13intro.edited
.docx
School
Politeknik Keuangan Negaran STAN**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
PSY 100
Subject
Communications
Date
Dec 21, 2024
Pages
9
Uploaded by MagistrateSnow28389
1. IntroductionSocial media is one of those influential forces in daily life that shape how billions of people communicate with each other, hook up with significant others, and even perceive themselves. While platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok bring forth several benefits related to users' entertainment and keeping them in touch with others worldwide, an increasing body of research points to the profound mental health consequences of excessive social media use. On the one hand, social media brings in significant support through its virtual communities and online relationships. However, the negative impacts on mental health supersede the potentialgains that one gets from social media interactions. This essay shall discuss the psychological effects of social media, find its causes, impact, and different perspectives, and suggest methods for a healthier and more balanced approach to social media use. Instead, by looking for solutions to these problems before they happen, society could allow people to reap the full effects of socialmedia while minimizing the psychological risks associated with social media, creating a safer and more positive digital environment.2. Cause 1: Overexposure and Screen TimeExcessive time on a screen, which social networking sites encourage, can be deemed one of the main reasons behind its overall harm to mental well-being. Long hours of exposure to a screen increase the risk of decreased physical activity, disruption of sleep, and increased stress levels, all of which are not beneficial for mental well-being. Disrupt numerous intervals of notifications and updates, create an alert condition most of the time, disrupt other natural oscillations of sleep, and increase anxiety levels (Kinza Yasar, 2024). In addition to this trend, addictive social media elements take hours in a day on the screen—hours that could otherwise have been spent on other responsibilities not engrossed in a screen, like exercising, having
hobbies, or spending time with family and friends. This overt engagement with screen exposure results in mental fatigue and heightens tension, as there is little or no downtime. To the extent that social media increasingly fills up a user's time and attention, it displaces times of real-world connection and self-care. Overall, the overuse of screens and the constant touch through social media contribute to its negative effect on mental well-being.3. Cause 2: Social Comparison and ValidationHowever, one of the most influential determinants of mental health through social media is the validation platform based on comparison. The metrics created through likes follows, and comments make people perceive that they are doomed to look for external validation and measure themselves against others constantly. This risky exposure to idealized images and selective portrayals of other people's lives fosters unrealistic expectations and develops the pernicious "compare and despair" mentality. Such idealized content exposure is researched to deter self-esteem and boost feelings of inadequacy (Ajewumi et al., 2024). This causes users to rely on social media engagement for self-worth, hence anxiety and self-doubt whenever they feelthey are inadequate. Social media, particularly for youths, becomes a platform where identity andself-esteem rely on virtual validation. This constant assessment gives way to high self-criticism and dissatisfaction, with users constantly under pressure to maintain their appearances. The senseof comparison and correlated validation from social media thereby predominantly contributes to anxiety in the concept of mental health.4. Cause 3: Cyberbullying and Online HarassmentCyberbullying and Online Harassment: Cyberbullying and online harassment are serious issues that are on the rise in social networks. These have severe and negative impacts on the mental health of the users. Unlike other kinds of traditional bullying, which usually occurs within
limited geographical confines, cyberbullying can occur at any given time and swiftly reach people from beyond one's immediate environs, hence amplifying the emotional impact. Levels ofanxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies increase for victims of cyberbullying in extreme measures. The anonymity of social network sites emboldens perpetrators, making harassment both more accessible and more frequent (UNICEF, 2024). In addition to this, the public nature ofsocial media exaggerates humiliation and isolation among victims since harassment is instant andpermanent in the virtual world. The seemingly endless effect of such harassment causes emotional traumas, which may lead to further retreats and avoidance behaviors. Therefore, the widespread nature of cyberbullying on portals like social media sites is one of the critical ways through which such web operators contribute to mental health problems among users.5. Effect 1: Increased Anxiety and DepressionOne of the critical impacts of the use of social media is the rising rate of anxiety and depression among users. The continued connection through social media prompts the user to have a "fear of missing out" (FOMO) that keeps them alert and looking for something they may miss. This continuous involvement leads to psychological exhaustion, bearing users down. Research indicates a high correlation between high amounts of social media use and levels of anxiety and depression (Prasad et al., 2023). Moreover, the site's focus on external validation in the forms of likes and responses to comments exacerbates the negative feeling, causing users to be more susceptible to depressive symptoms. With the "always-on" culture of social media, thereis constant pressure to carry on, which adds to their anxiety and symptoms of depression. A pervasive need for validation and, more fundamentally, a fear of exclusion underlie many motives in this cycle that provoke mental health challenges. This trend points to one serious
downside of social media, revealing the psychological cost resulting from imposition foisted upon users by the platform's demands.6. Effect 2: Self-Esteem and Body Image IssuesSocial media influences many users' self-esteem and body image, mainly through visually oriented and focused sites such as Instagram. Many users, especially women, are constantly exposed to pictures that have been edited and modeled, promising beauty and success in idealized forms. Such exposure results in dissatisfaction about one's appearance and loss of one's self-image. According to research, constant exposure to idealized content on social media increases self-objectification and body dissatisfaction in that the users internalize unrealistic beauty standards (Pedalino & Camerini, 2022). This drive to meet unattainable ideals creates a destructive cycle of negative self-perception and unhealthy behaviors toward attaining these standards. The emphasis on idealized images by social media distorts the users' sense of self-worth and is mainly experienced by younger and impressionable audiences. In that light, social media has become one of the major contributors to low self-esteem, among many others, in the form of body dissatisfaction, where now the increased threats towards mental health come into play. There is a need for increased awareness and media literacy to minimize these destructive influences.7. Effect 3: Isolation Despite ConnectionWhile social media is created in a manner to make people connected somehow, it, in turn,generates resentment and loneliness among users. All too often, people feel that interaction online can never replace face-to-face communication in terms of substance and depth, and for this matter, a person feels an emotional void in them. Studies indicate that people who use social media to fulfill their need for interaction and relationships are overwhelming compared to those
with a more significant number of real-world social interactions (Bonsaksen et al., 2023). This loneliness is because the relationships created online cannot compete with the emotional real-lifeinteraction. The social media paradox contributes to social isolation since it increases the virtual connection while simultaneously contributing to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. This implies that connectivity that lacks social interaction usually creates a sort of escapade, causing eventual disengagement in real life from social activities, thus making it yet another severe mental health impact on its users and creating the immediate need for balance.8. Alternative Hypothesis: Social Media as Social SupportSocial Media as Social Support While all this countervails social media's detrimental negative impacts, it is still argued that it offers valuable social support. These communicative or relevant communities unite like-minded people. Support groups for those struggling with mental health challenges offer a platform where users share experiences and present mutual empathy. However, research says these support groups, though helpful, remain secondary to the value of real-world interactions (Naslund et al., 2020). Such in-person interactions often lack emotional depth and connection, leading to superficial relief rather than sustained mental well-being through online communities. For example, online support groups lack the "tangibility" of direct engagement that one would experience with personal relationships, leaving users unsupported. Therefore, although social media provides some benefits for someone seeking help, these benefits are less substantial than natural relationships. Thus, people finally end up maintaining their isolation and unmet emotional needs.9. Call to Action: Educational Initiatives and Policy RecommendationsEducation Programs and Policy Recommendations The mental health impacts of social media should be addressed with broad, enlightened education and policy reform. Schools and
community-based organizations can undertake digital literacy programs that help younger users use social media responsibly. These programs should inculcate personal boundary setting, detect harmful content, and balance online activities with real-life equivalents. Platforms can also institute policy changes to minimize the engagement metrics significantly enacted solely based on comparisons, such as public likes and followers, that have been proven to exacerbate issues ofincreased anxiety and low self-esteem problems. Findings indicate that this constraint on these metrics enhances internal mental health by removing the burden of constant external validation (Latha et al., 2020). These educational enlightenment and policy changes can foster an overwhelmingly more supportive digital environment for well-being over popularity. By implementing these policies, society can help ensure that people have a better online environment and promote balanced interactions, reducing social media detriments to mental health problems for all user demographics.10. ConclusionWhile social media is filled with possibilities for connection, its impact on the mental psyche is alarming, causing more anxiety, depression, and social isolation through screen addiction, social comparison, and cyberbullying. On the other hand, those who claim that social media can be a source of emotional comfort can genuinely say that such benefits are mostly shallow compared to real-life interactions. Individuals, educators, and policymakers should promote moderation, digital literacy, and structural changes on the platforms to contribute to a healthier relationship with social media. The measures will be taken in society so that the mental health risks of social media are reduced as users start to use social media in ways that improve their well-being instead of damaging it. This is a more responsible usage of social media, designed to promote a balanced and positive experience that enhances the mental health outcome
for those using it because they can use technology in ways that add rather than subtract from their lives.
ReferencesAjewumi, E., None Victoria Magbagbeola, Kalu, C., Ada, R., None Okunjolu Folajimi, & None Christianah Omolola Diyaolu. (2024). The impact of social media on mental health and well-being. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 24(1), 107–121. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.24.1.3027Kinza Yasar. (2024). Seven effects of social media on mental health. WhatIs; TechTarget. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/Effects-of-social-media-on-mental-healthLatha, K., Meena, K., Pravitha, M., Dasgupta, M., & Chaturvedi, S. (2020). Effective use of social media platforms for the promotion of mental health awareness. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 9(1), 124. NCBI. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_90_20Naslund, J. A., Bondre, A., Torous, J., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2020). Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 5(3), 245-257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00134-xPedalino, F., & Camerini, A.-L. (2022). Instagram Use and Body Dissatisfaction: The Mediating Role of Upward Social Comparison with Peers and Influencers among Young Females. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1543. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031543Prasad, S., Souabni, S. A., Anugwom, G., Aneni, K., Anand, A., Urhi, A., Obi-Azuike, C., Gibson, T., Khan, A., & Oladunjoye, A. F. (2023). Anxiety and depression amongst youth as adverse effects of using social media: A Review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 85(8), 3974–3981. https://doi.org/10.1097/ms9.0000000000001066
UNICEF. (2024, February). Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it. Unicef. https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying