Does social media actually cause depression?I believe we'd find out as we progress.
Is using social media act bringing unhappiness to most kids of our generatijon?Lots of evidence point to the fact that there is a very strong connection between social media and depression,especially in teens.Research has proven that mostg kids who spend a substantial amount of time on Facebook and Instagram report a higher rate of depression compared to kids who do not.Does this affirm the speculation that social media is the ultimate source of depression in our kids?Well,these reports show a connection,not an outright cause,but nevertheless,the matter should be given serious consideration.
Haven't you all noticed that depression and suicide rates in teenagers increased during recent years?Before smartphones and other gadgets where introduced suicide was less common compared to what we are experiencing in recent times.Further research in 2017 proved that teenage depression increased by 33% between 2010 and 2015.At the same time the suicide rate for girls also increased by 65%.Which further begs the question, how does social media cause depression?
THE CORRELATION
one of the major discrepancies between kids of today and the earlier generation is that they spend less time interacting with peers and loved ones but rather spend a huge amount of time on social media connecting with people who they don't know,and also connecting with their peers online instead of physical interaction.These connections do not really satisfy their emotional needs and requirements and as a result they feel socially isolated.
Research has also proven that teens who strike a balance between social media and physical interaction show a lower rate of depression.And there are some teens who as a result of certain circumstances, I.e health challenges and geographical isolation are unable to relate with their peers,for such ones social media can be a life saver.So although social media has its downsides, it also has its own benefits.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS EFFECT ON SELF ESTEEM
compare themselves with the perfectly displayed images of those who appear to be more beautiful,and richer.It appears harmless at first but later on it plummets them into depression.The minds of many girls weighed down as a result of seeing their friends posting really nice pictures of themselves,living the life.If that's their bar for normality then seeing such will further harm their self confidence when they realise that they do not measure up to those standards.
I had a conversation with a friend once,concerning this particular issue and he stated "social media has absolutely destroyed our generations ability to be truly happy.We're always seeing someone who we think has it better than us,causing us to think that what we have isn't good enough".
POOR HEALTH ACTIVITY
Kids who spend most of their time on social media have less time for activities that provide real satisfaction,like exercise,doing homework or performing chores.As a result they end up being stressed.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION AMD DEPRESSION
Most kids find themselves glued to their phones before bed,scrolling down social media.They end up losing about an hour of sleep compared to their peers who do not.Besides scrolling down social media is not a sleep inducing activity plus the blue rays from the phones hinders them.from sleeping thereby leading to stress.
HOW TO MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
While there is no conclusive evidence that social media causes depression, there are some guidelines that can help..
1.Strike a balance between social media and other activities that build you up and provide satisfaction.
2.Turn off notifications if necessary.
3.Adopt a mindful and healthy use of social media.Instead of looking out for friends,why not use social media for something beneficial.Like promoting your business or brand.
4.Stay away from phones during bedtime
Lastly,I saw it fitting to write on this topic because deep down,as much as I to deny it,I am greatly affected by this.I constantly find myself increasing the bars of what I consider success and what makes me truly happy.So I thought others might be going through the same and might be in need of help.Outwardly looking at that kid sitting next to you,you might think "he looks happy,he has nothing to worry about.Considering his age he's quite successful,many kids don't enjoy the privileges he has". But what is your definition of success? Your definition might be different from he's,deep down he may be dying and you wouldn't even know.He might look all happy but when he gets home he cries himself to sleep.So if you happen to notice a little change in the attitude of your child, react quickly.He may be going through stuff and you wouldn't even know because you paid no heed.
To the teens out there,the validation you are searching for on social media doesn't last,sometimes you may never find it,so do things of lasting gain and spend your time on things that bring satisfaction and lasting happiness.
Once again,social media can cause depression.
Thanks