Social media and mental health
You may have heard that there's a connection between social media and how you feel. Research shows that there is indeed a correlation between social media and your mental health, but it largely depends on how you choose to use the apps. Social media also has many positive aspects—it's about finding a good balance.
The reward system
Educational psychology shows that when we receive positive feedback, the likelihood of us repeating the same behavior increases. Our brains have a reward system that associates good feelings with actions, and every time you're rewarded with positive feedback, you'll want to do it again. This happens when you share content on social media. New likes, comments, and followers give you a good feeling that you want more of.
Avoid joy stealers!
In psychology, we believe that all people have a fundamental desire to understand themselves. This means that you compare yourself to others to better understand yourself. On social media, everyone is influenced by how everyone else presents themselves and what they share. Perhaps you share the things you're proud of or that make you appear smart, attractive, funny, and interesting? Well, everyone else does the same!
The false average
Because we want to portray a positive image of ourselves on social media, a "false average" is created because we compare ourselves to the highlights in others' lives. When we compare ourselves to others, it usually happens upwardly. We rarely compare ourselves to those we perceive as less successful than us. When you only have access to exclusively positive content from others, you compare yourself to a level of "success" that doesn't exist in reality. When that's what you compare yourself to, it creates a feeling of not quite measuring up. Be aware of this when you're scrolling. People share the most beautiful vacation photos but not the noodles in the study hall! Comparison is the thief of joy and a guaranteed recipe for disappointment!
Tips
- Think about what you share and why you share it—there's no need to stop sharing the beautiful moments in life, but it can also be nice to share the noodles in the study hall from time to time!
- Consider who you're posting for, whose approval are you seeking? Reflect on how and why you compare yourself to your feed.
- Go through the list of people you follow. Does what they share give you positive or negative feelings? If they create a negative feeling for you, you can choose to unfollow or limit their posts.
- Remember that your self-esteem doesn't have to be strongly tied to the response you get on social media! The impression you give of yourself on social media only shows a small side of who you are!