THE DARK SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media has many benefits; it enables you to communicate with family and friends, raise awareness on important issues, seek or offer emotional support and find an outlet for your creativity. However, many studies have found a strong link between substantial social media use and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

We inhabit a world of filters and curated feeds, where it has become the norm to portray an idealised version of yourself and your life. It creates a culture of comparison and insecurity: where all we see are perfect faces, bodies, jobs and lives, causing us to feel inadequate, isolated and down about ourselves and our lives.

What's more, the lives you see plastered all over social media are not a reflection of reality but a curated snapshot, which neglects the mundane, practical and unpleasant truths we ALL experience in our daily lives. Although we are aware of this fact, when all you see is perfection, beauty, happiness and wealth, you can't help but feel inadequate, insecure and envious. Additionally, repeat exposure to these feelings can result in, or exacerbate, FOMO, depression and anxiety, cyberbullying and self-absorption.

HOW TO PREVENT THIS?

• Filter and edit restrictions and transparency.
• 'Influencers' to take responsibility and raise awareness of potentially negative aspects.
• Social algorithms to favour and empower accounts with more authentic and positive content.
• Usage: train yourself to be mindful and self-aware when using social media. If an account starts to make you feel miserable, unfollow them. If you start to feel anxious or inadequate, take a break! You can set time limits for your apps to discourage excessive usage, so try that out.