Is social media bad for us?

[Joseph41]

I have Facebook, I have Instagram, I have Snapchat, I have Twitter.

What good are they?

This isn't from Australia, but it doesn't need to be.

A new report from Britain’s Society for Public Health says many popular media sites can actually be detrimental to young people’s mental health.

Topping the list is Instagram.

Researchers say it can make young women feel pressure about body image, forcing them to seek unrealistic goals of perfection.

Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter were also criticized for impacting the health and wellbeing of users between the ages of 14 to 24.

And, doubtlessly, it doesn't just affect women.

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. The more I think about it, the more I want to just... be done with social media. Does it do more harm than good?

[www]

I don't think its the social media platforms themselves that are inherently bad, but it's more how the algorithms work for deciding what to show you based on what you look at. Really comes down to what you expose yourself to that then influences the system to continue showing it to you, creating a snowball effect in a sense.

I have a friend who's Instagram feed is entirely artsy baking related stuff, it was weird seeing literally zero human beings on the explore tab (minus out the suggested stories which she doesn't check anyway). One of my family members has a twitter and is only following local news and emergency alert accounts.

Albeit, you can't absolutely avoid what you don't want to see. I mainly use social media to chat with friends, and keep up with news and interests - I don't have a problem with it nor have come to a point where I feel it was negatively effecting me (okay, maybe it's kept me from studying when I should be sometimes!), but I can definitely see how what the article says is true.

[Joseph41]

I don't think its the social media platforms themselves that are inherently bad, but it's more how the algorithms work for deciding what to show you based on what you look at. Really comes down to what you expose yourself to that then influences the system to continue showing it to you, creating a snowball effect in a sense.

I have a friend who's Instagram feed is entirely artsy baking related stuff, it was weird seeing literally zero human beings on the explore tab (minus out the suggested stories which she doesn't check anyway). One of my family members has a twitter and is only following local news and emergency alert accounts.

Albeit, you can't absolutely avoid what you don't want to see. I mainly use social media to chat with friends, and keep up with news and interests - I don't have a problem with it nor have come to a point where I feel it was negatively effecting me (okay, maybe it's kept me from studying when I should be sometimes!), but I can definitely see how what the article says is true.

Thanks for the post.

I think what I've been struggling with recently is the sense of immediacy - even when I don't want it.

So like, I'll get a message, and feel like I need to respond instantly. When I send a message, I get anxious if I don't get an immediate response. I don't know if others feel similarly to this, and perhaps it's just an issue with how I'm wired rather than social media haha, but I definitely think it's negatively impacting me atm.

[rocksonchan]

I feel like that sense of immediacy is most definitely a problem that we all experience, especially for us students as younger people. Because we live in a world where a lot of things come instantly like online entertainment, being constantly pressurised to respond instantly is common to all of us. A lot of people have tried taking breaks from social media, rather than completely getting rid of them, with some great success stories! What these breaks do is that they give you a period of time to step away from the busyness of instant messaging and gain some perspective on whether social media and other people's perceptions of you are actually that important or not. There is a lot to gain from these kinds of breaks if done purposefully, and also gives you less distractions while you study! 

[Joseph41]

I feel like that sense of immediacy is most definitely a problem that we all experience, especially for us students as younger people. Because we live in a world where a lot of things come instantly like online entertainment, being constantly pressurised to respond instantly is common to all of us. A lot of people have tried taking breaks from social media, rather than completely getting rid of them, with some great success stories! What these breaks do is that they give you a period of time to step away from the busyness of instant messaging and gain some perspective on whether social media and other people's perceptions of you are actually that important or not. There is a lot to gain from these kinds of breaks if done purposefully, and also gives you less distractions while you study! 

Welcome to the forums, Rockson.

Great post. I think you're right. Does everybody experience it, though? I'd be very interested in thoughts of those with little if any social media.

[strawberries]

So like, I'll get a message, and feel like I need to respond instantly. When I send a message, I get anxious if I don't get an immediate response. I don't know if others feel similarly to this, and perhaps it's just an issue with how I'm wired rather than social media haha, but I definitely think it's negatively impacting me atm.

omg this especially haha

[tashhhaaa]

something I hate about social media is the unspoken "rules" of when you should reply to messages? like almost no one replies instantly, or you know they've been online but they haven't opened your reply because it's too "soon"? wtf?

I don't think it has a huge impact on me though since I don't have many social accounts and I don't post any pics of myself so I don't need to worry about likes and follows which I'm sure has a genuine impact on the self-esteem of many regular users

also I see a lot of social media posts as people just showing off what they bought or where they went in exchange for likes, to the point where people just "do it for the gram"
how can that ever be positive? I'm all for enjoying yourself but we need to do it for our own fulfilment, not our snapchat stories etc

[Joseph41]

also I see a lot of social media posts as people just showing off what they bought or where they went in exchange for likes

I think that's another (intrinsically related) issue.

Something like Instagram - it shows off the best parts of life. I think it's very easy to feel down about things based on how good other people seem to (but don't) have it.

[brenden]

You know... I'm not sure how much it's the case that social media is "bad for us" and whether it's more of a case of like... are we bad? For social media? For life?

Like... Social media is what we make of it, when you think about it. Huge positive potential. Huge negative potential. The way we're using it at the moment, I don't think we got it right. As it is at the moment, it's probably an overall 'negative' impact across the board but, is that social media's fault? I'm not sure.

*having a second though*... do what extent do we think "Is facebook bad for us?" when we read this question? I definitely wasn't thinking about snapchat. Insta/Facebook probs. I think snapchat is not negative. It doesn't share the same... toxicity, I think, as the other channels do.

[Wales]

Without social media so many things in this world wouldn't happen. How would Donald Trump communicate to his audience? Jokes aside, it's contributed to many large scale events; raising awareness for things but not limited to disasters or political events, just to name a few.

Negatives..where do we begin. Right. It's turned most people into self loving narcissistic individuals, you always see people being SO self conscious about their profile. I was speaking to a friend the other day, she was saying how Facebook to her was like a advertisement for herself. She NEEDED to make herself look ideal, beautiful, smart and perfect regardless. When you meet somebody for the first time you usually exchange Facebook names and proceed to stalk each other later that night ( we all do it including me ), hence why some view it as so important. Last month I encouraged her to delete FB, after that she noted that it felt like she was freed from all the pressure and judgments from others but did note she missed the communication aspect. While I think social media can be used well, the current way it is being used is not beneficial at all. It's purely as a means to boost your own ego for some and grab attention. I do like the dank meme's on there though. Sometimes I begin to question my sanity when I'm scrolling through pages of mathematical memes. Somebody help.

I think Snapchat is fine. I personally use it as and find it's a fun gimmick like app. Doesn't take too much of your time but lets you communicate in a brief manner. 

Insta is something I'm unsure what to feel about. For some it's another way to brag, establish and identity but others it's a way of sharing their lives. I personally upload a majority of my photography onto Instagram and feel a *bit* happier when it gets a decent amount of likes.

I believe social media is dependent on the individual in order to assess the affects. It's a time waster for some but time saver for others.

[K888]

I think what I've been struggling with recently is the sense of immediacy - even when I don't want it.

So like, I'll get a message, and feel like I need to respond instantly. When I send a message, I get anxious if I don't get an immediate response. I don't know if others feel similarly to this, and perhaps it's just an issue with how I'm wired rather than social media haha, but I definitely think it's negatively impacting me atm.

I feel this on a spiritual level 🙌
I really appreciate all the good things that technology and social media bring. But a part of me also just wants to go live in the middle of nowhere/do a digital detox - was the most refreshing thing to go on peer support camp in year 11 and barely use my phone for the week because of a lack of reception.

But then, it's almost a necessity to have facebook in particular to be able to stay in contact with people, particularly for uni. Like, if I need to organise a group assignment, then it's so much easier to add everyone in a group chat rather than continuously send emails or something.

[Wales]

I feel this on a spiritual level 🙌
I really appreciate all the good things that technology and social media bring. But a part of me also just wants to go live in the middle of nowhere/do a digital detox - was the most refreshing thing to go on peer support camp in year 11 and barely use my phone for the week because of a lack of reception.

But then, it's almost a necessity to have facebook in particular to be able to stay in contact with people, particularly for uni. Like, if I need to organise a group assignment, then it's so much easier to add everyone in a group chat rather than continuously send emails or something.

Pretty much a key reason I keep Facebook. I communicate with my tutors, send them questions, make times etc all through it. More convenient then email or calling. As long as it's used responsibly I think it's okay.

[EEEEEEP]

I have Facebook, I have Instagram, I have Snapchat, I have Twitter.

What good are they?

This isn't from Australia, but it doesn't need to be.

And, doubtlessly, it doesn't just affect women.

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. The more I think about it, the more I want to just... be done with social media. Does it do more harm than good?

Damn right it can be.

Social media a thing that makes us feel validated and not alone. How much of the 500-600 people on fb that are listed as "FRIENDS", do we really know?  Honestly, we cant know 300 people, its all a facade.

Don't get me started on the people who look for likes they are most secure people around and fb exaggerates it.

Also there is also this element of people only showing the good aspects of life and their day! It's so fake, its so urgh! I despise instagram!

[Joseph41]

^I actually think social media makes me feel more alone, in a weird sort of way. What makes me feel truly connected is more emotional conversations 1v1 with people IRL.

[Wales]

^I actually think social media makes me feel more alone, in a weird sort of way. What makes me feel truly connected is more emotional conversations 1v1 with people IRL.

Siderant but individuals who look for online dating as a place to start relationships. I can't. It has to at least start face to face.