Social media use can affect users’ physical health even more directly. When people look online and see they’re excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them physically.Ī 2018 British study tied social media use to decreased, disrupted, and delayed sleep, which is associated with depression, memory loss, and poor academic performance. Missing experiences can create anxiety and depression. If everyone else is using social media sites, and if someone doesn’t join in, there’s concern that they’ll miss jokes, connections, or invitations. When reviewing others’ social activity, people tend to make comparisons such as, “Did I get as many likes as someone else?,” or “Why didn’t this person like my post, but this other person did?” They’re searching for validation on the internet that serves as a replacement for meaningful connection they might otherwise make in real life.įOMO-fear of missing out-also plays a role. Couple that content with the structure of potential future reward, and you get a recipe for constantly checking platforms. To boost self-esteem and feel a sense of belonging in their social circles, people post content with the hope of receiving positive feedback. The unknown outcome and the possibility of a desired outcome can keep users engaged with the sites.” One does not know how many likes a picture will get, who will ‘like’ the picture, and when the picture will receive likes. “The idea of a potential future reward keeps the machines in use. Think of a slot machine: if game players knew they never were going to get money by playing the game, then they never would play,” Sperling says. “When the outcome is unpredictable, the behavior is more likely to repeat. This puts a large amount of the population at an increased risk of feeling anxious, depressed, or ill over their social media use.īut what makes users come back for more even when it can literally make them feel sick? The platforms are designed to be addictive and are associated with anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments.Īccording to the Pew Research Center, 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. Using it activates the brain’s reward center by releasing dopamine, a “feel-good chemical” linked to pleasurable activities such as sex, food, and social interaction. Tips for healthy social media use in adults and teens.

The impact of social media on our mental health.

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