Research Paper on How Does Social Media Affect People

Would you be willing to remove social media from your life if it improved your mental health? Increased use of social media can affect a person in a variety of ways, including the way they think. Excessive social media use can have a major impact on your mental health. One study suggests that teens who are active on social media for three or more hours a day have a higher chance of experiencing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, antisocial tendencies, and aggression. (Riehm et al., 2019 as cited in Sherrell, 2021) With more than three billion active users worldwide, social media has become routine in most people's daily life. (Schønning et al., 2020) As a society, we should spend less time on social media since it can negatively impact our mental health. Lowering social media usage can reduce anxiety, improve self-esteem, and lead to a better night's sleep.  

In addition to social media use increasing the risk of developing anxiety or depression, it can also lead to the development of a condition called fear of missing out. According to Sherrell (2021), someone who struggles with the fear of missing out, or FOMO for short, usually feels others have more fun than them. FOMO can cause a person to constantly feel the need to check their phone, even if it means prioritizing social media use rather than sleep or in-person connections. (Sherrell, 2021) 

Even though social media use is associated with this potential risk, not all social media use is harmful. One key benefit of using social media is the ability to connect with friends and family from anywhere in the world. Most people use social media for its ease of connecting with others. Eighty-one percent of teens say using social media keeps them more connected with their friends. (Anderson & Jiang, 2020 as cited in Nesi, 2020)

With the increased use of social media comes an increased threat of cyberbullying. There are various forms of cyberbullying, such as hurtful text messages or hurtful online comments. As a result of cyberbullying, victims are at an increased risk of experiencing anxiety, depression, sleep loss, lonely feelings, or even self-harm. (Srivastava et al., 2020) In a survey with over six-thousand participants, nearly half of them had experienced cyberbullying. (Lobe et al., 2020 as cited in Sherrell, 2021)

Although social media has many disadvantages, there are some benefits that can help many people. Social media has helped make resources like online social support more accessible. (Nesi, 2020) According to Sherrell (2021), using these resources can help people connect and interact with others who are alike. Some social media sites like Facebook and Instagram have added different procedures for users when they begin showing signs of emotional distress or risk of suicide. (Yonker et al., 2015 as cited in Nesi, 2020)

You wouldn't think that social media could negatively affect your sleeping habits but, it does. Increased screen time before bed can contribute to a multitude of sleep problems such as poor quality of sleep, shorter sleep time, and increased daytime fatigue. (Robb, 2019 as cited in Nesi, 2020) 

Spending less time on social media can transform a person's mental health for the better. Lowering social media use can contribute to better sleep, improve self-esteem, and lessen the effects of anxiety and depression.