Title: Social Media and Mental Health: What You Need to Know | SoCal Sunrise Recovery
Headings: Social Media and Mental Health: What You Need to Know
Social Media and Mental Health: What You Need to Know
Table of Contents
Social Media’s Positive Impacts
Social Media and Mental Health Problems
Negative Self-Perception
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Loneliness and Isolation
Cyberbullying
Depression and Anxiety
Suicidal Ideation
Signs Social Media Is Affecting Your Mental Health
#1: You Feel Sad, Drained, or Stressed
#2: You Constantly Compare Yourself to Others
#3: You Find It Difficult to Stay Off Social Media
#4: Likes Directly Impact Your Self-Esteem
Tips for Improving Your Relationship with Social Media
Refine your feeds:
Limit your daily usage:
Establish no-phone zones:
Take an extended break:
Engage in beneficial activities:
Fostering Healthier Online Interactions During the Pandemic
Communicate regularly with loved ones:
Continue to engage in a healthy lifestyle:
Schedule fun virtual activities:
Mute and unfollow triggering content:
References

Content: When we cannot see the people we love in person, social media gives us the tools to stay connected. While these platforms cannot fully replace face-to-face interaction, social media can provide a number of positive benefits. Social media allows us to: Seek and provide emotional support during difficult situations
Raise awareness on important issues and advocate for social change
Create social connections when you can’t access them in person
Engage in creative self-expression
Network with people who have similar interests to you
Find new friends and communities to connect with
Social Media and Mental Health Problems
While the platforms do provide some benefits, other people report a negative experience using social media. We still do not know enough about the long-term impacts of social media use, and current trends suggest that there may be a strong connection between social media and mental health conditions. These may include negative feelings about their life or appearance, an intense fear of missing out (FOMO), or worsened symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, or self-harm. Certain online activities, such as cyberbullying, also have a severe impact on mental health. Negative Self-Perception
When people post on social media, they typically share the highlights of their lives. However, when all we see on our feeds are positive experiences and achievements, we can feel worse about ourselves. 2
These highly-edited highlights of other peoples’ lives can directly impact our self-esteem, resulting in negative self-perception.