While social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, snap chat, etc. have their usefulness, they can be a bother when one starts to abuse their use.
Additionally, social media can be a big cause for poor mental health and this affects a lot of us, more than the statistics state. People are constantly struggling to judge whether social media is more harmful than the benefits it gives or not. The answer is yes. It is. So, let’s get to the details.
1. Eating & our body
Can eating affect our mental health? It sure can. Studies prove that people who actively use social media have a higher chance of consuming improper diets, with high-calorie foods being their go-to option and due to excessive use of the internet they move less and exercise rarely. This adds to their weight, causing obesity and makes their mood unpleasant. One could even say that being obese makes them think people will judge them online. You are what you eat is a common saying people exchange with each other and this holds for this point too. If you’re eating unhealthily, your moods tend to fluctuate more often and this may result in anxiety or depression extending to long periods.
Social media constantly revolves around ads, new discounts and offers by businesses that mostly sell fast food and this is what makes people crave more of it. You can say social media opens new avenues to eat. Science is peculiar in claiming that your body requires all types of nutrients to stay healthy. And if you aren’t healthy your physical health will pummel along with your mental state.
2. Envy
Did you see the new pictures of your friends on their vacation? How does that make you feel?
Not very good, I presume. Social media produces content where people constantly upload their versions of happiness. One person’s happiness can become another’s source of jealousy. This generates envy in the hearts of people and seeing others indifferent, possibly happier situations makes them compare with their lives.
This comparison is what drives people crazy. They no longer feel satisfied with the things they possess and this adds on to make their mental health worse.
3. Bad experiences
If you’ve been an avid user of social media, chances are you met someone toxic in nature. Their attitude may have rubbed on you and this is what we call an unfortunate experience.
Since people don’t come with tags it is easy to stumble upon individuals who treat you in undesirable ways. This can hurt you, affect you mentally and disturb you for days to come.
4. Hacking
Is your private information safe online? Are your pictures, texts, videos safe as well? You may think that’s true but the reality is different. Hackers steal private information and use it for their motives. If someone goes through this horrid experience then they’re bound to feel terrible. People who become victims of this act face extreme episodes of stress since their “secret” information is no longer secret and could be exposed to the world any time soon.
5. The need to grow
Social media requires time. Once someone gets hooked onto popularity then they feel the need to stay famous for ages. Moreover, people must post on the best times to post on social media and this adds to the pressure. This “need” can exhaust people mentally.
What do you think? Is social media beneficial or detrimental? Let us know.
