All posts by Sumana Rao

Don't worry about the people in your past; There's a reason they didn't make it to your future.
Impact of social media on mental health

Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Did I get as many likes as others? Did my friends saw my selfie? What do they think? How many views I got? How many followers I have? These questions continuously pops up in minds of those who are constantly active on social media. Over the years social media has taken prime spot in our lives. While the social platforms have several positive and enjoyable benefits. It  is also responsible for aggravating the problems related to mental health. Many spend hours on Instagram, Facebook, messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat,  texts etc. are responsible for both positive and negative impact on our lives. A recent study showed that females are much likely to experience mental health issues by using social media than males! According to Pew Research Center 69% adults and 81% teens are on social media in US alone.

“To boost self-esteem and feel a sense of belonging in their social circles, people post content with the hope of receiving positive feedback”

Mental Health is defined as a state of well-being in which people able to understand their abilities, problems, contribute to society, understand social responsibility. Mental health is crucial in all stages of our life, childhood to adolescence through adulthood. When a person has issues with mental health it affects the way how they think, their mood, behavior. Factors generally responsible for mental health condition are: Biological factors (genes and brain chemistry), Life experiences (abuse or trauma), Family history (mental health problems).

Social media’s negative influence mental health because of the combination of experiences, abuse, brain chemistry, family history combination that a person goes through.

Image credit: Photo by Firmbee.com on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

References: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/social-media-and-mental-health

https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/online-master-of-public-health/impact-of-social-media-on-youth-mental-health/

Excessive social media is harmful for health: Read More

Excessive use of social media

Fear of missing out (FOMO) on social media: Read More

Fear of missing out

Focusing on oneself negative body image : Read more

Negative body image and social media

Cyberbullying and mental health issues: Read more

Cyberbullying and social media issue

Behavioral changes and mental challenges: Read more

Behavioral changes and social media

Sleep disorder and communication problem: Read more

Communication issue & sleep disorder

How to overcome social media related mental stress?: Read more

Activity helps to overcome social media stress

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: October 12, 2022
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Excessive use of social media

Excessive social media is harmful for health

Excessive social media use can create  self-perpetuating cycle and negative effect:

Why people go on social media – not just get news or to see what is happening in friends and relatives’ lives. People go on social media to overcome certain mental situation they are in. For example.

  1. When someone feels lonely, stressed, anxious and/or depressed will go on social media to come out of boredom and to lift mood which might not happen
  2. It worsens anxiety, depression and increases stress. Makes one feel more isolated
  3. Increase of social media activity increases dissatisfaction, makes one feel worthless and feel isolated and inadequate.
  4. As the mental symptoms increase, one will depend on social media more and more which results in further decline in mental health.

What are some of mental issues that can emerge from excessive use of social media?

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Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Fear of missing out

Fear of missing out (FOMO) on social media

 If one is addicted to social media a few minutes staying away from it could result in FOMO. This fear of missing something, will cause anxiety, reduces self-esteem, and will make one use social media more and more.

These individuals look at social media minute to minute and respond to every post and chat continuously. The satisfaction of being up to date on posts,  responding to someone’s comments, being alert and responding to chat immediately might happen even at late night causing sleep disturbance which will have huge impact on mental health. This addiction also continues while driving, in classroom, at work which could lead to more problems. Prioritizing social media over real world will only further deteriorate  the lifestyle and could lead to depression.

Interacting with friends whom you have not seen or met, then interacting with real life friends who are with you could lead to breakups in relationship. When a person realizes what is happening it could be late and the separation from loved ones could cause mental issues

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Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Negative body image and social media

Focusing on oneself negative body image

Some people go on Instagram post selfies and post stories about what is happening in their life  almost every day. These also have a habit of comparing themselves to others. The more time they spend on thinking and reading about what others saying or commenting, more you try to impress people. Spending more time on these platforms than with real friends could lead to breakup in relationship. Staying away from the media for few hours will cause anxiety and anger because there will be a constant thought of others having more fun than me by participating on social media accounts.

It just does not stop there. Those who constantly post about themselves and investigate others response, will unfavorably compare themselves with others. Constantly taking selfies and posting it on social accounts to see what others say and comparing with posts by others will cause tension and anxiety  If there are less likes, few comments, it could lead to negative body image and result in low self-esteem.  To improve body image, one might end up in  eating disorders which  is a result of mental stress.

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Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Cyberbullying and social media issue

Cyberbullying and mental health issues

Cyberbullying is what could cause more damage in one’s life. We don’t have much control on what others say about us in real life, then how can we control what others write or post on us on social media? Because most teens and young adults have smartphone access anytime one can experience bullying by virtual means.

When someone repeatedly picks on, harasses, intimidates, humiliates at any time of the day or night one will feel like defending oneself. Sometimes the cyberbullying is anonymous, and one cannot do anything, feeling helpless. Kids or adults who go through cyberbullying will avoid talking to family and friends, will be withdrawn at school and home. These individuals will not be able to concentrate, have no sleep, feel angry, depressed, might start using drugs, say meaningless things, false smile and often talk about suicide. These are mental health issues that come up due to cyberbullying.

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Behavioral changes and social media

Behavioral changes and mental challenges

To get more likes, followers and comments a person can constantly be on social media. 

To be in limelight on social media, one can engage in risky behavior. To gain more shares, likes, smiley face, heart, share and care – one can post unrealistic things, could play dangerous pranks, could put others down, posting embarrassing things, being mean to others, cyberbullying peers and picking on weak personalities. Other behavioral change could be rash driving, making video while driving or in spots which could be a risk to one’s life and put life in risk in unsafe situation – all just prove how great I am and to get more likes.

Such behavioral change is also mental illness. It increases anger, causes depression, anxiety, makes a person unhappy and mood out. It does not allow an individual to grow as a normal person. Everything a person do is to gain popularity and it limits inner growth.

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Communication issue & sleep disorder

Sleep disorder and communication problem

Sleep disorder and mental strain:

Those who spend time on social media before going to be, while on bed and even waking up to see what is happening obviously get less sleep.  Light from the devices disrupt sleep and will have serious impact on mental health.

Those who are already suffering from mental health issues might suffer more and the condition could further worsen. Instead of boosting the mood, lack of sleep could increase depression, anxiety, stress and even can elevate negative feelings. After using social media for longer hours, one could also feel lonely and depressed.

Sleep deprivation could lead to dementia and early memory loss.

Social interaction and communication problems:

Those who visit social media platform (other than work related) might use social media a security blanket. Many use social media while sitting in a group, with family over dinner or gathering or when with friends to avoid interaction.

Using social media as a security blanket to avoid interacting with others will cause and increase the problem of communication. To avoid feeling awkward, anxious, lonely and to avoid talking people will investigate posts constantly. Such negative interaction denies one’s development, decreases communication skills and reduces self- esteem. Not trying to mingle with others could have huge negative impact on a person’s life. Before noticing and acting on it, one could be already withdrawn from surroundings, feel isolated and lonely. They may feel unhappy and unwanted causing severe depression.

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Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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