Social media has become an indispensable part of our lives that helps us to feel connected with the world. Yet, social media has also resulted in several problems as its users are becoming increasingly addicted. According to Rebecca Lendl, the chief operating officer for the Center for Humane Technology, social media platforms are manipulating and controlling its users in order to make a profit. Although these products are designed to capture our attention, this addiction leads to other problems, including mental health issues and the spread of misinformation.
Social media has also changed the way people, especially the younger generation, perceive their bodies. Many adolescents and teenagers have low self-esteem due to the toxic environment on social media. One common health issue caused by social media is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a preoccupation with a perceived flaw in a person’s physical appearance. Along with BDD, social media’s toxic environment has also brought a rise in racism, sexism, homophobia and other cyberbullying activities.
Teenagers on social media see not only unrealistic beauty standards but are comparing themselves to their online peers in many other areas, which is having a negative impact on their self-image and academic performance. Such a stressful environment may lead to depression. As one teenager mentioned, “I always compare myself to what my friends are doing and what they look like. It really has a significant impact on my mental health.”
Another big issue on social media is misinformation. Given the mass amount of information and content added to the web on a daily basis without verification or fact-checking, people can easily be misled and misinformed. For example, “Google diagnosing” is becoming increasingly common as people search online for an explanation for their feelings or symptoms. For some, this may launch a health anxiety or obsession with health. Moreover, misinformation abounds in everyday news and reporting of events. Social media content receives more attention when it is negative or inflammatory, which is why fake news spreads so rapidly. As Lendl says, “If you get billions of users on these platforms who are constantly amplifying the negative and extreme content, you are creating a mass divide between people and eventually no perception of shared understanding between political parties.”
In this situation, it is important to be conscious of your own feelings and act to prevent manipulation. You can start by turning off notifications and talking with your friends and family about your feelings. By controlling social media’s effect on us, we can build a healthier society.