Social media has enabled us to bring us close to each other in our lives. We can share our happy moments and lives with other people. However, recent research has now shown that increased social media usage has brought depression and loneliness into our lives. Research by the Child Mind Institute and the National Institute for Health Research has shown that social media use brings depression into our lives. Many children spend more time on social media and feel depressive symptoms when compared to children who spend more time on non-screen activities.

Social media has the same effect on the brain as playing a slot machine. Since we do not know the type of content that will open, opening the apps and using social media promotes dopamine release. So, it has a rewarding effect on the brain, which is similar to other pleasurable activities like food and sex.

Social media use leads to depression

Many times, we post content on social media and want to attract an audience. When people like or post comments, it boosts our self-esteem. We feel better interacting with our peers. But when our posts get ignored, we feel disappointed. Our morale gets low. You might compare your feed with other people’s and see that they receive more appraisal and feedback. This can lead to low self-esteem and feelings of depression and loneliness.

Seeing filtered images of other people can cause feelings of disappointment and worthlessness in our lives. It is easy to whiten our teeth, airbrush body parts, and hide our imperfections with the help of filters. So, all we see are airbrushed images of celebrities. When we compare ourselves to these people, we feel disappointed. We see highlights, and it feels impossible to bring ourselves to their level. But you must realise that filters are only a fun thing; it is not necessary to recreate them in our lives. Take fun things for fun only.

The feeling of missing out is common among high school friends. When your friends are using social media, cracking jokes, and sharing information, you might feel like you're missing out on important information. The distraction from your studies can lead to loneliness, less retention of information, and greater stress. You will feel excluded and left out when you see other people enjoying and having a good time. So, having a digital world at your fingertips can hamper forming real connections and meeting people.

Ways to curb unhealthy social media behaviour

Research by the University of Pennsylvania has shown that a decrease in social media can decrease symptoms of loneliness and depression. So, it is not possible to entirely cut off social media usage, but you can minimise social media use to lessen symptoms of depression. You must look for these warning signs when the use of social media brings you into your life.

  • You might feel depression and loneliness.

  • You might be spending more time on social media than spending real time with friends and peers.

  • Comparing yourself with others unnecessarily.

  • Being trolled and bullied online.

  • You might feel that your schoolwork and relationships are suffering.

  • You neglect self-care and procrastinate. You will neglect exercise, meditation, and sleep.

If you notice these symptoms, it is time to decrease your social media use. You must decrease the time spent on apps and set limits on screen time. Some people find that taking a break from social media and doing a social media detox can help them focus on their health and relationships.

So, you can take a leave from social media and participate in outdoor activities. Now, indulge in games and hobbies to fill the void in your life. These can help you break your social media addiction and get relief from anxiety and depression. You can talk with a trusted healthcare practitioner who will provide you with a roadmap to success. You can follow his guidelines and participate in healthy habits to break your social media addiction patterns.

Final conclusion

So, try to appreciate life and the negatives and positives in life. We do not need to compare our lives with other people. We are perfect in ourselves, and social media comparison can lead us to feelings of depression and worthlessness. Believe in yourself, and do your best to live a meaningful and best life. We only live once, and so we must try to become our best version rather than moulding ourselves according to social media patterns.