- Social media: the psychological consequences particularly affect young people
- Pros and cons of social media
- How to use social media in a healthy way?
social media it has become an integral part of human life. Teenagers and young adults especially enjoy, share and network on social media every day. However, this constant use not only has positive consequences. The negative effects on the psyche are repeatedly discussed. Studies show that spending too much time on social media can be dangerous.
Consequences of social media on the psyche: young people are particularly at risk
A look at The statistics shows that especially the Psyche of people between 14 and 24 years old it is in danger. They use social media more and are still at a crucial time for emotional and psychosocial development. Also, one shows Survey by the DAK-Gesundheit and the German Center for Addiction QuestionsThat addicted to social media and it is assumed that 2.6 percent of young people in Germany are already dependent. So social media platforms that are supposed to help people network can actually fuel mental crises.
This reinforces the need to address the psychological consequences. Since this is such a new phenomenon, the exact impact on the mental health, emotional well-being, and physiology of today’s adolescents and young adults not yet fully clear and much of the evidence is conflicting.
Recent studies however, they express serious concerns about the possible negative impact that the increased use of social media is having, in particular on the mental health. It should also be said that there are not only negative effects of social media on the psyche.
Mental health: positive and negative impact of social media
The use of social media brings in addition to opportunities, there are also various complex problems with himself. A report released in 2017 summarizes the influence social media has on young people in particular Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) together. Look into both positive and negative effects.
Positive effects on the psyche:
- Access to health information: Social networks offer young people with mental health problems, for example, the possibility to read and see the health experiences of others and to take something with them for their own business. Furthermore, adolescents rarely face health problems and use fewer health services; this is especially true for mental illnesses. Social media offers the possibility to reach this target group and receive specialist health information.
- Community Building and Emotional Support: Conversations that arise on social media provide opportunities for young people to find like-minded people with whom they have no real-life contact. Seven out of ten teens say they’ve found support on social media during tough times.
- Self-discovery and identity strengthening: In their teens and early twenties, young people experiment with their identity and want to try new things. By creating personalized feeds, they have the opportunity to express themselves and find out who they are.
- Building and maintaining relationships: Social media platforms are a useful tool for creating and sustaining real life and building human relationships.
Negative effects on the psyche:
- Promotion of depression and anxiety: Research shows that young adults who frequently use social media for more than two hours a day are more likely to be affected by mental health problems, including depression and anxiety disorders. Social media is not necessarily the trigger, but a reinforcing factor for fears and feelings of inadequacy. Unrealistic expectations raised by social media can leave young people with low self-esteem, which can then manifest as anxiety or depression.
- Sleep disorders: Numerous studies show a significant connection between poor quality sleep in young people and social media use. It is believed that the use of LED lights at bedtime can be disruptive. They block natural processes in the brain that trigger fatigue and the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. This means it takes longer to fall asleep.
- Distorted body image: Body image is an issue for many people, both men and women, but especially young women. An online survey on “Instagram & Body Image” found that over 50% of participants feel the pressure on their appearance from Instagram.
- Cyberbullying: Childhood bullying is an important risk factor for mental health. The consequences usually make themselves felt well into adulthood. Social media has allowed children and young people to be in constant contact with each other. This allows bullies to continue their abuse even when they are not around the person. More than a third of young people are in annual JIM study assume they have someone in their circle of acquaintances who has already been screwed over on the internet.
- Fear of Losing: The concept of fear of missing out (FOMO) is relatively new and has grown in popularity since the advent of social media. Essentially, “FOMO” is the concern that social events take place without one’s presence and that something is missing. It triggers a feeling of a constant need to be connected and of being lost when you’re not. “FOMO” leads to a poorer mood and lower life satisfaction in those affected. Increasingly, young people report being disturbed in the form of fear or feelings of inadequacy.
Tips for a healthier lifestyle
Social media is not a short-lived phenomenon that will pass. Rather, it has become an integral part of daily life. A conscious use of apps such as Instagram, Facebook and Co. can reduce the dangerous psychological consequences. We have some Tips and ideas for a healthier lifestyle summarized for you:
- Set time limits: How good a day is for you personally is very individual. However, it is recommended that you keep your social media usage under two hours. Excessive use has been shown to promote depression and anxiety. So think carefully about the times of day and how long you want to scroll through social media. In some apps, you can set a reminder when the time limit for the day has been exceeded.
- No scrolling before bed: Since LED lights suppress fatigue, you shouldn’t take your cell phone to bed with you. Create new rituals that make it easier for you to fall asleep. For example, you can read a few more pages or meditate. Even in the morning, the day should not start directly with the smartphone. Take some time off before perusing your social media feed.
- Looking for Genuine Role Models: It’s always important to ask yourself who you’re following and if those people are good for you and your self-esteem. Especially people who are insecure about their bodies are very prone to negative feelings and dissatisfaction when confronted with perfectly flawless fitness or food influencers. More and more influencers are opposing this cult of the body. They appear without make-up and demand more naturalness and authenticity.
- Preventing Cyberbullying: Inhibitions often fall on the Internet, because anonymity makes some dishes particularly difficult. There are some safeguards you can take against hateful comments and cyberbullying. Set your social media profile to private so that only people on your friends list can see your posts. You can also set that people are no longer allowed to follow you and that strangers can’t send you messages. Parent tip: The “Look! What your child is doing with the media” initiative offers families extensive information on media literacy. There you will find information for you and your child.
- All is not as it seems: When using it, make yourself aware that what you are looking at does not correspond to complete reality. Filters, Photoshop and perfectly posed scenes – everything is digitally beautiful. Internet users should believe that they lead a perfect life and always spend their free time on great beaches. But everyone has a bad day, is frustrated, or has painful moments. These are not just shown. If you still aren’t feeling well, take a break on social media.
Conclusion
In general, it’s important to not be available from time to time. Consciously create media-free times and pay attention to your real life. Maybe you play sports, take a walk in the sun or read a good book. Parent tip: Realize that you are a role model for your child. You can also create these spaces and times together with your child where you are both smartphone-free.
Reading tip: Dangerous corona effect: More and more children are addicted to social media and games.
