 |
| Designed: Abey James |
Note: The views posted by the author are strictly personal.
As humans, socialising comes to us naturally. It is, in the present day, a part of both life and culture, and forms the basis of how an individual is perceived and treated within a given society. Since time immemorial, humans have been interacting and socialising with others in various environments. With the advent of technology and communication, things have surely changed. There are no longer geographical distances to be scaled to communicate something. This very idea, along with cultural trends forms the basis of my blog on social media and health and how social media can be linked with depression.
Yes, yes. A large number of us use social media,
in various forms in our daily lives. But before I dive into my topic, I would
like to narrate Jack's story. Jack is a person, an entity, living somewhere on
this planet. He has a group of friends, and like other many, engages in
activities most people do. But that's not all! He loves being famous, he wants
to be noticed. Well, who doesn't? He frequently uses various social media to keep
a sense of his 'image' maintained. He receives tons of likes and is popular
among people, but he doesn't seem to be okay. Something is wrong. Read this essay
on social media and depression till the very end to find out what happens
with him.
It doesn't matter what you already did or are
planning to do today. I hate telling this to you, but chances are you've
probably used some form of social media by the time you would have read this
message. (And no, it's not magic!) We, Indians, are the second most prominent
users of social media in the world, having around 580 Mn users. It is,
therefore, not tough to infer that we might have used some or the other form of
social media. (Maybe you will be reading this blog via social media). We are
social animals. We pride upon the strength of our connections. We need the
companionship of people around us to survive and be happy - both mentally and
physically. A social context is, therefore, a powerful tool, as it can
de-stress, remove depression, provide comfort and happiness and prevent loneliness.
These are just a few of a good number of things it can do. Younger users can
now create good bonds with friends, thanks to easy access to their information
and interests.
Enter the digital age, technology, cheap
and affordable internet, enhanced web infrastructure and social media and lo and behold - geographical distances have been eliminated. We can now reach
anyone, anywhere on this planet. We have digital spaces to interact and share
things. Physical distance and space is no longer an issue. We can share
whatever we want with our peers and contacts, and it is not just messaging.
Photos, videos, real-time locations and other media keep you and users
connected, in one room at a point of time. The problem is that the connection
does not end there. And no - It is not a scene out of a horror movie; it is just
what this 'new media' brings to the table along with its numerous benefits.
This leads us to our next question:
So, what is Social Media? Why do we use Social Media?
This largely depends on the people. In general,
they would choose various media depending on multiple social platforms. If it
is pictured, one will choose Instagram. Whenever one has little text bits, they
would go to Twitter. When one has an excellent story to share, nothing beats it
like good, old Facebook. There is no exact reason for people posting things
on social media. However, if you were to analyse a particular post and its
'expected behaviour or reaction', you would probably get a few reasons:
· Sense
of Belonging: This is usually seen when someone wants to be
accepted by a specific group of people or a particular person.
· Being
'Me-centric': This is also seen in a good number of people who
share every little thing or event in their life with others. This gives them a
sense of gratification.
· Personal
Events:
People share their successes, in all forms to let people and friends know of
their accomplishments.
· Physiological
Needs:
People could sometimes post things which could benefit their social circles and
families as a whole.
Generally, adolescents and adults use social media
like traditional communication medium - to get to know each other, socialise,
stay in touch, make plans, etc. One significant benefit of social media
is that people can reach out to, and connect with large groups of people with
similar interests, anywhere across the world. This benefits all sorts of
people, ranging from smaller communities to citizens from major economies. This
very rise of social media sites and its use has changed the world we live in
forever. People are connected than ever before and have a 'digital persona'.
Social media allows its users to express their
personalities in various and unique ways. With more social media coming in, a
user can have more accounts, and by curating the content on their platform, can
develop a different persona altogether. This results in the formation of new
identities, expanding social connections, altering perceptions, etc. More
often than not, the real identity of an individual is often masked by this
virtual one. This self-image is under a microscope when users continuously
compare themselves or their situations with others, and this increases with
continued engagement. Therefore, on the face of it, social media looks like an
innocent time-waster or a tool for connection. However, as this weaves into our
daily lives, the silent comparison with others is ever increasing. There are
inspirational quotes, photos, memes, etc. But at the end of the day, all that
is just fictional reality.
Models, influencers, famous figures, etc. tend to
present the coolest part of their lives on social media (in perfect
conditions). The problem, when ordinary people view them, is comparison. Social
media has brought us close, and we can see other people's lives whenever we
want to. Still, we start to compare them with our lives, and the never-ending
game of social media and depression begins. People begin seeing flaws in
themselves and their appearances, and suddenly, the world falls apart for them.
To understand this better, let me make you aware of the active and passive use of social media:
· Passive
Use of Social Media: This refers to the common practice
of observing others' lives quietly. Many users portray their lives in an
unrealistic, sanitised manner with popular filters of reality. This, however,
becomes the norm and more often than not, the struggle and negative part of
life are not shown. Viewers often tend to make social comparisons and conclude
that their lives are less fulfilling, exciting than others. This makes them
feel inferior, inadequate and increases anxiety. In the end, it only creates
envy and resentment.
· Active
Use of Social Media: This is referred to as the standard
practice where you regularly post status updates, pictures, videos, posts, etc.
for others to notice. This seeks the approval and admiration of others. This
can have an enormous psychological cost, if a person posts something about
their 'happening life' and if the desired inputs aren't coming, this leads to
major self-doubt.
This quest for likes or follows on social media
heavily influences why people post or share things on social media. A few users
may receive intended results, but that leads to a large number of people
engaging in social shares. When people generally post something, they naturally
seek a response. Since the foundation stone of social media is communication,
the primary motive for posting things comes from an intent to connect with
others. This can, again, have both positive and negative consequences.
Positive
Consequences of using Social Media:
· It allows
us to communicate with our family, friends and contacts in the world.
· It
enables us to find new friends or groups having similar interests or even
network with like-minded people.
· It keeps
us informed of worldwide events and happenings which we might consider
worthwhile.
· It
gives us open access to extensive information and learning and provides
us with a space to express ourselves openly and creatively.
Negative Consequences of using Social Media: (You've
waited for this from the start, haven't you?)
· Various
studies conducted on users of social media find a strong link between heavy
use of social media and increased risk of depression, anxiety, self-harm,
and in some cases, even suicidal thoughts.
· Although
a large number of us know that the images
circulated on social media are fake or are manipulated, it still makes
us feel insecure about what goes on with our life. People tend to share the
highlights of their lives, and that fuels our envy and dissatisfaction.
· High
usage of social media apps tends to increase (read-not decrease) the feeling
of loneliness. On the contrary, reducing the use of social media makes one
feel less lonely and isolated.
· Social
media has reduced, if not killed offline (regular) social interaction. One
continually feels the need to check for social media, driven by feelings of
checking what others are doing at the moment.
· One
may tend to use social media platforms late at night, thereby disturbing
sleep patterns which may, in turn, decrease the overall efficiency of the
person during the day. Also, while at work, the person keeps checking their
social media accounts regularly, thereby being distracted at work.
Now that we have a good idea of a few possible
positive and negative consequences arising out of social media use, it is time
we ask ourselves – What drives it? This social media use? A large number of
people access social media sites through portable devices – cellphones or tabs.
While keeping it next to us is possible, social media tends to become much more
accessible. We often check out phone for updates, and when something favourable
is found, it releases a dopamine rush in our brain giving us a sense of instant
happiness. And as stated earlier, this fuels the never-ending sleep disorder
patterns, decreasing focus and productivity, etc.
But, if intended results are not found, how detrimental can using social media be? To make you understand this, let me show you an image. I'm sure you will interpret it correctly. I'm inclined to call it "The Spiral of Social Media".
 |
| Design: Abey James |
Loneliness and anxiety lead us to find ways to use
social media as a medium to connect to others to beat boredom. But, users are
now faced with a Catch-22 situation. The viewing of social media increases
levels of isolation and makes us feel worse. This, in turn, ends up worsening
the mood again, leading to an increased level of stress. This eventually causes
us to use social media, even more, keeping the spiral continued. I believe this
can probably be looked into by social media psychologists. This field of
psychology is only as old as social media and research is still in its early
stages. The down part is that there are limitations of studies, relevant
literature not being available, etc.
Social Media and Depression in Teenagers and Young Adults
In modern times, it is not uncommon to find teens
without a smartphone in their hand and more often than not, they are often
'connected' with their friends at all times. Although it appears to be a tool
of social connection on the face of it, the demerits outweigh the merits.
· Teenagers
are well under peer pressure and often want to show things off when posting
things online. Again, only the best parts are highlighted. When they view stuff
on social media, they think of their classmates as perfect and of themselves as
inferior, and it makes them left out.
· Social
skills are often not developed, thanks to the overuse of social media. As they
rely on social media to stay in touch with others, essential life skills such
as learning and application of soft skills are often missed out.
· A
significant reason for linking social media and depression among teenagers
and young adults is cyber-bullying. With social media, people are connected
(although virtually) – and therefore, escaping from bullying is just not
possible. Children can be harassed at any point in the day by whosoever has a
motive. This results in low attendance and marks, substance abuse, low
self-esteem, increasing mental health issues, etc.
· Fear
of Missing out (FOMO), an extension of inclusion and social
standing is something that frequently happens when they compare their lives
with 'online lives'. In media which emphasises on sharing of images,
visual play comes in, and the FOMO-feel aggravates.
Social Media seems to be all around us. (Yes it
truly is, and I've just discussed a particular part of it in this essay on
social media and depression-There's more to it). So, how can we come out
of this spiral or at least try to be better while consuming social media?
First and foremost, one cannot quit from social media totally, in these modern
times. The moves have to be rational and have to be justified and controlled.
(Again, there are just a few steps):
· Reduce
time online: One can start with using an app to track social
media usage, and by using social media only during certain times of the day. We
could also, with practice, not carry it to our bedrooms. Once a normal stance
is developed, disable social media notifications. Most importantly,
learn to use social media mindfully. Sometimes, a digital detox may also do us
some good.
· Spend
more time with real people: There is nothing like meeting a
person face-to-face. The interaction has to be happy and healthy, and time should
be best utilised with real people instead of virtual people. You could also
reach out to older friends or catch someone every weekend and hang out with
them. If you are a hobbyist, join a club or an activity where like-minded
people will surround you.
· Exercises
and mindfulness: Working out, doing exercises or yoga can help
you live in the present and can help you calm your mind by channelising all
your energy. It can help you build focus which can be beneficial for your daily
activities. This will also help you improve your psychological well-being.
· Children
and teenagers: In the case of teenagers and children, parents
should sit, talk to them about their lives and how social media is not an
actual yardstick for comparing lifestyles. They should answer questions of
their children honestly, and not shy away from specific questions, leaving the
child to find out things by its own. Educate them about the dangers of social
media.
· Last
but not least, if situation aggravates, do not hesitate to seek professional
help or advice from a counsellor, rather than having the University of
Whatsapp, or for that matter, social media solve your problems.
I am writing this during the 2020 Coronavirus
Pandemic. The use of social media is more important and significant than ever
before, and all of our interactions are being channelled through it. We must
know that we are only in mid-stages of the lockdown period and that improper
use of social media during these dark times will only exacerbate this issue.
(We've seen that previously with fake news). This journey can indeed leave us
exhausted, but adequate steps must be taken so that the negative impact
arising out of social media (especially during this period) is controlled.
If social media is used correctly and is channelised well during this 'Great
Depression', we can come out as winners. With the help of social media and
owing to access to a large amount of available information, social media can if
not appropriately used, prove to be a double-edged sword in these times.
Are we thinking about Jack? Well, Jack is not a
particular individual. 'Jack' is us, all of us. How we use social media will
determine how we perceive things inside and around us. Probably, our actions
will shape the generations to come.
I would like to thank Ms Sonali Medhekar for her
suggestions and insights into this topic. Her ideas helped me get more thoughts
and clarity on certain sections of this blog. She is a counselling psychologist
who works mainly with children and parents.
NOTE: DO NOT COPY ANY CONTENT OF
THIS ESSAY/ARTICLE FOR ANY PURPOSE/S WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S PERMISSION. PEOPLE
WILLING TO USE THIS ARTICLE FOR ACADEMIC/RESEARCH PURPOSES NEED TO CITE THE
AUTHOR AND THIS WEB PAGE. NOT DOING SO SHALL RESULT IN AN ACT OF PLAGIARISM.
No comments:
Post a Comment