Social Media has a direct negative affect on mental health and causes mental illness

Question

Within the last decade or so, we have had a rise in social media, but also decreases in mental health. It is said that social media has a direct impact on mental health and can cause illnesses like depression, anxiety, etc., despite there being no long-term studies of its effects yet.

Answer 1

The article "The Social Media and Mental Health Connection" was last updated on August 8th, 2023 and was written by Sherri Gordon who is a published author, certified professional life coach and bullying prevention expert. This article was medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman who is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, etc. According to Pew Research Center, a credible source, 72% of Americans in the United States use social media. Since social media is relatively new, there are no conclusive studies that document lasting effects. Using social media can sometimes release dopamine which causes people to keep coming back to social media. Despite the benefits, social media has been linked to depression, anxiety and loneliness. A 2017 study found that people who used social media for 2 hours a day or more were likely to categorize their mental health as poor compared to someone who doesn't use social media as often. Social media has also caused people to feel left out, insecure and sometimes self absorbed. Social media should be used occasionally since it does have effects on your mental health and wellbeing.

Comments

I agree with your take on the article, and i think it's interesting to point out that there are no studies currently on the lasting effects of using social media, considering it hasn't been around for long enough. I think given the current effects we see on people it will continue to have lasting effects on mental health, especially if nothing is done to mitigate usage.

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Are these articles unrelated to the claim's source? Where are your source hyperlinks?

Answer 2

After reading and analyzing this article, there were a few key points throughout that stood out to me. Within the first sentence, they listed a fact explaining 72% of of Americans in the U.S. use social media listed from Pew Research Center. After analyzing this, this is in fact true, posted in a pew research article from May to September 5th 2023, listed here, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/#:~:text=YouTube%20by%20and%20large%20is,using%20the%20social%20media%20platform.

After moving on from this, throughout the article, they did in fact list many different facts that may lead someone to believe there is a direct link from social media to mental health issues. However, throughout those writing, they did not list any findings or studies, so it was very hard to pinpoint those findings to someone specific. So in the end, this article may be true, but there is not enough hard examples to compare to label them as a truth or false. 

Answer 3

Social media's impact on mental health is multifaceted and not solely negative; it can foster connections, provide access to support networks, and offer educational resources, which may positively influence mental well-being for some individuals. According to recent research, it is confirmed social media can have an affect on your mental health. Although, these affects can be both negative and positive given the subject of content someone is taking in. The article stating positive and negative mental affects of social media is listed here -  https://www.1907.foundation/health/how-technology-impacts-mental-health?utm_term=online%20therapy&utm_campaign=CN_GG_S_1907_General&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=9125771043&hsa_cam=19543232619&hsa_grp=151616094368&hsa_ad=647876055359&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-11476751&hsa_kw=online%20therapy&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19543232619&gbraid=0AAAAABR8zCJfLYqU6sXae4hXQJIaqNcdg&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9obIBhCAARIsAGHm1mRmbDhjJv34xTMWkYLgB8bQxNO2D6kZRiMVQQxCaxY5CEFk7UcCmJsaAqCQEALw_wcB

Answer 4

Yes it's true that Social Media has correlation to effecting ones mental health. According to UC Davis Health "social media can negatively impact our overall wellbeing by fueling anxiety, depression, loneliness and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)." It is also found on HelpGuide.org that social media can cause inadequacy about your life or appearance, isolation, depression/anxiety, cyberbullying, and self-absorption. In conclusion yes social media can have many effects on ones mental health. Because of its addictive properties it is very common for social media to have an impact on ones mental health, and mental illnesses. 

Sources: 

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/social-medias-impact-our-mental-health-and-tips-to-use-it-safely/2024/05

https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/social-media-and-mental-health

Answer 5

1. Overall I found many articles agreeing with the claim that social media has a direct negative effect on mental health and causes mental illness. Many of the sources I used described cyber bullying and FOMO (fear of missing out) as some of the main contributors to mental health issues and mental illness.  
2. One primary post I found is from the UC Davis Health Center. This article supports the claim and states that there is a negative link between social media and mental health issues. This source brought up how mental health issues directly impact teens more than any other age group. Another source I found is an article from the Stanford Law School journal. This article states similar claims as the first claiming that the introduction and prevalent use of social media increases mental health issues like depression and suicide. 

4. Biases both sources might have are biases against social media usage among teens. Both sources heavily state that social media usage among teens can cause extreme anxiety and depression. 
5. From the UC Davis Health Center, the article stated that social media can negatively impact a persons wellbeing and fuels, "anxiety, depression, loneliness and FOMO (fear of missing out). These issues are especially prevalent in teens and young adults". This quote backs up the claim that social media has a direct negative impact on mental health and causes mental health and causes mental illness. 
6. The article, Social Media Addiction and Mental Health by Kenta Minamitani, states that, "research has not necessarily shown that the use of social media has a causal relationship with poorer mental health in young people". This undermines the claim that social media has a direct negative impact on mental health and causes mental health and causes mental illness. 
7. They did not answer.

Sources: https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/social-medias-impact-our-mental-health-and-tips-to-use-it-safely/2024/05

https://law.stanford.edu/2024/05/20/social-media-addiction-and-mental-health-the-growing-concern-for-youth-well-being/

Answer 6

In the first study I found, it said that social media can be a very helpful platform to express yourself, as there aren't a lot of restrictions on what you can post. It can encourage people to take better care of themselves by promoting healthy habits. Social media can also provide people with a platform to talk about their lived experiences. It can also provide a safe space for those who are struggling with similar problems. At the same time, social media is affecting people not only online but also in their lives outside of social media, such as affecting their relationships and how they go about their day. With the increase in usage, there has been an increase in studies as well that center around how it affects the brain. The usage of social media is directly linked to anxiety, insomnia, stress, and a sense of mental deprivation. The National Library of Medicine lists unhealthy comparisons, a lack of emotional regulation, and increased social anxiety due to lessened social interactions as possible direct correlations with the overuse of social media. 

Answer 7

After looking at a few different sources I discovered that although social media usage is somewhat associated with adverse effects on mental health there is no actual conclusive proof that it directly causes mental health problems in society at large. I looked at meta-analyses and a systematic review that does show that over the top social media use correlates to anxiety and depression symptoms, however most studies most studies are observational and cannot prove a direct link. Some secondary sources like Pew Research and NAMI mention risks that come along with using social media like cyberbullying and social comparison but also notes benefits like social connections, saying that the effects and impacts vary by user and the context it is being used in. Some possible bias include some limitation with study design, self reporting errors, and media perspectives that might highlight some potential risks. Even though there is evidence that shows social media having negative effects on mental health in certain scenarios, there is no direct evidence that shows direct correlation with social media and mental illness. I decided to try to get in touch with one of the meta- analysis authors to try and identify causation but have yet to receive a response. In conclusion, after reviewing evidence I believe this claim is misleading.