Typically, human beings are social creatures who must communicate to have a normal and progressive life. Therefore, when people are socially connected with others, health concerns such as stress, anxiety, and sorrow are relieved (Karim et al., 2020). Lack of social connection can pose a significant risk to mental health. Today, they rely on different social media platforms to express their feelings about a significant event or a happy moment. In the modern world, many people all over the world are using social media platforms such as Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook to find and connect with friends and family (Braghieri et al., 2022).
In other words, social media has become part of people’s everyday activities. A huge percentage of studies have noted that these social connections significantly affect mental health, which can be negative or positive (Karim et al., 2020). However, increased studies show that social media negatively impacts mental health, and censorship is not a practical solution (Coyne et al., 2020). The proposal will comprehensively focus on how social media significantly affects the U.S. overall mental health and provide a way(s) forward since censorship is not a remedy.
Although increased studies have recognized the good side of social media on mental health, there is also a negative impact. Also, recent debates have increased concerning the benefits and bottleneck of social media and mental health (Karim et al., 2020). According to increased studies, social media users are at high risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and suicidal ideation (Braghieri et al., 2022). Social media platforms may promote various adverse experiences that deteriorate overall mental health in the country. In this context, mental health refers to a state of wellness where people understand their capacities to solve daily issues, perform well, and significantly contribute to their lives and society (Coyne et al., 2020). Inadequacy about life or appearance is widespread among social media users. For example, viewing photos that a person knows very well they are manipulated may make one feel insecure about their appearance or what is happening with their own life. This triggers dissatisfaction and may lead to stress (Braghieri et al., 2022).
According to Pew Research Center, around 68% of adults and 81% of teens in the United States use social media. As such, it subjects a large population to an increased risk of developing negative aspects that reduce overall mental health (Coyne et al., 2020). Therefore, when a large number of people use social media, there is a fear of missing which has a negative impact on mental health. People on various social platforms exacerbate feelings that others are having a good time and living better lives than others (Valkenburg, 2022). Such ideas impact mental health, and an individual may feel low self-esteem, trigger anxiety, fuel effective social media use, such as addiction, and spend many hours a day on social media (Karim et al., 2020). Fear of missing out makes an individual take much time on various social media platforms to the extent of failing to eat and sleep and prioritizing media interaction over genuine world relationships such as meet-ups (Braghieri et al., 2022).
Isolation is another negative issue triggered by social media and has a substantial adverse impact on mental health. People on Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram post the status of their relationships to show how they are happy with their lives (Braghieri et al., 2022). Lacking such settings or opportunities makes one feel lonely, which decreases overall well-being. Depression and anxiety are mental health conditions affecting many Americans due to social media browsing (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020). Face-to-face is considered a way human beings maintain mental health. Stress is highly reduced when people engage in eye-to-eye contact with someone caring. Prioritizing social media interaction triggers risks of exacerbating anxiety and depression disorders (Naslund et al., 2020). Research studies support that social isolation substitutes face-to-face social interaction by subjecting people to unrealistic or distorted portrayals of life connections, resulting in social isolation feeling(s).
Cyberbullying and self-absorption are more likely to happen in the U.S. when a person uses various social media platforms (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020). Cyberbullying is a serious health issue affecting young victims and their families in the United States. It can spread hurtful messages, abuse, and unhealthy self-centeredness and distance an individual from real-life connections, which decreases wellness and well-being (Valkenburg, 2022). Also, cyberbullying on social media has a negative effect on mental health. It causes health issues, such as elevated stress and anxiety, depression, violent acts, and low self-worth. Other concerns, such as long-standing emotional impacts, are experienced even if cyberbullying is stopped on social media platforms.
Another vital study evidence has found that having many friends on social media does not mean a person has a better social life (Naslund et al., 2020). in upholding a stable friendship, the brain can only handle a few friends in actual social interaction, not virtual ones. As such, it implies that feeling socially connected virtually on a social media platform does not work. Loneliness is connected to myriad health and mental health issues, including death; therefore, getting actual socialization support is critical (Valkenburg, 2022). Virtual friend time does not have a therapeutic impact as a time formed by real friends.
Another way social media has negatively impacted mental health is jealousy. People always perceive seeing others on tropical occasions and well-behaved children as envy-inducing (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2022). In several studies examining the link between jealousy and social media, jealousy was prevalent with another negative feeling while using Facebook (Naslund et al., 2020). Facebook also triggered the formation of invidious feelings, translating it into a vicious cycle. Envy mediates social media platforms-depression connection (Naslund et al., 2020).
In summation, social media platform has a negative impact on U.S. mental health at an individual and collective level. Depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and suicidal thought are the most common adverse effect linked with social media. Also, cyberbullying, self-absorption, and thinking delusions are possible adverse effects of social media on mental health.
Therefore, there is a need to treat social media with caution due to all these mental health concerns since censorship is not a solution. Awareness through campaigns on modifying social media use to improve mental health can be helpful. We must recognize how important social media has been in other areas, such as conducting business, meetings, and accessing information. When social media platform is used appropriately, it is possible to relieve health issues such as anxiety and depression, which reduces mental health. This implies that social media should be used in moderation to cushion the negative effects.
References
Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use, and youth mental health. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192(6), E136-E141. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434
Braghieri, L., Levy, R., & Makarin, A. (2022). Social media and mental health. American Economic Review, 112(11), 3660-3693. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20211218
Coyne, S. M., Rogers, A. A., Zurcher, J. D., Stockdale, L., & Booth, M. (2020). Does time spent using social media impact mental health?: An eight-year longitudinal study. Computers in Human Behavior, p. 104, 106160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.106160
Karim, F., Oyewande, A., Abdalla, L. F., Chaudhry Ehsanullah, R., & Khan, S. (2020). Social media use and its connection to mental health: A systematic review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8627
Naslund, J. A., Bondre, A., Torous, J., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2020). Social media and mental health: Benefits, risks, and opportunities for research and practice. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 5(3), 245-257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00134-x
Valkenburg, P. M. (2022). Social media use and well-being: What we know and what we need to know. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45, 101294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.006
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