Social Media: a Waste of Time?
Why social media is a waste of time and how it negatively impacts mental health
By Claudia Calby, student life/opinion writer
Why social media is a waste of time and how it negatively impacts mental health
By Claudia Calby, student life/opinion writer
Overview
Social media has been around for some time now. From Facebook’s launch in 2004, to Instagram in 2010, and with Snapchat taking off in 2011, these apps and many more like them have given us a new way to communicate through our phones and computers. Unlike regular calls or text messages, social media allows us to interact with people from all over the world, as well as share many photos and videos to anyone at the touch of a button. Is this concept amazing, or is it scary?
Loss of Time
According to BroadbandSearch, in North America the average daily time spent on social media is around 2 hours. If the average person typically spends between 14-17 hours awake each day, is it worth cutting away 2 hours or more in your time awake to social media apps? Also, 90% of people between the ages of 18 to 29 use at least one social media app. Being a young adult comes with a lot of priorities, two possibly being a new job or attending college to further your education. Is the time spent on social media worth the possibility of limiting your potential or running out of time on an important task?
Social media has been around for some time now. From Facebook’s launch in 2004, to Instagram in 2010, and with Snapchat taking off in 2011, these apps and many more like them have given us a new way to communicate through our phones and computers. Unlike regular calls or text messages, social media allows us to interact with people from all over the world, as well as share many photos and videos to anyone at the touch of a button. Is this concept amazing, or is it scary?
Loss of Time
According to BroadbandSearch, in North America the average daily time spent on social media is around 2 hours. If the average person typically spends between 14-17 hours awake each day, is it worth cutting away 2 hours or more in your time awake to social media apps? Also, 90% of people between the ages of 18 to 29 use at least one social media app. Being a young adult comes with a lot of priorities, two possibly being a new job or attending college to further your education. Is the time spent on social media worth the possibility of limiting your potential or running out of time on an important task?
Mental Health Declines
The loss of time isn’t the only issue with these platforms. Social media can diminish one’s mental health as well. Social media sites are designed to be addictive and give someone a sense of reinforcement. These platforms activate the brain and help release dopamine, the chemical that makes us “feel good”. People post images and content with the hope that they will receive positive feedback, which will boost their self-esteem. Since the outcome is unpredictable, many choose to reopen the site even if they aren’t receiving the feedback they wanted. Also, comparing oneself to others around them and feeling fear of missing out only adds to the psychological impact. This can explain why some people don’t want to use social media, especially if they catch that they’re comparing themselves or in need of constant reassurance, but continue to spend time on the platforms.
The loss of time isn’t the only issue with these platforms. Social media can diminish one’s mental health as well. Social media sites are designed to be addictive and give someone a sense of reinforcement. These platforms activate the brain and help release dopamine, the chemical that makes us “feel good”. People post images and content with the hope that they will receive positive feedback, which will boost their self-esteem. Since the outcome is unpredictable, many choose to reopen the site even if they aren’t receiving the feedback they wanted. Also, comparing oneself to others around them and feeling fear of missing out only adds to the psychological impact. This can explain why some people don’t want to use social media, especially if they catch that they’re comparing themselves or in need of constant reassurance, but continue to spend time on the platforms.
Ways to Reduce Usage
There are many things you can do to reduce your usage on social media platforms. If you don’t feel comfortable deleting the app off of your phone (which would be the top choice), working to reduce the amount of time you spend on the platform is a good start. On Iphones, in settings there is a Screen Time monitor. Downtime and App Limits options are a great way to begin shortening your time usage on social media apps. In addition, downloading an app such as Flora is an easy way to reduce time spent on your phone as a whole. It is important to remember that taking a break or quitting social media sites may be difficult, but you’re not alone in trying to make these choices. Asking a few friends to join you in taking a couple days or weeks off of social media can help with any fear of missing out you may feel. Knowing that others are doing the same and “missing” out on certain posts or videos can connect you back to real friendships and reality.
There are many things you can do to reduce your usage on social media platforms. If you don’t feel comfortable deleting the app off of your phone (which would be the top choice), working to reduce the amount of time you spend on the platform is a good start. On Iphones, in settings there is a Screen Time monitor. Downtime and App Limits options are a great way to begin shortening your time usage on social media apps. In addition, downloading an app such as Flora is an easy way to reduce time spent on your phone as a whole. It is important to remember that taking a break or quitting social media sites may be difficult, but you’re not alone in trying to make these choices. Asking a few friends to join you in taking a couple days or weeks off of social media can help with any fear of missing out you may feel. Knowing that others are doing the same and “missing” out on certain posts or videos can connect you back to real friendships and reality.
Works Cited
“Average Time Spent Daily on Social Media (Latest 2020 Data).” BroadbandSearch.net, www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/average-daily-time-on-social-media#post-navigation-0.
“Demographics of Social Media Users and Adoption in the United States.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center, 5 June 2020, www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/.
McLean Hospital. “The Social Dilemma: Social Media and Your Mental Health.” Here's How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health | McLean Hospital, McLean Hospital, 10 Feb. 2021, www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health.
“Demographics of Social Media Users and Adoption in the United States.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center, 5 June 2020, www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/.
McLean Hospital. “The Social Dilemma: Social Media and Your Mental Health.” Here's How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health | McLean Hospital, McLean Hospital, 10 Feb. 2021, www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health.