Does Social Media Have An Impact On Our Health
Social media has impacted our daily lives since its birth in 2004. It is a place where we can stay connected with old pals, share momentous occasions and meet new people from around the world.
Nowadays, there is something for everyone on social media from platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram just to mention a few.
In fact, some people have described society as being ‘addicted to social media. It has also been said that the more time you spend on social media, the less time you have for your family and friends in real life.
This is why many people are beginning to think of whether or not social media has an impact on our health.
Over recent years there has been controversy surrounding social media sites such as Facebook with both sides saying either yes or no it does affect our health.
There are some negative impacts on health but there are some positive ones too. This article aims to answer this question of ” Does Social Media Have An Impact On Our Health?” by discussing both sides of the debate.
Negative Impacts Of Social Media
The first negative impact of social media is that it causes an increase in cyberbullying, which has led to the suicide of many teenagers over recent years. This makes young adults afraid of expressing themselves on social media sites because they don’t want anyone else judging them.
A second way social media has a negative impact on our health is that some users spend hours scrolling through their news feed without actually taking time for themselves. It can lead to being “disconnected” in real life.
For some individuals, it may take away from the time they could be spending doing other things like exercising or hanging out with friends in person. It can make them feel unimportant if someone doesn’t reply to their comment or post on their page right away.
It creates unnecessary stress among users which can lead to other problems such as increased anxiety and depression.
A study was done by the University of Pittsburgh found that teens who spend more than 2 hours a day on electronic devices are at risk for increased symptoms of depression & anxiety.
So, with that said, are there any possible benefits to social media? Of course!
Positive Impacts Of Social Media
Social media can be beneficial to our health by keeping us connected with what is going on in the world, allowing people to spread awareness about events, and helping us connect with others who share similar interests.
Sites like Facebook and Twitter allow for a platform where users can express themselves creatively like they’re good at drawing or enjoy making memes out of photos of celebrities.
This boosts their self-confidence and makes them feel better about themselves which helps decrease anxiety. Some psychologists say that social media helps increase mental stimulation which reduces boredom when one sits around doing nothing.
As many already know, when one gets bored they turn to things such as smoking or drinking or other bad habits. But if one has something else to do whether it’s through social media or not then that is a good thing. It keeps one’s mind working and active.
That’s a very positive impact and it’s one that many people aren’t thinking about.
So overall, there are some pros and cons to social media but it all depends on how one uses it and what they use it for. But if used correctly, social media can help improve the health of an individual.
