“Don’t be a slave to technology – manage your phone don’t let it manage you”- Richard Branson
The rapid growth of social media over the last decade has established an entirely new medium for human interactions. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram enable people from every corner of the world to be connected 24*7. It is estimated that 3 billion people (approximately 1/3rd of the world population) currently use social media.
To paraphrase Spiderman – With such great influence and power comes great responsibility. Irresponsible and excessive use of social media leads to what is referred to by a wide variety of studies and experts as, social media addiction. It is currently estimated that social media addiction affects 5% of young adults and was recently described as potentially more addictive than alcohol or cigarettes.
This article aims to briefly describe how social media, if used irresponsibly, could affect mental well-being.
- Addictive – Research has shown that social media apps and websites have the same effect on the brain as gambling. When a result is unpredictable, like in a slot machine, the behaviour is likely to be repeated. Similarly, on social media, one does not know how many likes a picture will get, who will like it, when will a picture get liked. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive and keep users engaged.
- Unhealthy comparison – “Comparison is the thief of joy”. It is no secret that the comparison factor in social media leads to jealousy-most people will admit that seeing other peoples’ tropical vacations and perfectly behaved kids is envy inducing. This often leads to a vicious cycle. Feeling jealous can make a person want to make his or her own life look better and post jealousy inducing content of their own resulting in an endless cycle of one upping and envy.
- FOMO – The popular concept of FOMO (fear of missing out) refers to “a perversive apprehension that others might be having a rewarding experience from which one is absent”. Humans are social beings who desire group interactions. Therefore, perceived exclusions can have damaging psychological impacts. FOMO is another reason that makes scrolling through social media so enticing. However, constant checking and scrolling can have a detrimental effect on work life or schoolwork. The constant distraction can lead to procrastination, less retention of input and higher levels of stress.
- Filtered reality – Social media put a distorted lens on appearance and reality. The 24*7 circulation and easy viewability of manipulated, curated and modified images on social media platforms prompts and entrenches unrealistic expectations on how young people should look and behave. When these expectations are invariably not met the impact on self-esteem can be damaging.
Despite its shortcomings the benefits of social media cannot be overlooked. It enables people to stay connected 24*7 and provides a platform to express their talents or explore other interests. Social media is now an integral and to an extent irreplaceable part of our lives.
“The dose makes the poison” is an adage credited to the Swiss physician Paracelsus in the 16th century but is applicable to social media and its usage 500 years later, today. A multipronged approach involving parents, schools and the social media platforms themselves is needed to educate the youth and promote responsible and safe usage of social media. Below is a non-exhaustive list of steps towards this goal.
A) Schools
- Promote a well-planned digital curriculum with emphasis on digital literacy and digital resilience
- How to securely use social media and not share personal information.
- Taught to critically evaluate content to identify fake and digitally edited content.
B) Parents
- Role Models – The Parents’ frequency of electronic use can set the tone for what is permissible to their children.
- Parents need to develop their own digital literacy so that they are aware of the platforms the child is using and the risk these platforms expose them to.
- Set rules -limiting amount of screen time, not using social media at night, during meals, etc.
C) Social Media Companies
- Establish a strict, more robust policies on the age at which user can access platforms.
- Generate a warning message when users exceed a reasonable amount of screen time.
- Provide a warning message that images may have been digitally edited.
-Dr. Leon Da Silva