Social media has many advantages in keeping people connected, engaged and up to date with world events. Alongside this, however, there are many disadvantages.
We have become so accustomed to quick responses and instant feedback. Our minds rarely have a chance to rest. If we’re not cooking dinner or watching TV, we are scrolling through social media, chasing after our next dopamine hit. This gradually takes us out of the ‘real-world’; it therefore negatively impacts our relationships and inhibits our cognitive abilities. Some interesting and also rather shocking stats below…
According to Pew Research, more than 69% of adults and 81% of teens use social media daily, with more than 90% of teens using it for more than 4 hours a day. The constant ability to access social media through smartphones means our brains are exposed to high volumes of stimulation and our neurons are firing all day long, which creates changes in the neurological architecture of our brain.
Various reports state that young people and adults are addicted to using social media. It has been described as more addictive than drugs and alcohol due to an increase in dopamine (a chemical associated with reward and performance) that the body releases after each ‘like’ response to a post. However, the absence of likes and comments can leave us feeling empty, sad, anxious, or depressed because our brain isn’t getting that hit of dopamine.
Researchers believe that since social media competes for your attention with the promise of continuous new content, heavy social media users become less able to ignore distraction in general, which leads to poorer cognitive performance and shrinks parts of the brain associated with maintaining concentration.
Research also shows that regular social media users, especially those under 30, often find themselves comparing their lives to those they see online, questioning their self-worth and overanalysing their relationships and importance to those in their social circle based on social media. This causes people to feel less important, and thereby negatively affects their confidence.
Conclusion
Although social media can be a great tool for connecting, it’s important that we understand the potential harmful risks to our mental health. Here are some things we can do to protect ourselves:
- During the day turn any notifications off and have a set time that you will check for any notifications (possibly after work, when you get home).
- Use an app which tracks your social media usage. You can find these through your app store. Some apps can send you a warning when your usage is high.
- Keep your phone on flight-mode overnight, or turn off your notifications, so that when you wake in the morning you’re not automatically scrolling through social media in bed.
- Only follow people that inspire you. Remember that a lot of influencers only show their best times and best angles! They can paint a false picture. If you’re usually left feeling deflated after looking at their profile, maybe it’s best you click the ‘unfollow’ button.
- If you’re feeling brave enough, delete your app altogether! A lot of social media platforms offer a ‘break’ period, so you don’t have to delete your profile completely.