by Staff writer
Social media has became an important part of everyone’s lives, and it is not just the youth these days but literally everyone from growing children to much older people.
It has redefined how we interact, communicate, and perceive the world.
True, there are many positive sides to social media use such as the business benefits it offers and an easier way to connect and stay informed, but are these benefits enough to make us ignore what social media is really turning us all into?
We have became mere puppets in the hands of social media — we now live our lives according to what social media permits.
It has changed how we speak to one another, the kind of products we buy and the clothes we wear. People now get lost in social media to the extent of forgetting daily activities.
We now live our lives constantly seeking the approval of others, in terms of likes, shares and comments, moving from happy to depressed only in a matter of seconds.
Many mental health professionals are deeply concerned about the impact that social media has on mental health.
Some even believe that the constant distraction of social media contributes to shortened attention spans.
In addition, many people who regularly use platforms like Facebook or Twitter report high levels of stress.
Stress contributes to multiple physical and mental health conditions that can affect our work, relationships and family.
It is has now become very easy to spread hate on social media; anyone can have an opinion about you or your loved one, and won’t be reluctant to share it.
Also, written and spoken speech are not the same and intent can easily be misunderstood on social media.
Social media might have made us more ‘aware’, but how very good is this really? Studies have shown that constant exposure to stressful events on social media is what gets people more stressed.
Also, seeing others flaunt the things we don’t have or can’t afford every minute of the day leads to increased risks of depression and anxiety.
In all, the advent of social media might have offered us great many benefits but it might be time now to revisit how we use it.
