Is Social Media Truly Harming or Benefiting Modern Society?

We’re all guilty of picking up our phones almost instantaneously after waking from a night’s rest. This can become habitual and almost unconscious to our daily routine. The ubiquity of technology has caused profound changes in the way we communicate and interact.

Concurrently the escalating mental health crisis is being felt substantially, particularly in Australia where the main cause of death for Australian’s in 2019 aged between 15 to 49 was suicide. It’s easy to attribute these trends to the rise of technology and social media platforms.

However, recent research questions the dogmatic belief that technology use is creating this mental health endemic. Begging the question: is social media truly harming, or benefiting modern society?

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This increase in mental health issues in alignment with the ever-changing development of technology, raises numerous questions about their association. However, the link between social media and mental health is weak and questionable. As this contentious debate is well established in current literature, a considerable number of comparative reviews exist. Attempting to examine the myriad of evidence present in these modern studies is key to understanding how to progress research and ascertain the true effect of social media on mental health.

The aid of online environments can be beneficial for supporting mental health in young people. A recent national survey in the United States emphasised a significant number of young adults aged between 14 and 22, with moderate to severe levels of depression were using the internet for social support. The study portrays adolescents who experienced depressive symptoms as more likely to report feeling better when using social media, in comparison to adolescents who did not possess depressive symptoms.

Carol Vidal addressed that while social media use may have negative effects such as sleep deprivation and addictive patterns, the influence of receiving social support through certain media platforms, and its facility for information searching can be constructive for today’s youth.

Negative viewpoints surrounding social media use in adolescents have surmised  a connection between the use of online platform tools and increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. Consistent with evidence obtained by O’Reilly, adolescents significantly focus on the negative elements of the internet created by a culture centred around online fear. The participants identified social media as ‘damaging’ to mental health, and often linked media platforms directly to stress and depression.

O’Reilly emphasises that the young participants of the study perceived the risks of social media in a broad manner and spoke anecdotally rather than drawing upon personal incidents involving social media influence on mental health, when analysing the risks of various media platforms.

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In many cases, mental health disorders are not the result of social media platforms, but rather are a predictor of the use of social media. An individual experiencing a mental health problem could try to alleviate their symptoms through distraction, turning to social media as a form of escapism.

Puukko and colleagues reported young people with symptoms of underlying depression or anxiety may prefer social media as a form of communication or diversion to avoid face-to-face interactions. The findings are more indicative of pre-existing levels of depressive symptoms in individuals who used social media, and offer valuable insight to aiding young individuals experiencing poor mental health. 

Despite its negative stigma, social media has beneficial outcomes for young individuals. Social media contributes to the development of identity and sexuality, and provides a framework for modifying self-presentation. Social media further allows for the practice of social skills in a non-confrontation manner, and provides anonymity that is strongly appealing to teens experiencing isolation or distress. Burnes and colleagues reflected the benefits  of social media use in young adults who reported connecting with people online as a way of feeling less alone.

Additionally, Naslund emphasised that social media platforms provide teens with a space to share challenging experiences, and relate to difficult scenarios they’re experiencing. The knowledge that others are having similar experiences provides relief for youth who deal with serious mental health issues.

Although the use of social media continues to influence culture, the aforementioned research elucidates contention in its role as a leading cause of mental health disorders (cite the main researchers who said this). It is essential that education is promoted surrounding the current narrative between mental health and social media. Education that increases awareness can alleviate the harmful stigma associated with mental health disorders.

Perceiving social media as an uncontrollable force that deteriorates mental health only fuels negative, distancing attitudes and discrimination. Research portraying the weak association between mental health and the use of social media platforms has seen a resurgence in conversation around the real causes of mental health issues. 

WORDS: LUCA CARBONE
PHOTOGRAPHY: UNSPLASH