Does Social Media Affect Mental Health?

The rise of social media has definitely changed the way we share information, connect with others, and see the world around us. Apps like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram are now a part of everyday life for millions or even billions of people. These social media platforms have caused tons of debate about their impact on our mental health. The answer is definitely a yes, it does affect our mental health, but whether it affects mental health negatively or positively may be more complicated.

Some researchers have found that social media can affect our mental health negatively for many reasons such as how it can lower our esteem when we see the things people post about their “perfect lives” showing their unrealistic lifestyles and huge amounts of success seeing all this every day can eventually make you to feel like your missing out on things and may even lead you to feel envy or jealousy. And unfortunately, social media is a place where people can be very mean, spread rumors, and even harass others.

But that doesn't mean social media doesn't have its positive things. If it's used correctly, it can allow you to find your community if you have certain hobbies, or maybe if you're struggling with health conditions and need support from people who have been through the same thing. Social media can even lead you to make new friends from all over the world and get information quickly. 

So overall, I would say it depends on the person who uses social media. If they use it properly, it will result in a positive impact, but if the person uses it the wrong way, it can very easily result in a negative effect.

By: Jeslyn Zaneta Kalim / 7B