Human beings are inherently social beings. The presence of companionship is essential for our overall well-being, and the quality of our relationships significantly influences our mental well-being and overall happiness. Establishing and maintaining social connections can alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, enhance self-esteem, bring solace and delight, prevent feelings of isolation, and potentially extend one’s lifespan. Conversely, a lack of robust social bonds can pose a significant threat to one’s emotional and psychological health.
In today’s world, many rely on social media like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to connect. Social media can’t replace real-world human connection. In-person contact triggers hormones, making you happier and healthier. Spending too much time on social media can make you feel lonely and worsen mental health.
Social media usage has been linked to heightened feelings of anxiety and depression, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
The addictive nature of social media stimulates the brain’s reward center through the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasurable experiences. When individuals share content, receiving validation in the form of likes from friends and family triggers a surge of dopamine. Conversely, the absence of such validation can negatively impact one’s self-perception and sense of worth.
Filters: Social media heavily emphasizes physical appearance. Various social media platforms – such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok – offer users the option to apply filters to images. While filters can be entertaining, the ease of altering one’s physical features and concealing flaws can perpetuate deceptive perceptions. Prolonged exposure to manipulated images may instill feelings of self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): The utilization of social media exacerbates feelings of FOMO for numerous individuals. Monitoring your acquaintances and relatives via social media may engender a sense that others are experiencing more enjoyment or leading superior lives than you are.
Social media is frequently referred to as a “highlight reel,”showcasing the most exceptional aspects of a user’s life. Nonetheless, being exposed to the highlight reels of others can amplify our own sentiments of discontent with our day-to-day existence. This can have an impact on self-esteem, evoke anxiety, and instigate a desire to engage with social media more frequently. FOMO can also impel users to perpetually peruse social media in order to avoid missing out on current events.
By Kareem Halimat Opeyemi.