A few years ago, integrating and providing people access to information seemed daunting; it is relatively easy now, thanks to digital media.
Considering how digitalization has changed into numerous forms and the extent of our dependency, one cannot help but question why it is essential?
The answer is simple; it is the tool whose main objective is to make tasks easier and eradicate difficulties that disrupt life.
The world of digitization has changed our lives through social media. It is not only the place for cyber geeks but a platform for businesses, professionals, and entrepreneurs who seek recognition and attention.
It seems we cannot function without social media in today’s day and age. Social media controls us due to its influence on every aspect of our lives, whether promoting business ventures or reaching out to friends and family.
Aside from connecting people, social media has provided a channel for generating visibility around social and ethical issues, spreading information efficiently, and helping people connect with others from the comfort of their homes.
But there is another side to using technology in a way that it interferes with human interaction, alters the state of mind, and makes people behave in ways they never thought was possible.
But that’s not all; technology has altered how humans think. Whether it is connecting to someone or assuming an alternate identity, it is studied under an emerging discipline called Cyberpsychology.
Cyberpsychology determines how we behave in cyberspace and the phenomena that emerge from human interaction with technology.
This emerging discipline addresses three main psychological features of technology.
- Flexible identity – that allows people to manage multiple impressions and phishing scams
- Disinhibition effect – how humans change their behavior in the digital space
- Recordability – that defines what we share online.
A master’s in Cyberpsychology encompasses detailed analysis, effects, studies, and repercussions of the aforementioned features.
As the human mind always seeks answers, the need for recognition keeps humans tangled in a virtual portal.
One of the aspects of understanding human behavior is to analyze how social media impacts mental health. Let’s look at some ways.
- Well-being
While sitting is linked to several diseases, we should be more worried about spending endless time scrolling through social media. Why? Because the time spent on social media is related to how happy we are.
A study concluded that the more we use social media, the less satisfied we feel with life. While social media platforms like Facebook allow connecting instantly, it affects the well-being of young adults.
There exists a strong link between social media and well-being, such that it increases the risk of self-harm, loneliness, and even suicidal thoughts.
Feeling inadequate about your life usually occurs when you spend a lot of time on social media.
We, humans, are always in the rush of comparing our lives to those around us; social media is the tool that fuels our curiosity about how well-established others are, even if they share a tiny portion of their world.
It all adds up to feeling envious and dissatisfied with our circumstances.
- Thought process
One of the unhealthiest things about using social media is that we keep coming back to it even though it doesn’t make us feel good but only exacerbates feelings of worthlessness.
It happens so due to a phenomenon known as forecasting error.
For instance, in the case of drugs, we often think that getting a fix will help, but that only makes us feel worse, leading to a fault in our ability to predict our reaction.
Similarly, even though spending time on social media affects our mood, people believe that it makes them feel better rather than worse.
We believe that social media is an escape from the complexities of life; though it might be valid to some extent, it eventually starts affecting the brain’s working.
Spending time on the web affects our memory by challenging us to recall previously stored information.
According to a study, social media alters memory by rendering the mind’s ability to store all kinds of experiences.
It results in individuals being unable to remember because the excessive use of the web leads to the mind perceiving that holding onto information stored elsewhere isn’t necessary.
- Sleep
Scientists have been emphasizing the importance of sleep for a long time. However, it is unfortunate that people knowingly do not prioritize sleep over staying online.
Understanding its reasoning will help those unaware of how social media and rest are linked.
The stimulating effect of the blue light emitted from the screens interferes with the sleeping pattern that is a part of the circadian rhythm.
The blue light stimulates the part of the brain linked to keeping us alert, leaving us energized before sleep when we should be winding down.
It has a severe impact on those who wake up during sleep to check their phone. Inadequate sleep increases the risk of depression and anxiety, leading to severe implications in daily life.
Sleep displacement is common in adolescents and adults with outcomes like waking up late and being unable to complete tasks on time.
- Isolation
Contrary to popular belief, it takes social interaction to maintain friendships. People who spend a considerable amount of time surfing the internet tend to experience isolation.
While connecting with friends through various platforms adds vitality and sustains communication, it is not a substitute for real connections that most people believe.
The feelings of loneliness tend to add up because of the lack of socializing in the real world. Excessive social media users often experience these feelings when they pay more attention to the social circle of other people online.
While it may seem like only the young population has trouble forming connections offline, adults are also in the same circle.
Individuals stuck in their daily routine and unable to foster friendships offline experience the social-media loneliness conundrum.
Conclusion
Social media, for sure, has changed our lives for the better. However, like most things, it has negatively affected the lives of those dependent on it.
While the purpose of social media was to change an individual’s perception, it has led to spending most of the day online, which only exacerbates mental-health-related issues.
Although people are aware of social media’s effect on the mind, it hasn’t stopped them from using it excessively.
