When people see, that they're not being included in an activity, it can have a negative impact on their feelings, thoughts and health. In several studies revealed that prolonged use of social media can lead to various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, weight loss and memory loss.
Effects of social media
The way your brain is affected by social media is similar to how it is when you play a slot machine. When you open a new app, its content will prompt you to release a chemical that's similar to the reward that's generated by various pleasurable activities.
Disappointment can come when you compare yourself to others. It can also distract you from other tasks and lead to feelings of depression or anxiety. When you focus too much on the interactions that you receive on your content, it can create more problems. For instance, if a post you made is not received as much likes or comments as you hoped for, then you might feel like you were invalidated or disappointed.
One of the main reasons why people spend a lot of time on social media is FOMO, which means Fear Of Missing Out. This is because they might get nervous about what their friends are up to and what they're sharing. Scrolling and checking constantly can have detrimental effects on teenagers' academic performance and retention. It can also lead to decreased concentration, higher stress levels, and procrastination. In addition, seeing positive posts from friends can make them feel isolated and anxious. Getting out and having real-world interactions can be hard, than instead of chatting on a screen.
Social Media can become a very bad habit if people do not put a limit on the use of Social Media. Therefore if that limit is surpassed at a certain point teenagers and their parents must watch out for some warning signs like increased anxiety, depression or loneliness. Moreover, spending less time with friends and family members than the time they spend on social media. Overuse can also come up with harmful behaviors that people can engage in, on social media including cyberbullying, posting outrageous photos, and engaging in risky activities. Another crucial point that must be stated is self-absorption. sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-centeredness and distance you from real-life connections. Finally, and the worst of all, young adolescents use to compare themselves with others, as a result feeling jealous and intimidated.
Need to re-examine the problem and understand the real purpose of social media?
Today, most of us have smartphones and tablets that allow us to keep in touch with our social media accounts. However, this convenience comes with a downside, that everyone is constantly connected to the internet at all times, which can negatively affect our concentration and focus.
The goal of social media platforms is to catch your attention and keep you online. Unfortunately, this can create bad psychological conditions similar to an addiction to drugs, nicotine or alcohol. A positive reaction or like on a post can stimulate the release of a chemical in the brain(dopamine) that's associated with rewarding activities, such as gambling, a bite of chocolate or lighting up a cigarette.
Spending more time on social media increases our desire to keep up with the latest posts and achievements, even if it negatively affects our lives. So in order to illustrate that to teenagers in a way that they understand, parents must give them some accurate examples, which are somehow addictive but not that harmful to them!
On the other hand, being social is very important to humans, as it can help them feel happy and stress-free. Being able to connect with others can boost their self-worth and provide comfort and joy. Unfortunately, being disconnected from social connections can lead to various mental health issues as discussed previously. Today, most of people rely on various social media platforms to connect with others. While these platforms have their advantages, it's important to remember that they can't replace real-world human connections. In order to feel happy and stress-free, teenagers need to regularly interact with other teenagers face to face. Unfortunately, being too busy on social media can make teenagers feel isolated and lonely.
If you see your children constantly spending too much time on social media, it might be time to reevaluate their habits and find a better balance by explaining to them the above downsides of technology.
