How does Social Media affect Mental Health?

As I write this article Instagram has announced they will remove graphic self-harm images. The move comes after Molly Russell, a 14-year-old girl took her own life after viewing graphic images of self-harm on the site prior to her death.

It also hit the headlines today that Doctors declared phones should be kept out of children’s bedrooms and away from the dinner table.

It is well known that social media has detrimental effects on our wellbeing, but what are the actual facts around social media’s impact on mental health?

1. A 2016 study in young adults revealed increased time on multiple social media platforms is linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

2. A study into 467 Scottish teenagers showed those who used social media more - both overall and at night - and those who were more emotionally invested in social media experienced poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem and higher levels of anxiety and depression.

3. An American survey of 1765 young adults aged between 19-32 years found participants in the highest quartiles for social media volume and frequency had significantly greater odds of having dysfunctional eating concerns.

4. Teenagers who spent more time on new media (including social media and electronic devices such as, smartphones) were more likely to report mental health issues, than adolescents who spent more time on non-screen activities like, in-person social interaction, sports/exercise, homework, print media, and attending religious services.

5. In 2015 it was found that regularly using Facebook could lead to symptoms of depression if the site triggered feelings of envy in the user.

This is just a handful of studies that add to the rallying cry of policy makers for curbing private organisations like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, influence.

Without question, these corporate companies should take responsibility for their customers’ (for that is what we are) wellbeing. However, there are conveniently, a couple of other facts that tend to be glossed over;

1. Mental health issues are complex with multiple risk factors that impact individuals differently. To suggest mental health problems can be attributed to social media alone would be an oversimplification.

2. The spotlight on corporate organisations takes it away from the government who is responsible for consistently underfunding mental health services for years and who continue to do nothing to improve research or services.

For good or bad, social media is integral part of modern society. It is not going anywhere. The sooner we can accept that, the sooner we can begin focusing on empowering people to know how to regulate their time and use of social media so it serves them, not the other way around.

If any of this resonates with you, then read my Five Ways to Stop Social Media Ruling Your Life and let me know how you get on!