North News
Chandigarh, 12 August
We are constantly exposed to endless content on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. This content has a profound influence on the lives and well-being of young people. The increasing amount of time spent on these platforms has been linked to mental health issues.
In 2012, a survey on the habits of urban Indian teenagers was conducted, which revealed that the majority of teens aged from 13 to 17 were found spending more than one hour on social media, videos and online games. 78 percent of parents reported this trend, underscoring the pervasive influence on the lives of teenagers, the news outlet ET Healthworld.com reported.
Excessive use of social media leads to unhealthy comparisons with others; people sharing the best moments of their lives creates a world of illusion, which leads to feelings of envy and diminished self-worth. Cyber bullying can cause depression and anxiety among users, and the FOMO (feeling of missing out) phenomenon makes the users anxious and compelled to participate in every event and online interaction. Social media offers validations through likes, comments, views, and shares; the audience response becomes a measuring stick of self-worth for the user, which may lead to low self-esteem, concentration difficulties, and other maladaptive symptoms, the ET Healthworld.com further said. The news outlet highlighted that there are steps that could be taken by a user to have a healthier presence online: take regular breaks from social media; open dialogue with family and friends should be initiated regarding health issues; balance of time; review a good feed that is inspiring, educating, and motivating; and lastly, promote positive communities.
