Social media has been a pertinent topic of debate in recent times regarding of impact it has on society. Despite of the huge potential it has and the ways it serves people, it is attacked frequently for having adverse effects on individuals and society. One major problem that is associated with the argument is deteriorating mental health among individuals. This essay discusses the problem in detail and aims to offer a well-rounded solution to address this issue.
Many social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, etc. offer very reliable connectivity services, however, excessive on-time exposes an individual to potent risks such as depression and anxiety. This issue is more rampant among the younger generation, particularly, those who spend most of their time on social media. Addiction has got to a point where social media has begun to control their conscience and emotions. This is proven by research conducted by Arizona State University, which suggests that a whopping 60% of users of social media are grappled with either depression or mental anxiety.
It does not stop here, Many more concerns have surfaced that stem from depression that exacerbates the issue. Social media is proven to make individuals compare their lives with those that are portrayed on social media. This mindset tends people to develop an inferiority complex, which further causes underconfidence and mental trauma. For instance, a paper released by the same university suggests that more than 50% of people aged between 18-25 have an inferiority complex and manifest signs of depression.
In my opinion, to mitigate these risks, immediate measures should be employed. A legal age of using social media should be determined which could allow some more time for younger individuals to achieve maturity level so they make more informed decisions. Promoting digital literacy education can also be an effective instrument to support the former cause. Secondly, the platforms should deploy more techniques such as mandatory screen time limiters and effective censorship programs that would curb harmful content
Upon wrapping, this essay discusses in detail the harmful effects of social media upon the community, while it also suggests some key solutions that promise to deliver the approach that is necessary to tackle this issue such as the promotion of digital literacy, implementation of legal age for users and lastly, employ formulas like screen time limits and stronger censorship.