Mental health is directly related to social media, whether you use TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, gaming or any other platform that exists to socialize with others in the online world. We have been affected for several years now and gradually, cases of the damage it causes are emerging. As new generations have a relationship with this world from an early age, it is time to normalize the direct relationship it has with our mental health and behavior.
Information makes us shortsighted and hasty. It is impossible to stop at information. Careful contemplation of things, attention without intention, which would be a formula for happiness, recedes in the hunt for information.
Today we run after information without reaching knowledge. We take note of everything without obtaining understanding. We travel everywhere without gaining experience. We communicate continuously without participating in a community. We store vast amounts of data without memories to keep. We accumulate friends and followers without encountering the other. Information thus creates a form of life without permanence and duration." - Byung Chul Han, "No-Things" (2021), p. 20.
This excerpt from the philosopher Byung Chul Han's book "No-Things" gives us something to think about. If we stop to see where we are putting our energy in terms of time, as he says, "attention without intention" is the formula for being unhappy. If we are constantly connected within an algorithm that harms us and give our energy to news, people, and things that constantly generate dopamine. Well, in another sentence, Han said that "the human being is losing his ability to act on his own, his autonomy. He faces a world that is not his own, that escapes his understanding."
Autonomy is what I think is most important, it's what gives us control over what we do with our lives. Social media is designed to trap our attention, keep us there for hours, show us more ads, gather more information with our digital footprint, likes, preferences, and locations, and make more money. We're not aware that we're feeding "free" applications and most importantly, being affected by their algorithms and damaging our mental health.
We need to be aware that this reality is global. Let's review some data to have a better understanding of what exists today:
- According to the "Digital 2021" report by Datareportal, as of January 2021, there were over 4.2 billion social media users worldwide, representing approximately 53% of the world's population. (Datareportal. (2021). Digital 2021.)
- According to a survey conducted by Deloitte in 2021, 61% of respondents in the United States check their mobile phone within the first five minutes of waking up. Additionally, 90% of respondents said they check their phone within the first hour of waking up. (Deloitte. (2021). Global mobile consumer survey)
- According to the "Digital 2021" report by We Are Social and Hootsuite, as of January 2021, the global average time spent on social media per day is 2 hours and 25 minutes. (Datareportal. (2021). Digital 2021.)
Examining the increase in the use of digital devices and social media, several studies have found a relationship between social media use and the development of depression and anxiety in users. For example, a study by Lin et al. (2016) found a significant association between social media use and depression among young adults in the United States. Another study by Woods and Scott (2016) found that teenagers who spent more time on social media had worse sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
Another factor that has been related to depression and anxiety related to social media use is social comparison. People may be influenced by the images they see on social media and compare themselves to others, which can generate feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. A study by Twenge et al. (2018) found a decrease in psychological well-being among American teenagers after 2012, which coincided with the increase in smartphone and social media use. The results suggest that constant exposure to social media and idealized beauty and body image standards can negatively affect people's mental health.
Another factor, in addition to comparison, that is mentioned and that I personally believe is important is anxiety about loneliness. There are two very famous terms "FOMO and FOBLO" both terms are related to the need to feel socially included and accepted. "FOMO" stands for "Fear Of Missing Out," which describes the anxiety that some people feel when they think they might be missing out on something important or fun that is happening somewhere they are not attending. This anxiety can lead to impulsive behavior and the need to constantly stay connected to social media to not miss out.
On the other hand, "FOBLO" stands for "Fear Of Being Left Out," which describes the anxiety that some people feel when they believe they may be excluded from a group or community, and that they may lose their sense of belonging or social acceptance. This fear can lead to the need to constantly be accepted and validated by others, even at the cost of sacrificing their own identity or values.