The Responsibility Social Networking Sites Have with Your Mental Health
When it comes to the topic of mental health, I believe social networking sites should promote positive mental health. I say this since many users of social media platforms have noticed negative side effects from using them. These negative side effects include depression, feeling alone, stress, and anxiety.
According to Verywellmind.com, One 2017 study found, "young people who use social media more than two hours per day are much more likely to categorize their mental health as fair or poor compared to occasional social media users." (Sherri Gordan, 2023) With this data in mind, it is made clear that social networking sites have an effect on mental health users. To help with this issue, I believe social media platforms could do weekly checks on their users. This would be achieved by making the user answer a questionnaire on their mental health before they can use the site or app. Doing this could be positive since it would make users reflect on their mental health and truly see how they are doing. Something else an app or site could do to promote mental health would be to push the use of certain hashtags. Pushing these hashtags would increase the likeliness that a user would see it and be reminded of their mental health. To look further into this, a great source to look at is Ways to Positively Use Social Media - Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program.
The Positives and Negatives of Using Facebook
Social media sites like Facebook are not completely negative or positive for your mental health. One factor that leads to positive results is being able to contact family members or friends. Many people can only stay in touch with family members who are far away because of Facebook. Another factor that can lead to positive results is using Facebook to express yourself. For example, the article 7 Tips for Using Social Media for Mental Well-being by The American Psychiatric Association says," Utilize social media as an outlet for creativity and self-expression. Follow accounts and hashtags for communities of artistic endeavors that inspire you or help you grow as an artist." Reynolds, 2023)
A factor that can lead to negative influences is what accounts you follow. If you follow accounts that don't post positive messages, your brain won't think that way. Another factor that leads to negative results is that using Facebook can become very addictive. While Facebook is neither necessarily good or bad for your mental health, it is important to take into account all possible results of using it.
Sources:
Campbell, Leah. “Facebook and Mental Health: Is There a Link?” Psych Central, Psych Central, 23 June 2021, psychcentral.com/anxiety/facebook-cause-anxiety-depression.
Daniel, Emily. “Social Media a ‘silent Killer’ of Your Mental Health.” Thrive Global, 20 Mar. 2020, community.thriveglobal.com/social-media-a-silent-killer-of-your-mental-health/.
Frey, Christine. “Ways to Positively Use Social Media.” Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program, 14 July 2023, discoverymood.com/blog/ways-social-media-promote-mental-health/.
Gordon, Sherri. “How Social Media Impacts Your Mental Health.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 8 Aug. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/link-between-social-media-and-mental-health-5089347.
Reynolds, Fatima. “7 Tips for Using Social Media for Mental Well-Being.” Psychiatry.Org - 7 Tips for Using Social Media for Mental Well-Being, 3 Feb. 2023, www.psychiatry.org/News-room/APA-Blogs/7-Tips-for-Social-Media-for-Mental-Well-being.
