SHAH ALAM – Social media has completely changed the way we connect with each other, share information and communicate in the digital age.
It has become an important thing in people’s daily lives.
Although social media fundamentally offers many benefits, there is also growing concern that its use may have a negative impact on mental health.
Mental health is a well-known problem in global society.
As a result, social media is said to be one of the factors that has influenced mental health problems.
Although many argue that social media has many negative impacts, it also has some beneficial effects on human mental health.
In general, social media is a platform that helps connect people to each other.
Social media sites connect people with similar interests, allowing them to share stories and support each other.
This sense of unity provides a source of empathy and understanding and can help people struggling with mental health issues.
Social media has also served as a means of accessing information, as it provides an important platform for sharing useful links, articles and data regarding mental health.
To promote greater awareness and understanding of mental health issues, social media users could access coping strategies, self-help advice and even connect with mental health professionals.
Twitter and Instagram are the most commonly used social media platforms to spread mental health propaganda.
These platforms could also help reduce the stigmatization of users facing mental health issues.
Sharing stories and personal experiences of social media users has contributed greatly to reducing the stigma associated with mental health.
Open dialogue about mental health issues normalizes the topic and allows people to seek treatment without worrying about bias or condemnation.
Social media also has a negative impact on mental health. First of all, this platform can arouse envy and spark comparisons among its users.
The tendency of social media users to compare their lives to those of others is one of the biggest negative aspects of this platform.
A person’s frequent exposure to the wealth, beauty and wisdom of others can lead to feelings of inferiority, jealousy and inadequacy, which can exacerbate mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
Additionally, social media can also lead to cyberbullying. Social media platforms significantly harm the mental well-being of those who are victims of cyberbullying.
Social media users are bolder to bully on this platform because they hide behind an identity unknown to the public.
This gives people the confidence to act in ways that hurt other users, which can lead to trauma, shame, and loneliness. The most common adverse effects are dependence and addiction.
Some users rely heavily on social media to make decisions in their lives. For example, they may seek advice from their friends on social media when making important life choices.
This is not appropriate because everyone has different ways of thinking and abilities. It can also cause a person to lack identity and not be able to make decisions for themselves.
Without a doubt, social media has a significant impact on our mental health by shaping our perception of the world, others and ourselves.
Although there are positive aspects to using social media, it also comes with unique risks and challenges.
We can make good use of social media while being mindful of how we use it.
This can help us develop a healthier relationship with social media, which can be good for our mental health. We can do this by raising awareness and ensuring we take care of ourselves.
Writer Ainun Nabihah Mohd Zabidi is a student at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).
