Negative Effects of Social Media

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Updated: Dec 27, 2024
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2024/12/27
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Introduction

One of the central shaping forces of the contemporary world, social media has seen a meteoric rise. It went from a small network for students to connect to an online space boasting billions of members worldwide. The implications of this are manifold, with social media having changed the way we communicate, the way we conduct our relationships, the way we affiliate with particular causes and groups, the way we do business, and the way we consume news, entertainment, and advertorial content.

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Scholars have noted the transformative nature of social media and the value that such platforms have as an analytical entry point from which to delve into contemporary culture and behavior.

It is important that we remember, though, that social media can have a negative impact. Indeed, many newspapers and popular journals offer speculations and studies about the effects social media may have upon our mental state and our behavior. The notion of social media addiction has arisen as a product of the prevalent use of social media platforms, and it is impossible to deny that social media offers both boons and pitfalls in equal measure. While it may provide a new space in which to find kinship, express oneself, and take control of one’s personal narrative, and while it can even provide us with lucrative opportunities, many sources are now airing their concerns about the toll that an active social media life can take. This chapter assesses these concerns. It will provide an overview of the negative aspects of social media before zooming in on a number of concrete problems: social media’s implications for mental health and well-being, its potential as a site for cyberbullying, and its impact upon our ability to create fulfilling relationships in the real world. Finally, it presents some strategies and suggestions for how these negative aspects of social media culture may be softened.

Consequences of Social Media Use

Social media is an umbrella term for an entire digital ecosystem in which users interact and share content. Unfortunately, fringe benefits are balanced by increasingly concerning reports of psychological and behavioral consequences. People use social media to stay connected. Ironically, this constant connection comes at the price of their emotional and mental stability. There is a growing consensus that frequent and extended use of social media is associated with several detrimental psychological outcomes. Given the growing ubiquity and time spent on social media, the psychological implications of use must be thoroughly understood.

Empirically, an increasing body of research has emerged supporting the conclusion that heavy social media use tends to exacerbate existing mental health issues and even usher in new issues. The research mostly points to anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression as potential consequences of heavy social media use, as well as signs of addiction. The signs of addiction are particularly relevant given that addiction or substance dependency in one's lifetime is related to vulnerability to being in an emotionally vulnerable state. More specifically, addiction is related to a 40% increase in the probability of major depression and a 36% increase in the probability of generalized anxiety disorder. The following section discusses a few areas of psychological research on consequences that have been supported through some of these means. About 45 studies on social media use and depression, anxiety, loneliness, and related ailments exist. The data reinforce the idea that the use of social media could play a role in mental health. 42 studies find a negative relation or significant correlation between time or units of use of social media and at least one mental health variable. 23 studies find a positive relationship between these types of use and at least one mental health variable, while 12 studies find independence between use and mental health. In total, the data support a negative role of social media in mental health, with 78% of studies focusing on time using social media and 60% for units of use of social media.

Perhaps the most talked-about psychological consequence of frequent social media use is damage to one’s self-esteem. Frequent social media users often compare themselves to the personal or professional lives of everyone, from good friends to relative strangers. Social comparison, or more specifically, "upward social comparison," in which users measure themselves against peers who possess superior qualities, can pose relevance to many researched outcomes such as subjective well-being and happiness, financial satisfaction, lifestyle, and weight. Feelings vary, but in general, perceptions of personal excellence change in a downward direction when making this comparison. Reading social media, then, should affect self-esteem. Indeed it does, and the psychological reasons why are explained in a forthcoming paper that has parallel findings to another piece. The team finds feedback from participants that reads about friends actively aiming to make envy-inducing posts on social media. Data collection revealed that in nearly all cases, those from whose perspectives the results come regularly read other people’s messages but don’t revel in what they’re reading, while others read the information out of envious interest and perceive their friendships to be purely social and are not moved by the information. Neither group un-friends, but these people (the envious) do steer clear of posting if they’re the only ones discussing good things on social media when they are part of a group. Part of the reason is to shield their friends from the same feelings of envy that they experience. Compliance is also motivated by embarrassment; an upcoming paper shows that most users do not present envy-inducing information because the information’s superiority makes the sender look good.

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

Cyberbullying is, unfortunately, a prevalent part of today's society. Cyberbullying refers to the harassment or harm inflicted on another person using digital technologies, which typically occurs on social media sites. Prevalent victims of cyberbullies include women and young adolescents. Approximately 16% of adolescents have been a part of cyberbullying, whether as the bully, the victim, or the witness of the abuse. A study found that 40% of adult internet users have personally experienced harassment online, compared to 73% of 18-29-year-olds who have reported similar experiences. Cyberbullying possesses numerous differences from the traditional form of bullying. For example, harassment can occur while the person is physically alone. Also, victims cannot escape the abuse as the perpetrator of the harassment has the potential to spread the rumor to a broader audience.

Victims of cyberbullying are prone to facing psychological damage as well as coping with long-term mental health issues. The abuse received in the form of harassment is classified as trauma, and victims are at increased risk of coping with stress, anxiety attacks, and in worst-case scenarios, suicide. Social media has taken its first steps, integrating anti-cyberbullying policies aimed at protecting its users. Platforms use a reporting feature, which ensures that content shared on the site will be reviewed and potentially removed if it violates their guidelines. However, disclosing personal issues, such as being a victim of 'trolling,' can cause further online hostility and result in personal allegations towards the victim, portraying them in a negative light online. Ultimately, the discussion of being a victim of an online attack can make it difficult to be taken seriously by authorities or employers. Being humiliated online, a phenomenon classified as online shaming, can also lead to societal consequences, resulting in lost jobs, friendships, or respect. Part of the problem lies in the fact that victims of online hostility, including cyberbullying, can find it difficult to receive empathy from onlookers due to the belief that cyberbullying is something that is easy to ignore. In comparison to traditional bullying, which is largely recognized as a problem, cyberbullying is mostly viewed as a crime with calamitous consequences.

Impact on Relationships and Social Interactions

Do you want to know more about how the increased use of social media can lead to various effects on both individuals and society? Since the primary goal of using social media is to establish and maintain relationships, the ways it affects relationships and social interactions are crucial to discuss.

On the one hand, social media could facilitate users to reconnect with old relationships. However, having several friends and a significant other on social media does not necessarily lead to genuine, close relationships. Known as the 'paradox of online connectivity', one could indeed have a long contact list or followers but also feel lonely and detached, as online connections are not authenticated. Many social media usages are accompanied by signs of loneliness and anxiety, suggesting that connecting to a large number of online users does not bolster a greater sense of closeness but instead may result in more superficial contact. Moreover, social media that increasingly disrupts physical face-to-face interactions would likely reduce the development of communication skills, particularly in public settings such as during courses and discussions. Over time, this could reduce empathy and social awareness. In addition, because of its nature, social media could serve as a breeding pool for romantic and non-romantic misunderstandings or conflicts, due to the absence of verbal and non-verbal cues typically present in face-to-face communication. The platform branded itself as a tool for those to create and manage a self-inspired public persona, and this is obviously proven by many people who discuss marketing themselves.

The users of social media could also internalize certain myths, such as the notion that the ideal romantic relationship should unfold smoothly with no rough patches. Other individuals also claimed that social media has raised their own unfairly held desires concerning friendship: for instance, many will likely be far more insecure if they accidentally discover that an online family member has 'unfriended' them than someone who has accomplished the same thing in person. Meanwhile, prior work has also shown that relationship anxiety is often correlated with behavior on social media; the more concerned one is about their friendship, the more likely they should convey jealousy or write bitter postings in response to others' partners online. A sketch is emerging where social media connectivity has the potential to change not only how people experience overall relations but also to transform themselves as individuals, adapted to perform different uses. As a result, social media may violate the high-quality interactions that are the cornerstone of intimate relationships. Moreover, extensively engaging in or depending on the platform can lead to comparative short-sighted vision, inattention to detail, and rather superficial approaches in relationship management. From these points of view, it is indeed a taboo to continuously check profiles and should be avoided when trying to build deep and rewarding friendships and personal relationships. Just like in social networks, 'give and take' also applies to more personal networks, and the levels of emotional investment can be said to correlate with friend and partner commitment. Also, envy and jealousy would naturally emerge when behavior is evaluated against the usual norm. This hypothesis could partially explain why romantic partners easily become jealous of social network outcomes. Moreover, as such, the medium may contribute to the evolving public awareness of what kind of relationship status should shape ideal connections with the community and without going aloof.

Strategies for Mitigating the Negative Effects

Sharing perspectives and advice on how to navigate the potential hazards of social media while promoting interaction, networking, and resource sharing for users provides an opportunity to reduce the harm from dangerous online phenomena. The following strategies detail some tools, advice, and guidance to help users avoid many of the negative effects of social media. Engaging in open discussions and critical observation of one's own media use can provide a level of digital literacy and personal awareness. Initiatives to undertake the following strategies can also educate educators, foster an understanding among policymakers, and support communication between parents and children. Additionally, social media platforms should work to create more supportive online environments and reduce opportunities for negativity between users.

Each individual has a responsibility to themselves to more critically evaluate social media use, media feeds, websites visited, and friendships made online. Users could critically assess their social media and internet activity for potential risks. A practical exercise would be for users to draw up their lists of "unsafe" online encounters or activities, warning prospective social media users of the potential hazards. Individuals should consider limitations on their exposure to social media or even make the decision to withdraw from some or all platforms. Providing practical and safe offline activities helps to weigh online experiences. Restrictions and boundaries, such as not using smartphones at mealtimes or after bedtime, should be established to protect individuals' mental health and relationships. Therefore, in some situations, friendships should be created offline in a secure, controlled environment and maintained digitally. In short, a balanced, insightful, and assertive approach to social media is encouraged.

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Negative Effects of Social Media. (2024, Dec 27). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/negative-effects-of-social-media-3/