In today’s world, social media has become an essential part of life, with the average person spending a significant amount of time using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But how does this usage impact mental health? How can we keep a balance between our online presence and our mental wellbeing? This article seeks to explore the effects of social media on mental health, and offer tips on how to enjoy social media in healthy doses.

1. “The Emergence of Social Media Anxiety”

In this era of social media being ever present in our lives, it has been increasingly noted that social media can also cause psychological distress in its users. Social media anxiety can refer to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, low self-esteem, and self-doubt that can be attributed to the usage of social media platforms. With the competitive nature of the ‘online environment,’ such feelings are becoming increasingly common.

can be attributed to various factors:

• Comparison: Social media is becoming an increasingly competitive platform, forcing us to compare ourselves with our peers. Seeing others with seemingly perfect lives can often lead to us feeling inadequate.
• Pressure to Perform: The pressures of social media feed into our desire for approval and recognition from our peers. This pressure can lead to envy, self-loathing, and stress if one fails to obtain the expected amount of ‘likes’ or followers.
• No Escape: The nature of the ‘always on’ world we now live in makes it increasingly difficult to take breaks from social media without fear of missing out. With no obvious ‘off switch’, a sense of compulsion to continue checking feeds of endless content can add to feelings of anxiety.

Social media anxiety can lead to a cycle of negative emotions such as depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety. This often manifests in behaviors such as impulsivity, social withdrawal, and poor sleeping habits. If left unchecked, this can begin to heavily affect an individual’s well being and mental health.

Finding a balance between using social media in a productive and healthy manner can be a challenge. However, incorporating simple tactics such as setting personal limits, actively curating the content that we are exposed to, and minimizing comparison with others can be an effective way to help cope with the feelings of anxiety that can be caused by extended use of social media.

2. “The Pressure to Perform: Social Media and Mental Health”

In today’s society, pressure to perform, or even, to “keep up with the Joneses” lies heavily on our shoulders. Commonly referred to as the “achievement” generation, this twenty-first century generation was raised within an environment of constantly high expectations. Never before has this pressure been so hard to escape; with the rise of social media, the constant comparison to celebrities and peers, as well as the pressure to become relentless success stories, now seems inescapable.

In many cases, the inability to live up to expectations leads to high levels of anxiety and depression, harming overall mental health. Every “like” holds the potential to define an individual’s value, and it is this system of comparison, and comparing oneself to one’s peers and celebrities, that really takes a toll on anyone’s state of mind. With incessant judgement, the focus on likes or certain metrics of success, mental health really takes a hit.

To make matters worse, posts on social media promote an air of grandeur, whereby people feel the need to portray an idealised version of themselves, or life, creating a lifestyle of unachievable perfection. This false sense of reality can fuel imposter syndrome, and further this power of comparison; leading to disappointment and disillusionment.

The Impact

• Unrealistic expectations breed feelings of inadequacy
• Comparison to peers or celebrities can breed envy
• The pressurised focus on likes can lead to feeling devalued
• False presentations of life can create feelings of worry or anxiousness

By understanding the psychological effects of social media on young adults, the need for mental health awareness and education is ever growing. Mental health should be a priority, and no aspects of life should lead to destructive levels of comparison.

3. “Benefits of Social Media and Mental Health”

Social media has changed the way the world interacts and communicates. It is no surprise to find that it also impacts mental health. With so much content being shared online and such easy access to it, it can be overwhelming. But the digital world also has great promise for mental health. Here are three .

• Heightened Awareness – Social media can make mental health-related issues more visible. People are talking more openly about their struggles and experiences and this creates a sense of shared understanding. This can provide a source of comfort by helping people understand that they are not alone in their struggles.
• Promoting Connection – Social media is often used to keep people connected to family and friends, and to meet new people who you may not have had the chance to meet in normal life. This helps to foster a sense of support and community which can be highly beneficial to mental health.
• Connecting to Resources – Social media has made it easier than ever to find the resources that you need in life. Many organizations are now reaching out with mental health awareness campaigns, providing links to online support, and offering reminders of positive self-care techniques.

In conclusion, social media can have both positive and negative impacts on our mental health. It is important to be aware of how it can affect us and to be mindful of how we use it. By being aware and using it responsibly, we can benefit from the many opportunities that social media can bring to our mental health.

4. “Creating Boundaries: Setting Limits on Social Media Usage”

Set and Follow a Schedule
Sometimes it’s best to set a specific time for social media use and stick to it. Whether it be for a certain number of hours or a particular window of time each day, people need to be mindful of overuse. It’s not hard to be drawn into the mindless scrolling after an hour or so. Therefore, it is important to stay aware of the time you spend online. Creating set times for logging off can help manage social media consumption.

Turn off Notifications
Many people are overwhelmed by the sheer number of notifications they receive. All these notifications can become be a distraction and lead to overuse. Therefore, it’s critical to switch off as many notifications as possible. Straightforward focuses like switching off SMS, e-mail, and any others notifications that may be enabled can make a large difference in terms of staying within the boundaries.

Create Automated Controls
If self-governance doesn’t seem to work, automatic controls can be implemented. Tools like App Limits on IOS devices, AppBlock on Android devices, and Rescue Time allow users to block themselves from certain apps or websites during certain hours. This automated method of creating boundaries takes the pressure off individuals from needing to make a huge effort in self-enforcement.

5. “Putting Self-Care First: Developing Healthy Habits for Social Media Use

Your use of social media affects your physical and emotional health. It’s therefore important to actively cultivate healthy habits for social media use.

These habits are the same as the ones you practice for your wellbeing in general. Just like you prioritize “me time”, ensure a balanced diet, and practice mindfulness, it is also essential to set healthy behaviors when you’re scrolling your social media.

• Set limits: Choosing how long you stay on a particular platform is important in creating a healthy relationship with social media. It’s possible to decide on a time frame and to stick with it.
• Mute: Spare yourself the agony of finding out why Karen unfollowed you by opting to mute or unsubscribe from unpleasant feeds. This will also save you time and mental bandwidth.
• Pause: Before you click on an article or post, pause. Consider why you’re drawn to that type of content and its potential effect on your mood. Any social media action should be choice not a reflex.

Creating healthy practices for social media use is a step towards curating a nourishing environment that is conducive to your growth. It’s also part of a greater self-care journey that can help make you more mindful and appreciative of your surroundings.

We’ve seen that social media can be both a great asset to our mental health and a potential hazard, so it’s important to keep track of what you do online and manage your presence. We hope this article has inspired you to think more carefully about how to stay healthy while using social media. Remember: you are the one in control of your online presence, and by being mindful of your wellbeing, you can use social media to reach heights you never thought possible.