Garay, Ashley Reese A.

12 Atlantis
English for Academic and Professional Purposes
January 11, 2023

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media and its

Linkage to Mental Health
Severing Technological Phenomena with the Human Brain’s Affinity

In 2023, social media will change, with young users increasingly pushing for more
meaningful online interactions. The dominant “legacy” players, like Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter, will give way to platforms that prioritize simplicity and authenticity. Social media is
defined by its interactivity, connectedness, and user-generated content. In today’s society, the use
of social media has become a necessary daily activity. Social media is typically used for social
interaction and access to news and information, and decision-making. It is a valuable
communication tool with others locally and worldwide, as well as to share, create, and spread
information. Essentially, social media vastly impacts our ability to communicate, form
relationships, access, and spread information, and arrive at the best decision.

I. The Advantages of Social Media on the Mind

A. Social Connection in the Comfort of your own Home

Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive
in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and
happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression,
boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your
life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your
mental and emotional health. (Singh, 2021.) Being interactive, open-opinionated, and
conveying one’s thoughts are completely essential to the human being.

B. The Ability to Freely Express One’s True Self on Social Media

People use social media to express their personalities. Just as they use fashion, art,
music, and conversation to express themselves, social media is a platform for building
your identity and showing the world what you care about. (Teach, 2022.) Social media
allows users a vast amount of control in deciding the persona they wish to show the
world. With that control comes the temptation to create our best selves. We show that
resisting this temptation and instead sharing one’s authentic day-to-day experiences is
critical when it comes to users’ life satisfaction and happiness. (Matz & Iyengar, 2022.)
 The healthiest decision someone can make for their happiness and wellbeing while on
social media is to stay true to themselves and share their life as it is and not as they wish
it to be.

C. Social Media Platforms Are Empowering Justice

Humanity simply has a humane sense of empathy and stewardship that urges us to
pursue and persevere for the rights of others. This can be heavily recognized in the
present time, especially with the help of the pandemic where all generations have
participated to help decrease the risks of prejudice and crimes, not because people have
been on lockdown and quarantining peacefully in their homes, but because they have
been immersed in social media enough to follow on the trending topics of the Black
Lives Matter Movement which sparked a relapse in the world’s social order as it
completely revolutionized the world perspective in the underprivileged sector, such as;
LGBTQIA+, people of color (POC), feminist rights, legalizing of abortions, dauntless
protesters, people with special abilities, mental health warriors, etc. All of these are
activities people would be afraid to speak about and take action on in the past because
they would be imprisoned, shamed, or killed. Consequently, this helps people’s mental
health because topics of support and advocacy, enable people to manage the social factors
in their lives—like relationships, housing, and employment—that allow them to mentally
harmonize with themselves for the good they have left in society, it gives them an
understanding of their kind intentions.

D. Motivational Media and its Remedy For Times in Need

One of the things that social media and the Internet have allowed people to do, is
share their stories. The internet created an increasing number of motivational speakers,
social media Influencers, life coaches, and internet personalities that provide content to
an audience of people who are either looking for tactics or words that touch and inspire
them to do something. (Reigne, 2023.) We as humans ache for reassurance that we are
''enough'', a ''good person'', or even ''beautiful'' just to satisfy ourselves with the words of
another. Regardless of whether it’s an inspirational or desperate approach, motivation is
one of the driving forces behind human behavior. It fuels competition and sparks social
connections. Its absence can lead to mental illnesses such as depression. Motivation
encompasses the desire to continue striving toward meaning, purpose, and a life worth
living.

II. The Disadvantages of Social Media on the Mind

A. FOMO: This Generation's Fear of Missing Out

FOMO or fear of missing out is the feeling of apprehension that one is either not
in the know or missing out on information, events, experiences, or life decisions that
 could make one's life better. (Moops, 2022.) Using social media more often increases
FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation. In turn, these feelings
negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. The
use of social media deprives students and their mental well-being of feeling content with
themselves and their social lives.

B. Virtual Interactions Are Not Enough to Satisfy the Mind

In today’s world, many of us rely on social media platforms such as Facebook,
Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to find and connect with each other. While
each has its benefits, it is important to remember that social media can never be a
replacement for real-world human connection. (Robinson & Smith, 2022.) It requires
in-person contact with others to trigger the hormones that alleviate stress and make you
feel happier, healthier, and more positive. Ironically for a technology that’s designed to
bring people closer together, spending too much time engaging with social media can
actually make you feel more lonely and isolated.

C. Harsh Self-Image is Usually Promoted

Everyone is collectively aware that the images and videos we see in films, vlogs,
and social media are all manipulated, edited, and rarely ever real. But as humans, we are
programmed to feel the ups and downs of comparing and contrasting ourselves to others.
These may even link to mental illnesses such as Superiority and Inferiority Complexes,
Body Dysmorphic Disorder, and personality disorders. Because of this, we tend to strive
our hardest and to our most extraneous extent in order to fulfill the social norms that are
being imposed and adored in social media, which is toxic for mental health as we will be
used to never finding a sense of self-contentment, but instead, having to constantly yearn
for perfection in the eyes of other people who have nothing to do with us and most
definitely have no rights to criticize what we must look like, act like, or dress like.

D. Social Media Can Become An Insatiable Addiction

Social media platforms are designed to snare your attention, keep you online, and
have you repeatedly check your screen for updates. It is how companies make money.
But, much like a gambling compulsion or an addiction to nicotine, alcohol, or drugs,
social media use can create psychological cravings. (Robinson & Smith, 2022.) When
you receive a like, a share, or a favorable reaction to a post, it can trigger the release of
dopamine in the brain, the same “reward” chemical that follows winning on a slot
machine, taking a bite of chocolate, or lighting up a cigarette, for example. The more
you’re rewarded, the more time you want to spend on social media, even if it becomes
detrimental to other aspects of your life.
 In the past decade, the internet has provided a lot of opportunities for growth,
advancement, and exposure, as well as changes in the world’s culture. Some have had a negative
connotation, and others which have been categorized as positive. Social media is a powerful tool
for communication. It allows everyone from all sides of the platform to express themselves.
Generally speaking, this is a good way to make the Freedom of Speech Act of 1998 and
information accessible to all. However, this perspective only works under the light of positive
social media use.
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