The Effect of Social Media on Students’ Mental Health
“When your mental health becomes impacted by social media then it is time for a detox.”
Germany Kent
Mental health is overall psychological well-being. The mind and body are connected in many ways, and achieving mental wellness leads to a boost in mood and helps build resiliency. If people are not healthy, they cannot succeed in any sphere, especially in studying.
As a generation that has never known a world without the Internet, it’s no surprise that social nets have become a staple in the daily lives of young people. The effect of social media on the mental health of young individuals can be different. While they can be a valuable tool for communication with family and friends and improving emotional state, they can also condition Internet addiction, negative emotions, and other unpleasant consequences. Here are some statistics on this issue:
Let’s look at the pros and cons of social media in terms of its impact on mental health of students.
Advantages of social networking for the mental health of students
Social media’s effect on students is not wholly negative, as commonly believed. Social media have a great way for students to stay connected with family and relatives, friends, and others. Social media platforms also provide a great tool for freshmen from dormitories to cope with anxiety after leaving their homes. Social networking can provide a place for students to unleash their creativity and let them have a good time, express themselves, create clubs, keep in contact with students who have common interests, organize meetings, etc.
Of course, interaction via social media can’t substitute completely face-to-face contact and bring relevant emotional benefits, nowadays there are many platforms where students can communicate and therefore support their emotional well-being during tough times. Apps such as Skype, Zoom, and Discord allow students to meet their peers online.
Spending time using platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn may help to promote positive self-esteem and uplifting feelings. This comes through positive likes, and comments that make us feel good.
In addition, social media is a rich resource of entertainment, whether it comes through articles, pictures, music, videos, or a place where we can laugh and smile. Students mostly get their news from their feeds, and using the Internet is the right way to be informed about academic or informal events. Social media shares different things students need to know, and colleges usually share information with their colleagues and students on different social media. A good number of students make research and look up information to accomplish their homework assignments.
Negative impact of Social Media usage
Telling the truth, there are the effects of social media on teens that can promote experiences such as:
Inadequate self-image or an inadequate understanding of one’s appearance. Most photos on social media are altered or filtered to make people look better. Despite being aware of it, young people still experience insecurity about their appearance or the adequacy of their lifestyle and self-image.
Almost all people tend to share only accomplishments and bright moments of their lives, so comparing, in this case, can be dangerous. When other people post photos of a party or having fun, individuals may ask themselves, “Why wasn’t I invited?” or “How could they go to clubs during the examination period? Am I that stupid that I can’t afford it?” Comparing one’s life to the imaginary online happiness of peers can lead to social trauma, unrealistic life expectations, and a decrease in self-esteem.
Poor concentration. Young people always have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop at hand, which has become the new normal. This constant involvement in online reality is dangerous to mental health. As long as students should focus on different tasks such as classwork or homework assignments, social media distracts them. Students often use social media while doing other important tasks, which reduces their concentration. Putting away gadgets or switching off notifications for a while can help students complete assignments or write essays faster. In some cases, it is better to order an essay from professional writing services.
Poor studying performance. Constant interruptions have an adverse effect on attention and reduce learning and performance. Wasting time online rests less time for studying, and overall performance in the classroom worsens. This can affect students’ grades as they focus on new notifications instead of the lecture. A discouraged student loses confidence and his or her self-esteem falls. The worse the grades, the lower the self-esteem. Such a student gets into a downward spiral of negative emotions.
Anxiety about missing out. Frequent use of social media enhances the feeling of loneliness, not reduces it. Students are active on social media. And taking photos, selfies, or writing something to express themselves and waiting for feedback from their peers. Negative feedback or a lack of it can make a person anxious and concerned. Having online friends does not mean having real friends, and impairment of social skills affects personal development and results in anxiety. Less face-to-face communication tends to result in fewer social, emotional, and mental benefits.
Internet addiction. Uncontrolled social media utilization among teenagers can lead to internet addiction. Flipping news feeds, students expose their brains to new stressors on screen. This habit of visiting online groups or spying on classmates’ and celebrities’ lives eventually turns into an addiction. Depression, if not handled early, can affect college performance, mental health, and personal development, and rarely but can lead to suicide, especially among people with an inferiority complex.
Sleep deprivation. Heavy smartphone use and media multitasking lead to insomnia. Scrolling late at night when the screen takes over our attention and keeps us awake affects our sleep cycle, making us stay awake long after midnight, ruminating on thoughts before going to bed. This behavior causes poorer academic performance and other unfavorable outcomes for mental health.
Conclusion
Social media have a significant impact on students’ mental health. Online social platforms can be both a distraction and an amazing tool for students. By understanding the potential dangers, students can take measures to protect their mental well-being and use social media responsibly, maintaining their mental health.
