NEGATIVE IMPACTS of Social Media

 Yes, there are several negative impacts of social media on people and users. Some of these include:

• Depression and Anxiety: Spending too long on social networking sites could adversely affect your mood. In fact, chronic social media users are more likely to report poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. Social media lets you see the carefully selected best parts of everyone else’s lives, which you then compare to the negatives in your own life (that only you see). Comparing yourself to other people is a sure path to anxiety and unhappiness, and social media has made this much easier to do.
• Cyberbullying: Social media has made it easier for people to bully others online, anonymously or not. Cyberbullying is a well-known issue that can have serious consequences for the victim.
• Stress: People use social media to vent about everything from customer service to politics, but the downside to this is that our feeds often resemble an endless stream of stress. In 2015, researchers at the Pew Research Center based in Washington DC sought to find out if social media induces more stress than it relieves. In the survey of 1,800 people, women reported being more stressed than men. Twitter was found to be a “significant contributor” because it increased their awareness of other people’s stress.
• Mood: In 2014, researchers in Austria found that participants reported lower moods after using Facebook for 20 minutes compared to those who just browsed the internet.

It’s important to use social media in moderation and be mindful of its potential negative impacts on our mental health and well-being. 

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The screens that once connected us,

Now seem to pull us apart,

As we scroll through endless feeds,

And lose touch with our heart.

We compare our lives to others,

And feel we're not enough,

As we chase the likes and follows,

And forget what's truly tough.

We hide behind our profiles,

And curate our online lives,

But the negative impact of social media,

Is that it cuts like knives.

We lose sight of what's important,

And forget to live in the now,

As we're consumed by notifications,

And the constant need to bow.

So let's put down our devices,

And reconnect with those we love,

For the negative impact of social media,

Is something we must rise above.

THANK YOU!