Author- Shambhavi Dubey, Ajeenky DY. Patil University
ABSTRACT
Teens are having an increasingly difficult time imagining their lives without social media. Risk assessment is a critical skill for practitioners, and social media may be a new factor to take into account. Teenage and professional viewpoints greatly affect the impression of the relationship between social media and mental health, despite the fact that there is little actual data to support the notion. Risks connected to this population’s use of social media include privacy issues, cyberbullying, negative effects on education, and negative effects on mental health. On the other hand, responsible use of social media can increase chances for interaction and communication, as well as improve health, raise self-esteem, and provide access to vital medical data.
Even while there is growing evidence that social media negatively impacts teenage mental health, little empirical research has been done on how teenagers understand social media, especially as a source of knowledge, or how they could use more general contemporary media discourses to express themselves. Large-scale youth use of cell phones and other media leads to chronic sleep loss, which impairs cognitive function, academic performance, and socioemotional functioning. Data from multiple cross-sectional, longitudinal, and empirical studies show that teenagers’ usage of social media and smartphones is associated with an increase in suicidality, self-harming behaviors, and mental distress.
Clinicians can use open, nonjudgmental, developmentally appropriate strategies with youth and their families to lessen the risks associated with social media and smartphone use. These strategies include problem-solving exercises and instruction.
Keywords: social media, mental health, young adults, and adolescents
THE OVERVIEW AND HISTORY
Since humans are sociable animals by nature, they require other people’s company to survive. Therefore, having social connections with people reduces stress, anxiety, and depression; meanwhile, not having social connections can seriously jeopardize one’s mental health. The quick rise of social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others over the past ten years has brought about some major changes in the ways that people interact and communicate. Facebook is the largest social networking site with over a billion active users. It is expected that this figure will increase dramatically over time, especially in developing nations. Facebook is utilized for professional and personal communication, and its widespread use has improved online learning, idea exchange, and networking in many ways. In addition, 3.484 billion people used social media globally in 2019, a 9% rise from the previous year.
A person in a state of mental health is one in which they are able to see their own potential, overcome obstacles in their everyday lives, function well at work, and significantly improve the lives of others. The advantages and disadvantages of social media for mental health are now being discussed. Using social media to protect our mental health is crucial.
Using social media to protect our mental health is crucial. The quantity and quality of social contacts have an impact on mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk.
The misplaced behavior theory may help to shed light on the possible relationship between social media use and mental health. According to the psychology theory known as the “displaced behavior hypothesis,” people lack self-control and may act in ways that satisfy them immediately but are not consistent with their long-term goals when faced with difficult or stressful circumstances.
Furthermore, when individuals are unable to manage their stress in a healthy way, they may act out in ways that improve their mood momentarily but compromise their long-term objectives and general wellbeing. Social psychologist Roy Baumeister first proposed the displaced behavior theory in the 1990s. According to Baumeister, people are more inclined to act impulsively or destructively when they lack self-control. Self-control has a limited supply and can run out over time. This can result in a vicious cycle of negative actions and consequences, as people may do actions that temporarily relieve their stress but ultimately make things worse.
In accordance with the theoretical notions, people who use social media and other sedentary habits have less opportunities for face-to-face social connection, both of which have been shown to be protective against mental diseases. Conversely, social theories have found that social media use affects people’s interpretation, maintenance, and interaction with their social network, which in turn affects mental health.
Many research have been done on the effects of social media, and it has been suggested that extended usage of sites such as Facebook could be associated with negative expressions and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Adolescence is a unique and significant stage in a person’s life.
Furthermore, during this time, risk factors like bullying, social isolation, and family problems are common, and it is essential to protect social and emotional development. Many aspects of teenage lives have been impacted by the development of digital technology. One of the most blatant traits of today’s teens is their usage of social media. Being socially connected to others is a common occurrence, whether it be at home, school, or a social event. Teenagers use social media accounts to stay in regular contact with their peers. Social networking sites appeal to teenagers because they let them post movies, photos, and other content on their platforms. Teens can also make friends, have intellectual conversations, find new hobbies, and experiment with other forms of self-expression.
On these sites, users are free to like, comment on, and share posts without any limitations. These days, offensive comments are regularly posted by teenagers on social networking sites. Teenagers regularly participate in trolling for entertainment purposes without realizing the possible negative effects. Among other things, body shaming, individual talents, language, and lifestyle are the main targets of trolling on social platforms. Trolling can have negative repercussions such as tension, anxiety, depression symptoms, loneliness, and suicide thoughts. Through a review of the evidence, the authors explain how social media affects teenage well-being and offer prevention and intervention strategies for the individual, family, and community.
ARE YOUNG ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS ADVANTAGED OR DEFEATED BY SOCIAL MEDIA?
When it comes to using media to foster acceptance or a sense of community, adults tend to bundle several behaviors and patterns of use under one phrase and blame it for the issues that younger generations confront. Because different behaviors serve different aims and varied patterns of use yield different consequences, the effects of social media on mental health are multifaceted. Politicians and the general public frequently ignore the wide range of ways that people utilize digital technology because they view these uses as “generic activities” with no particular significance.
In light of this, it is critical to recognize the complexity of the relationships between digital technology and the mental health of adolescents. The lack of well-documented technology usage metrics exacerbates this empirical ambiguity. The most popular technique for gauging technology use is self-reporting, however it has limitations. This is due to the fact that self-reports rely on individuals’ subjective assessments of their own actions, which may not always be true. The link between self-reported smartphone usage patterns and empirically validated levels is, at most, minimal.
Not only does the measurement of a given behavioral category become less precise when disparate forms of technological use are combined into one, but the category itself becomes less precise as well. In order to achieve accuracy, we must examine the effects of numerous applications, ideally with the use of scientific study findings. Many of the research’s findings, which indicate that accessing social media may have a moderately negative but significantly detrimental effect on one’s mental health, have proven to be challenging to interpret. An expanding body of study is striving to offer a deeper comprehension of the factors influencing social interaction and mental health development.
Because social media employs a variety of distinct digital strategies, it is difficult to give a concise account of the effects it has on youth. Understanding the character traits that certain children may be more likely to display than others is essential before using and responding to social media in an appropriate or maladaptive way. Furthermore, it’s important to identify the precise actions or interactions that teens engage in on social media that endanger them.
In a prior study, the authors specifically asked teenagers in the US, and discovered that 31% of them thought the implications were mostly positive, 45% thought they were neither beneficial nor harmful, and 24% thought they were negative.
Teens who thought social media was helpful said it allowed them to meet people with similar interests, learn new things, and connect with friends. Some who think the consequences are severe claim that social media increases the likelihood of (i) bullying, (ii) neglecting in-person interactions, and (iii) forming false views about other people’s life. Additionally, by identifying the warning signs and applying the knowledge, there is a chance to prevent depression and suicide. The relationship that should be drawn between traditional dangers and those that can be encountered online is a recurring theme in this field of study.
The conventional narrative that is provided to parents is being called into question by the idea that the digital age and its impacts are too complex, fast changing, or subtle for us to fully understand or appropriately guide young people through. Finally, potential mediators of the relationship between social characteristics (such as gender, age, and parental participation) and teenage depression and suicidality need to be examined.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUNG ADULTS USING SOCIAL MEDIA
Teenagers’ encounters with their peers have a significant influence on the development and maintenance of psychopathology in those teens. In the realm of social media, peer connections can occur more frequently, intensely, and quickly than in real life. A few different kinds of peer relationships that might occur online have been linked in the past to mental health risks. It has been demonstrated that experiencing cyberbullying, sometimes referred to as cyber victimization, increases the likelihood of self-harm, suicide thoughts, and a host of other internalizing and externalizing problems.
The peer pressure seen on social networking sites may also be dangerous for young people. This can manifest as having your friends reject you, getting into online arguments, or experiencing drama or conflict. Teens who spend time online, where they have access to potentially harmful content as well as a broader variety of their classmates, may also be more susceptible to peer influence processes. Young people may be more likely to engage in dangerous conduct themselves, such as drinking or taking other drugs, if they are exposed to content on social media that portrays such activity.
Teenagers who are already at risk may be more likely to self-harm because it may be easy to obtain internet resources that discuss suicide and self-harm. According to a recent study, in the two weeks preceding their admission, 14.8% of young people who were committed to psychiatric hospitals due to their risk to themselves or others had visited websites that promoted suicide. The study involved adolescents who were referred to mental health facilities due to their potential to pose a risk to themselves or others. They like posting photos of themselves on social networking sites, which leads to a constant stream of messages and images that are frequently and laboriously edited to portray people in a positive way. This has an impact on some young people, causing them to start drawing negative comparisons between themselves and other people based on their accomplishments, skills, or looks.
Studies have shown a link between adolescents’ depressive symptoms and higher levels of social networking in comparison. The issue of displacement must be taken into account when analyzing the effects of teenage technology use on mental health.
This speaks to the issue of what other significant tasks are being supplanted by social media use. It is commonly known that children’s and adolescents’ circadian rhythms have a significant impact on their mental and physical development.
Nonetheless, prior research has consistently linked using a mobile device before bed to lower sleep quality outcomes. These outcomes include weariness during the day, shorter sleep durations, and lower sleep quality. Remarkably, 40% of teenagers say they use a mobile device within five minutes of going to bed, and 36% of teenagers say they wake up at least once during the night to check their electronics. This is why social media’s effect on sleep quality remains a significant risk factor for the development of mental health disorders in young people later in life, making it a crucial subject for further research in this field.
The majority of research studies looking into the connection between social media use and depressive symptoms have focused on the frequency and problematic nature of social media use. The majority of studies that were considered for this analysis discovered a positive and reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and, occasionally, thoughts of suicide.
Furthermore, it’s unclear how much this relationship is impacted by teens’ susceptibility and substance use traits. Furthermore, it’s unclear if additional environmental factors, including cultural values that differ or parental guidance and support, have any influence on this relationship. Although there is a good chance that moderate use is associated with better self-regulation, it is unclear if this is because intermediate users are inherently better at self-regulation.
BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
The distinctive characteristics of the social media ecosystem have made it possible to assist teenage mental health in more ways than ever before, even if the majority of the discussion surrounding young people and new media has focused on potential problems. Using social media may offer chances for amusement and comedy, identity development, and creative expression, among other advantages. Teenagers own more mobile devices than ever before, and they are use social media at never-before-seen proportions. Considering how much young people are lured to digital devices and the affordances they provide, as well as their increased desire for novelty, social approval, and affinity, this may not come as a surprise.
kids are utilizing digital technology for extended amounts of time, therefore it’s important to understand the implications of this usage and employ new technologies to support rather than undermine kids’ mental health and wellbeing. Instead, we should stress that digital technology is neither good nor evil in and of itself, especially in light of the current public discourse.
Social connection is one of the most well-known advantages of social media; according to 81% of students, it increases their sense of interpersonal connection. Teenagers commonly cite connecting with friends and family as the primary advantage of social media, and previous research generally supports the idea that doing so enhances people’s wellbeing.
Social media gives teenagers the chance to interact with people who share their interests, values, and life experiences, which can foster a greater sense of acceptance or community. Innovative uses in medical screening, therapy, and prevention are just a few of the ways that digital media may enhance adolescent mental health. Looking for indications of drug addiction or depression on social media pages has been considered to be a useful screening method in previous studies. More sophisticated machine learning techniques have been developed to recognize symptoms of mental illnesses on social media, including suicidality, depression, and PTSD.
The majority of studies on teenage media consumption that are currently being done use self-report measures. Because there has only been one study, it is impossible to draw solid conclusions about whether media consumption precedes or predicts harmful impacts on mental health. Adults often attribute the issues facing younger generations to the media. Media panics should not be only ascribed to the new and the unknown due to their cyclical nature. Thanks to technology, teenagers’ social connections, worldview, and time management have changed radically and swiftly. Social media presents a hitherto unseen chance to raise awareness of mental health issues, and social media-based health promotion initiatives have been evaluated for a variety of behavioral and cognitive health issues.
The rapid accessibility, vast possibilities, and capacity to reach remote locations via social media have made therapy choices for young people with mental health difficulties quite fascinating. Young people-focused mobile applications for mental health are acceptable, according to preliminary data, but more study is required to determine their efficacy and utility. As digital media becomes more and more important in young people’s lives, they are presented with both new opportunities and challenges. A growing body of studies indicates that the usage of social media by teenagers can affect their mental health. Nevertheless, given how quickly the environment of digital media is evolving, additional research is required.
IN CONCLUSION
People use technology effectively in the digital age; it does not “happen” to them. Although research indicates that most children won’t experience harm from digital technology, there are still circumstances in which they could. We found in this study that there is a link between teenage depression and social media use. Longitudinal studies are necessary because the majority of research is cross-sectional. Social media has a big impact on young people’s personal and social lives. Professional groups advise parents, educators, and institutions based on a body of contradictory and incomplete knowledge about youth and digital technology.
Policies limiting teen access to new technology may be ineffectual if they are required to foster social contact or develop digital and relational (digitally mediated) skills for expanding economies. Before we can offer firm recommendations for parents, educators, or institutions, additional study is required to fully understand the influence of social media on mental health. It is vital for young people’s health to reach them when they need help and at the appropriate times. Teens’ wellbeing may increase if a variety of friendships and resources are available.
FAQ’s
Q1: How does social media affect the mental health of adolescents and young adults?
A1: Social media can impact mental health in both positive and negative ways. While it fosters social connection, it also contributes to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of loneliness due to cyberbullying, social comparison, and pressure to maintain a certain image.
Q2: What are the main psychological issues linked to excessive social media use?
A2: Excessive social media use is often associated with anxiety, depression, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out),
