Our generation revolves around social media. We useit when we’re bored, when we’re happy, and even when we are sad. We have become dependent on it. Social media can be amazing in some ways, but very harmful in others.
As much as I love scrolling through Tiktok, Instagram or Pinterest, I find that social media has the ability to harm my mental health. When we use social media, our brains feel rewarded, so it releases a chemical called dopamine. Although this may sound great, releasing dopamine through social media is very harmful for your mental status. This is because these platforms are designed to be addictive, creating mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
When we use social media, it is easy to compare ourselves to others. We hold ourselves to a standard that is incredibly high or even impossible, because we see others living that lifestyle on our phones.
In reality, no one’s life is perfect, including influencers. The posts we see are planned, scripted, and rehearsed. Comparing yourself to others can also lead to depression and anxiety.
For certain and most personalities, social media reduces the want for face-to-face encounters because people become more comfortable talking behind the screen, rather than in person. I feel like this has become progressively worse, especially after the COVID pandemic, since people were stuck in their homes, with a lack of social interaction.
Although, social media definitely has its cons, it also has some pros as well. Social media helps our generation bond, allows instant communication, and allows us to build new or existing relationships. However, hacking and kidnapping rates have skyrocketed since social media and technology become more accessable. For example, there are more than 800,000 people who get hacked each year and 20% of children who engage in social media have become victims to online predators.
I believe that social media has the potential for greatness. If used correctly, we can use it to better ourselves and the world. In order to achieve that, we need moderation and renovation, so platforms can focus on better things rather than trying to harm their users’ mental health.