Social Media's Impact on Wellbeing
Many are familiar with the experience of doom-scrolling, a repetitive and often mindless consumption of social media content. Recent research indicates that this behavior is having a significant negative effect on wellbeing, particularly in Western countries and among young women.
The World Happiness Report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, highlights the detrimental effects of excessive social media use on individuals' wellbeing.
If you use social media for an hour a day, that's great, you're being connected,
says Michael Plant, Research Fellow at the Wellbeing Research Centre.
But the report did show a correlation between, the more time you spend on social media the greater loss of wellbeing.
Although the report does not provide a definitive explanation for why the Western world experiences a greater impact, it reveals that the wellbeing of people under 25 in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom has declined sharply over the past decade. This period coincides with the rapid expansion of social media platforms.
I was originally skeptical about the negativity on social media, but the evidence is mounting up,
Plant added.
So young people are not smoking, they're not taking drugs, having lots of sex like my generation but they do have social media.
And the platforms are designed to maintain engagement,
he continued.
Perspectives from a Fitness Content Creator
Sydney Grows, a fitness content creator who began posting on TikTok in 2021, describes her experience as "a dream."
I am very lucky, the health and fitness industry, the people are lovely the opportunities are incredible and I feel like I am living my dream every day,
she said.
Grows emphasizes authenticity in her content, which includes gym interactions and sporting events, and strives to create a positive environment for her audience.
However, she is also aware of the negative aspects of social media engagement.
I tend to block out the negative comments, I've had four years worth of practice to build the resilience,
she explained.
But you know, you'll get 100 positive comments and it doesn't sink in but then you get one negative comment and it feels personal and it hurts.
Adapting to the Reality of Social Media
Despite its challenges, social media remains an integral part of modern life, and its presence is unlikely to diminish.
It's about being realistic and looking at yourself - the platforms won't stop you and the government, if you're an adult, won't put restrictions in place so it's down to you,
Plant stated.
If you go 'I am looking at other people and their life seems better than mine' then I am going to feel worse.
So instead go 'I will go out and try to talk to people more'.
Overall the aim is to put the social back into social media.
