Frequent Exposure to Social Media Can Trigger Bouts of Depression

From the invention of personal computers, industrial robots, computer-generated imagery (CGI) in
films and video games, electronic music, to the digitalization of stock markets, the world has
significantly moved to an altogether different era with these huge steps toward the age of
information. These developments aimed at the betterment of humankind have undoubtedly
redefined the way of living and global communications by overcoming the hurdles related to time,
speed and distance.

One of such marvelous discoveries and inventions has been the foray of social networking platforms
across the world. Social networking sites (SNSs) are comparatively a new addition to an array of
incredible offerings of the digital era that has significantly made an already shrinking world even
smaller by connecting people located across great distances. Besides shortening the distance between
people, such platforms assist in rekindling old friendships.

Like every new thing, even

SNSs come with a number of
boons and banes. The price of
embracing and adjusting to a
technology-driven community
has caused ripples in
humankinds collective psyche
that is ill-equipped to handle
these new advancements. The
absence of human contact and
increased dependence on the
virtual world inflict a number of
repercussions.

Children born today enter a

world where the ubiquitous
barrage of advertisements and
notifications impact their mental health in myriad ways. The need to stay connected and the fear of
missing out has elevated the importance of smartphones to that of the good book by the bed.

Effects of constant handling of numerous profiles

The advent and the negative effects of social media use among young kids and teens have been well-
documented. In 2015, a report by the Pew Research Center highlighted that 92 percent of the
American teens go online daily, with 24 percent being online constantly. While many experts contest
the existence of the phenomena of Internet addiction or social media addiction, there is good
evidence to prove them wrong.

In fact, the new age phenomenon of Facebook addiction disorder may potentially be a real thing
because it meets all criteria for addiction, such as neglect of personal life, mental obsession, escapism,
feel-good experiences, tolerance, concealing the addictive behavior, etc. In addition, it also meets the

www.floridadepressionhelpline.com
criterion for withdrawal by inflicting a range of psychological symptoms that are witnessed upon the
cessation of social media use for a few days.

In fact, a 2016 study found that individuals who use multiple SNSs, such as Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, Snapchat, etc., are more likely to multitask that can cause cognitive-behavioral problems,
such as frequently switching between SNSs on multiple devices leads to a poor level of attention,
concentration, mood, memory, etc. The study illustrates that this increases the risk of anxiety and
creates more opportunity to commit a gaffe or faux pas that can adversely impact a persons mental
health.

SNSs up depressive symptoms in teens

Many teenagers may be genetically prone to developing mental disorders like depression, but
spending major time of their daily life on SNSs also further compounds this risk. Being harassed or
bullied online can aggravate any underlying symptoms of depression. These factors also increase the
risks of suicide among adolescents, which is the third leading cause of death in the age group 15 to 19
years. According to the American College Health Association, the rates of suicide in the age group of
15 to 24 has almost tripled since the 1950s.

Being constantly hooked on to SNSs may also lead to the trap of comparing oneself with the artificial
and edited happiness posted by others on their virtual platform. Adolescents may unconsciously
compare and judge themselves if they are better or worse off against what they see online.

There is also strong evidence that social media exposure has the propensity to make a person green
with envy that shares a strong link with depression. SNSs can also become a breeding ground for
jealousy that can develop into a virtual cycle because it can force a person to alter his or her life to
become more socially presentable. In the bid to look more presentable and have more likes, one is
likely to update such posts that can make others more jealous.

Spending time on SNSs has been linked to comparatively less happiness and less satisfaction because
it has the potential to perpetuate the perception of social isolation. While SNSs provide a platform for
real-time connectivity, it does not address the issue of isolation that has become so prevalent in the
society. Perceived social isolation can be debilitating both mentally and physically that increases the
risk of depression among adolescents.

Dealing with depression

Adolescents who spend a lot of time online run the risk of adversely affecting their mental health.
Many of the posts updated by the users contain attractive images purposefully edited to idealize their
life. The exalted version of ones accomplishments can trigger a number of negative feelings that are
not good for mental health. Such habits can cause a range of mental health problems, such as
depression, anxiety, etc.
If you or your loved one is battling depression, it is imperative to seek help. The Florida Depression
Helpline assists in accessing the finest depression centers in Florida that specialize in delivering
evidence-based intervention plans. Call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-267-5177 to know more
about the rehabilitation centers in Florida.

www.floridadepressionhelpline.com