Mental health: The harmful effects of social media

Source: The Straits Times

1 in 3 youths are experiencing mental health issues, according to the recent National Youth Mental Health Study conducted by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). This story couldn’t come at a better time as I’ve had some thoughts on this topic.

Relationship strains, cultural standards, societal pressure, and academic expectations are just some of the many contributors to poor mental health among youths like us.

However, one underlying cause of mental health problems that we often fail to recognise is the use of social media. At first glance, it may not seem all that dangerous, however, if you dig deeper, you’ll realise some of its real implications. 

Social media does have valuable benefits. But we must ask ourselves whether the excessive use of such platforms is good for society. 

I have had my fair share of mental health struggles myself and social media has had a part to play in it. The feeling of inadequacy is something that I have experienced often. This, coupled with a few other personal struggles, have taken a toll on my self-esteem and mental health.

Similarly, the National Youth Mental Health Study revealed that teenagers who spend over three hours on social media platforms daily may be more likely to develop mental health issues.

Social media has an addictive nature caused by factors like providing users with a glamorous glimpse into another’s life and social validation through metrics. This has made us stay glued to our devices for prolonged hours. Continuous usage of such platforms over a long period may cause adverse psychological changes in an individual, such as sleep deprivation, and decreased social interaction and productivity. 

In all honesty, this is something that I was guilty of as well. As a result of spending too much time on social media, I often experienced insufficient sleep and fatigue. This affected my life greatly as I started to procrastinate my daily tasks and encountered more frequent mood swings, easily feeling irritable. 

The same study by IMH found that youths who were suffering from mental health disorders were more likely to report having symptoms if they had body image concerns and spent over three hours on social media daily. 

One’s self-esteem could take a hit by viewing “ideal” body image stereotypes on social media. This causes us to set unrealistic expectations for ourselves when it comes to body image and appearance, making us feel inferior to those that we may come across on such platforms. I too tended to compare myself to others online subconsciously. Whenever I encountered this, some of the thoughts that permeated my mind include wondering why I wasn’t as successful as others or fell short of the ideal beauty standards. Over time, I began to develop insecurities that affected my self-esteem. 

Youths are still highly impressionable as they go through self-discovery at their development stage. As such, excessive social media usage could have detrimental effects on their self-esteem and mental health. Another article investigating the causes of youth mental health disorders by The Straits Times  titled “Research to look at surge in youth mental health issues; causes could include social media use”, identified several factors that negatively affect social media users such as the pressure of presenting oneself well, the fear of missing out, and cyberbullying. 

With that said, social media can be a useful tool when used in moderation. As they say, “too much of anything is bad.” Hence, I strongly feel that youths should be more aware of the repercussions of using social media excessively and learn to limit the amount of time they spend on such platforms.

Similar to my past self, you may be suffering from mental health problems in silence too. Through my experiences, I learnt that seeking help is the best thing you can do for yourself. The truth is that many of us are struggling with our unspoken battles and it is nothing to be ashamed of. 

As World Mental Health Day approaches, let’s take a moment to remember that you are not alone and help is always available. Do reach out to Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) or 9151-1767 (24-hour CareText via WhatsApp) if you need to speak to a professional.