Notes

social media
If you can’t imagine your life without social media, you’ve probably fallen victim to the power that social networking sites have on people. The chances are that you’ve also experienced some of the negative effects of social media on people who use them. You might be surprised to learn that the negative effects of social media are both physical and mental. They can change your perception of the world and yourself. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your mental and emotional health. Everyone is different and there is no specific amount of time spent on social media, or the frequency you check for updates, or the number of posts you make that indicates your use is becoming unhealthy. Rather, it has to do with the impact time spent on social media has on your mood and other aspects of your life, along with your motivations for using it.

negative effects of social media
Depression and anxiety. Human beings need face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to-eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

nadequacy about your life or appearance. Even if you know that images you’re viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what’s going on in your own life. Similarly, we’re all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives, rarely the low points that everyone experiences.

Being distracted at school or work. You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends’ posts.

General addiction. Social media can be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. It has a powerful draw for many people that leads to them checking it all the time without even thinking about it

positive effects of social media:
Social Media Helps You Build Relationships. There is no doubting that having social networking in our lives can lead to relationships breaking up. But there is another side to the story, which is that people are moving onto other, perhaps better, relationships.

Virtual communities can help teens feel supported. Teens use social media to stay rooted in optimism and inspiration by posting something they’re grateful for daily, inspirational quotes or images, and also following hashtags and people that do something similar.

Social media increases impact and knowledge. Social media can be a vehicle for doing good. Giving every teen a chance of making an impact in the community is very crucial. And with the use of social media, that impact is just one click away. It exposes them to essential issues not only in their community but all over the world as well. And with it, more teens are now empowered to help and support people all over the world even just if it’s miles away from them.

All I can say on this issue is… You are in control of your feed. Identify what is not healthy and press the unfollow button, Find a goal in your screen time so that it does not become a pastime. Never post criminal activity, The most important tip for tweens and teens when using social media is not to post anything that is evidence of illegal activity. and the ultimate Be aware of the content you are eating, and what that content seems to want from you, Social media can certainly offer many benefits, but as a therapist, I have many parents who express concern that digital technology is affecting their children’s emotions and social lives.