Just One More Scroll…(I Lied)

How Social Media Affects Our Mental Health

Social media is just a part of our everyday lives, whether we like it or not. Most people check some form of media first thing without even a thought. Picking up your phone seconds after waking up, checking it in between things throughout the day, and using it right before bed. But this is a part of living in the digital age, right? For younger generations, it has always been a core part of our lives and something we have grown up on. 

As much as social media has helped us stay connected in ways we would never have imagined, it also has its downfalls. You could be scrolling all day, and everything is fine when other times it may feel the complete opposite. There’s a side to it that can be tough to ignore. Although social media can build community and good relationships, it can also create toxic environments at times. It can make things worse without you fully realizing it.

Sometimes it feels like social media does more harm than good…

A common theme in social media use is scrolling for so long that you start to feel worse for no reason. The amount of times I’ve been scrolling on TikTok or Instagram reels and noticed how my algorithm was making me feel drained is unfortunately too common. Depending on how your algorithm is and how things are being presented, even something as simple as a negative comment section can feel too overwhelming. 

Social media platforms have rapidly expanded throughout the years. From older platforms like Myspace and Facebook to TikTok today. Social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Twitter serve more than just staying in touch. Nowadays, it’s way more than just having an app to connect and contact friends; it’s a place where people voice their opinions, negative comments, along with posts that don’t seem to add anything to real life. TikTok once started as just an app where people would lip sync, and now it is an app where people can openly share their opinions on any issue of their choice.

Although there are many benefits to social media, there is also a darker side that seems to be taking a toll on the mental well-being as well, especially with the younger generation. The problem isn’t just the extensive time young people spend on social media; it’s that these platforms are intentionally designed to keep you engaged without you even realizing. This can negatively impact your mental well-being. Simply just surfing the internet can have a direct effect on your state of mind, no matter if you’re engaging or not. 

Even if you don’t intend to, sometimes we subconsciously compare ourselves to others’ lives via their profiles. You open any social media platform and instantly get flooded with images of perfect bodies, dream vacations, and seemingly flawless lifestyles. One thing that helps me with comparison is taking a second to keep in mind that you’re only seeing what someone wants you to see. Most times, a person’s profile is the highlight, a sliver of their life. No one’s perfect, and we only post a very small portion of what our life looks like. 

 When I was in my years of discovering myself and figuring out who I was, I would often compare myself to others on social media without even realizing it. I still catch myself doing it to this day, but I make the effort to remind myself that not everyone’s social media presence is real. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that photos can be edited, filtered, or even staged. It is just a facade most of the time, especially with influencers. Yet for impressionable teenagers scrolling through content, it feels very much real, not staged. 

We’ve all experienced that trap of “FOMO,” also known as Fear of Missing Out. FOMO is yet another way social media takes a toll on mental health. With constant updates and notifications, young people are often aware of what their friends are up to. Whether it’s a party they weren’t invited to or a trending event they missed, FOMO can trigger feelings of anxiety and exclusion. 

Today, young people face social pressure not only in real life but also in the digital world. The constant feeling that you need to stay updated on one’s social media presence adds another layer of stress. This pressure to feel like you need to be in the loop through social media often leads to an unhealthy dependency. Whether you feel the urge to check your favorite influencers’ Snapchat stories throughout the day, fearing you might miss out on something, or just checking on your close friends. 

In my eyes, cyberbullying is one of the biggest problems that comes with social media. Unlike “traditional” bullying, which might be confined to the school environment, cyberbullying will follow you anywhere you go. This is often common in young people who are still forming their identities, and with that, being targeted online can be incredibly damaging. Constant harassment, threats, and hurtful comments can feel overwhelming, especially at a younger age. 

Here are a few things you can do to protect your peace. Try not to go on your phone as soon as you wake up. If that feels too difficult, then moving apps off your main home screen can help, so you are less likely to just click on an app right away. Turning off notifications also makes a huge difference. Try following accounts that make you laugh or bring a smile to your face! Most importantly, give social media purpose. Ask yourself, “Why am I still scrolling?” or “What am I going on here for?” 

Social media has its perks, and it has its downfalls. It’s not going away, and honestly, neither is my habit of opening up Instagram for absolutely no reason. But I think it’s important to be aware of how it connects us in a lot of ways, but can also affect our mental well-being in huge ways we don’t always speak about.