In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. In 1997, Andrew Weinrich launched the first social networking site, SixDegrees.com. In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook. In 2010, Kevin Systrom introduced Instagram.

All these points in history show the milestone of development in technology and social media. The people mentioned launched their creations to help people communicate better, regardless of the distance or the time. 

Social media gave access to people to socialize, who may or may not be have been able to socialize in real life. However, it seems that social media has become a toxic platform rather than a safe haven. 

Why you may ask?

We wake up, we check our Instagram feed. We see our old classmates having a blast in the Maldives, meanwhile, we have to drag ourselves to our workplace. We see celebrities with their perfect skin and perfect hair and perfect body, posing in front of their million-dollar mansion. We check our followers and we check our mutual’s followers.

Then, what do we do? We compare ourselves, knowingly or unknowingly. We have come to the conclusion that our social media image reflects our real-life persona. We see the number of likes on our posts as a self-worth boost machine. The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) culture has further pushed people to impulsively check their phones every now and then. 

Multiple researchers have found that heavy social media usage has detrimental effects on our mental health.

Especially kids and teens are more affected by the toxicity of social media. Many young children have fallen a victim to cyberbullying. As anybody, from any part of the world, can easily comment on their social media, they have been open to negative comments and judgment. All of these have caused the children to develop depression and anxiety. Another example of harmful social media effects is the glamorization of mental health disorders and self-harm itself.

Now that the problems have been listed, it is not to be said that social media does not have its pros too. Social networking sites have proven to be a vital part of our lives. It has helped us connect to the world. It has informed us about important events and issues in all corners of the world. What is essential is smart usage of social media. Lessening screen time and real-life interaction can help us curb the issue. 

If you or your child need counseling, contact Therapy Point.