Social media profiles are usually held by the young rather than the old. In addition, young people are more prone to mental health problems than other age groups.
Scientific studies on the impact of social networks on people have mixed results. Some studies claim that social networks lead to a greater risk of anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying. Other studies say social networks can be useful as people can communicate with others, access information, access social support.
But keep these four points in mind if you want to protect your mental health while using social media.
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open your eyes. First of all, you need to understand how, why and how often you use social networks. Also be aware of how much time and energy you spend on other users on social networks or those who want to sell you something. To find out if social media is harming you, ask yourself whether it brings you joy or negative emotions while using these platforms.
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Be active, not passive. According to scientific research, passive use of social networks (navigating the news feed, etc.) causes you to compare yourself with others, causes feelings of jealousy, anxiety, and leads to depression. But messaging, post creation, etc. associated with positive emotions.
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Take a break from social media. Recent research has shown that avoiding social media for a week significantly improves well-being, reduces anxiety and relieves symptoms of depression. And it does not matter if you are an active or passive user of social networks. Mobile apps can help control time spent online.
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check status. Never forget that you can take control of everything in an emergency. That is, unsubscribe from something, mute notifications, block a user, remove or block content that upsets you. For example, if you compare the number of likes for yourself and for others, it is better to limit the content you see in the feed, turn off the likes.
News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
