helps minimize cases of spending too much time browsing social media platforms and ignoring other essential activities.
Create Digital-Free Zones
According to Dr Otta, create digital-free zones. He advises you to decide places where no one can use their digital devices in your home. Parents can play an essential role in establishing these norms at home, but they must also involve their children.
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Curate Your Social Media Feed
Dr Otta suggests gaining control of what is fed through the accounts that are followed, specialising in inspiring, informing or bringing only good energy. He advises to stay away from or block any 'influencer' that is making you feel like you are not good enough or that you are harming you in any other way. This way, the curated feed improves people's attitudes toward social media platforms as they would not be filled with comparisons and stressful material.
Engage In Offline Activities
Dr Arvind recommends interacting with friends and family in person fosters genuine connection with people and commonly promotes a need for social approval, as is witnessed in hyperspherical recognition. Such activities prevent the human being from becoming a total social media junkie who relies on these platforms to feed their satisfaction needs.
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The key to staying sane in the world of social media is creating a perfect balance between usage and misuse.
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