EDITORIAL | Social Media as an Antagonist

Social media is a good platform for everyone, especially with the convenience it provides to reach our loved ones. However, too much consumption of social media and any online platform may not be good for our health.

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One click, you see a pretty lady that has everything you wanted, another click, you see a motivational quote as if giving you a sign towards what you’ve been asking for, one more click, you see someone’s achievements that pressures you about life. It’s like a rollercoaster ride each scroll you do in social media. It is entertaining, yes, but it can also be destructive. As the saying goes, too much is never good.

Social media provides different opportunities, entertainment, income, and convenience when it comes with connectivity. As it comes with good features, it also has its bad sides. There goes depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, addiction, and many more which are caused by relying too much on social media. On another note, social media can also be a good influence for someone because of the platforms available in the present.

One of which is TikTok which provides opportunities to content creators to showcase their talent and increase their self-esteem with the feedback from their viewers. Users are also able to get comfort and companionship they need during hard times from strangers because it is easier now to talk to them despite their differences. The existence of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media applications allows people to connect with one another, allowing them to build a strong connection with other people in times of isolation. This reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness that one is experiencing.

However, one should not forget that the virtual world is far different from how we connect in the real world. Nothing can compare to the happiness, excitement and healthy relationship that came from socializing personally. According to Robinson and Smith (2023), despite the role of social media to bring people closer together, it is ironic how one can still feel lonelier and isolated, which may cause mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

One of the influences of social media on mental health is insecurity. People have different statuses, capabilities, physical features, and luck. There we may see someone who always changes their phone to the latest ones, someone who has a pretty and unique physical features, or someone who always posts their purchased luxuries without worrying about their finances. These types of posts in social media may awaken one’s insecurities and affect how they live their life because of the enviousness that they are feeling.

Social media can also affect the anxiety and stress level of a person because of the achievements of other people that they see. People who have not yet achieved anything in life might feel pressured and notice the inadequacy in their life as they compare themselves to another. It can be stressful because knowing where to start is hard enough when you want to be successful. Considering how you are aware that there is someone who can easily get what you want and has achieved so many things in life already is even harder because of the pressure from the people around you. Not only that but people are also easy to judge everything they see in the media. This is the root of cyberbullying, isolation, and depression that may affect a person’s mental health.

Social media is a good platform for everyone, especially with the convenience it provides to reach our loved ones. However, too much consumption of social media and any online platform may not be good for our health. Re-examining your online habits can be helpful to determine whether it is still healthy for you or it is slowly becoming unhealthy already. Social media detox is a way to reduce the stress, anxiety, and negativity that it provides us. It is not bad to have fun and explore, but we should always prioritize our mental health and listen to what our body says.

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References:

Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (2023, March 29). Social Media and Mental Health. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm