IS SOCIAL MEDIA BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH? by Fiza's Blog

If you can't imagine your life without social media, that's a sign that you have fallen a victim to the evil power of social networking. It also means that you have experienced one (or more) of the negative effects of social media on society. Let's explore the darker side of social media; you will be surprised to learn that the negative effects of social media are both physical and mental. If you recognise any of them as your own symptoms, it may be time to consider stop using social media altogether.

1. Depression and Anxiety:

Do you spend more than two hours per day on social media? Spending too long on social networking sites could be adversely affecting your mood. In fact, you are more likely to report poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. The recommended amount of time you should spend on social networks is half an hour per day. So, as with so many things in life, it's all about moderation.

2. Cyberbullying:

Before social media, bullying was something only done face-to-face. However, now, someone can be bullied online anonymously and screens hide our faces. While social media made making friends easier, it also made it easier for predators to find victims. These online attacks often leave deep mental scars and even drive people to suicide in some cases. You will be surprised to find out that cyber-bullying just is not just affecting kids but also fully grown adults.

3. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out):

Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a phenomenon that is one of the most common negative effects of social media. FOMO is basically a form of insight that you get when you are scared of missing out on a positive experience or emotions that someone else is getting. This fear is constantly fuelled by your social media engagements; the more likely you are to see that someone is having more fun than you are right now. And that is exactly what causes FOMO.

4. Unrealistic Expectations:

Social media helps you to form unrealistic expectations. The networks that do it most are Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. those are the social media platforms that severely lack online authenticity. One simple way out of this is for everyone to put the line on social media. But in the era of celebrities, that is it going to happen anytime soon.

5. Negative Body Image:

Speaking of Instagram celebrities, if you look at the most followed accounts on Instagram, you will find beautiful people wearing expensive clothes on their perfect bodies. Today body image is an issue for many people. According to society standards, people on a daily basis make you cautious about how you look on a daily basis and not often on a good day.

6. Unhealthy Sleep Patterns:

On top of interest rates of anxiety and depression, spending too much time on social media has a negative effect on your sleep quality. If you feel like your sleep patterns have become a regular try and avoid spending a significant amount of time on social media.

7. General Addiction:

Social media is often described as being more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. Don't you know whether you are addicted to your social networks? So when was the last time you went a full day without checking your social media accounts? What if your favourite social networks completely disappeared tomorrow; what it makes you feel empty and depressed? If you just realise that you are addicted to social media, don't worry, as most of us are. However, it is best if you try and slowly reduce your time on social media.