Is social media a double-edged sword? Read the positives and negatives of social media.
The nature of social media is to reinforce. By producing dopamine, a “feel-good chemical” connected to enjoyable pursuits like sex, eating, and social connection, using it activates the brain’s reward center. Social media is intended to be addictive, and it has been linked to medical problems including sadness and anxiety.
People publish information in the expectation of receiving favourable feedback in order to increase self-esteem and experience a sense of belonging in their social circles. The structure of potential future reward combined with that material creates a prescription for continual social media platform checking.
Is social media bad for mental health?
Yes, it can be for some people. But ultimately, how social media affects mental health largely relies on the individual. It might genuinely improve mental health for some people.
Anxiety, stress, and sadness are known to be decreased by human connection. Socializing can increase happiness and joy while boosting self-esteem, preventing loneliness, and teaching us how to navigate and deal with life’s obstacles.
Today, a lot of individuals use social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and others to interact with others and build relationships. Nevertheless, despite the fact that it is frequently a pleasant and beneficial experience, face-to-face contacts still outweigh digital relationships.
Some of the negative sides of social media include:
- Lower self-esteem, as there are many possibilities on social media to compare yourself to others. Scrolling could make you envious of the lives of those in your social circle.
- Sleep deprivation as using social media may excite your brain when you truly want to be winding down for the night. You might find it considerably more difficult to fall asleep as a result.
- Numerous studies have found a link between social media use and depressive and anxious symptoms.
- Actually lowering the chance of meeting other in persons and connecting with others.
Looking at positives of social media
Social media isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As we’ve already said, when used properly, it can improve some people’s mental health. Although virtual social contacts don’t have the same psychological advantages as in-person encounters, they can nonetheless keep us in touch with our loved ones, which ultimately improves wellbeing.
Social media can give you access to a variety of resources, whether you’re looking for support groups, educational publications, or helpful tools and ideas. Of course, you should always be wary of the source due to the possibility of bias or inaccuracy.
Additionally, social networking can help users get past some of the obstacles they have while seeking to access services.
Eliminating physical borders for human interaction
Your possibilities for socializing were, for the most part, geographically constrained before social media. If you had lived in a small town, it might have been difficult for you to meet people.
In order to widen your inner circle, you can now swiftly and simply “travel” beyond your city, state, or even continent thanks to social media.
What is the link between social media, mental health and psoriasis?
Psoriasis sufferers frequently have anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
As psoriasis scars patients with psoriasis, making them socially insecure it can be often made worse by going through social media and comparing lives with others. Always keep in mind, especially with visual platform such as Instagram, content is often shown with a filter. Although people will often present themselves as successful and happy in social media, the reality is that each person has worries and problems, often related to a medical condition.
Rather each out to people in similar situations and openly discuss with them your struggles and ask for advice and relief.
Use social media with caution
Recognizing social media as a tool is the first step in creating a positive relationship with it.
You could feel a little bad about your behaviors if you notice that you are using social media more than ever lately. But it’s entirely understandable to fall into the social rabbit hole.
As an illustration, social media might make you feel more alone and lonely. However, it can also enable you to make contact with others who are dealing with comparable difficulties in life or who share your interests.
Ultimately, understanding how your use impacts you is the key to improving your relationship with social media. An healthier relationship with social media and with yourself can result from taking small efforts and using it more thoughtfully.
