Your Brain on Social Media
How to make online interaction better for your health
About three billion people use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat every day. The average user spends about two hours on these platforms, clicking, liking and replying to content sent from around the world. |
However, a growing body of research shows that too much or the wrong kind of social media use can have negative effects on mental health. This appears to be especially true for children and young adults. Here are some problems associated with misuse of social media and some ideas to deal with them.
The problems
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Anxious and depressed. Several studies have shown that high social media use is correlated with anxiety and depression. It’s not known why this is, but some theorize that it can inadvertently replace more positive activities that promote well-being or cause users to compare their lives negatively with others’. |
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Sleep deprived. High social media use is correlated with sleep deprivation, which is a trigger for poor mental health. |
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Addicted. Many users report feelings of addiction to social media as well as psychological withdrawal symptoms when its use is restricted. High social media use can affect productivity and cause feelings of distracted attention for hours afterward. |
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Bullied. Users are less inhibited and more hostile toward others online, particularly when they can hide their identities behind pseudonyms. “Cyberbullying” is a real problem, particularly among school-age children, and victims can suffer from mental health issues. |
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Misinformed. The old saying that “a lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can put on its shoes,” is probably an understatement today. Studies have shown that those who get their news from social media are more likely to be misinformed. In just one example, several online communities have emerged in recent years promoting the idea that the earth is flat. |
The solutions
Despite the potential negative effects, social media also has positive aspects. The right communities are a source of positive interaction, self-expression and emotional support. Here are some tips to a healthier use of social media.
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Limit time. At least two separate studies have shown a correlation between more than two hours of daily social media use and negative mental health symptoms. Try limiting your family’s use to less than two hours a day. Many in the tech community say no to their children using these social media platforms all together. Others require phones and electronic devices to be checked in when at home and restrict their use during the school week. |
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Set bedtime limits. Stop all social media use for at least an hour before bedtime, turn off your electronics, and place them outside of bedrooms to avoid disruptions. Neither brightly lit electronic screens nor upsetting online content right before bed tend to promote restful sleep. |
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Discourage mobile use. If you or your kids have a social media problem, delete the apps from your phones and only allow social media use from a home desktop computer. This will help you control the amount of use and avoid the distraction throughout the day. |
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No private social media. Ensure you have access to all social media accounts of your children and review them periodically. |
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Use real names. Having you and your kids use your real names and identities when using social media may seem risky, but experts at the youth social media advocacy group SmartSocial.com say it actually promotes positive use and avoids negative interactions and communities. It also helps teach kids to be responsible users who are conscious of the risks and consequences of online activity. |
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Find real communities. Use social media to join communities devoted to your favorite hobbies and interests. Talk to your kids about the communities they’ve joined and the interactions they have to make sure they are using social media for positive learning experiences and self-expression. |
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