Social Media and Its Effects On Health

“We are digital slaves to corporate machines that create fake needs to feed the ego.” Stúdentablaðið/Unsplash

“We are digital slaves to corporate machines that create fake needs to feed the ego.” Stúdentablaðið/Unsplash

Social Media and Its Effects On Health

Mobile phones are some of our dearest companions in the 21st century. Who hasn’t panicked because their oh-so-beloved phone is nowhere to be found, just to realize about half a minute later that it is safe and sound in their coat pocket? Media and technology are almost unavoidable. So it comes as no surprise to hear more and more people, particularly millennials, talk about the pressure that is put on them by the media - especially social media.

There is no doubt that Instagram & Co. offer many benefits, such as networking and communicating with people all over the globe. However, in times in which bloggers and influencers change the sky in their photographs solely for the purpose of “having a nicer feed” or “because the sky did not match the outfit,” it is understandable that not everyone can deal with the pressure to be “perfect” – after all, every other person on Instagram appears to be living the dream life without having to sit in university and read for hours on end.

Arnar Eggert Thoroddsen, Media and Communication Studies Program Director, is teaching a new class on social media - a topic, he says, “that everyone has a view on.” Almost instantly he adds that students probably understand the topic better than he does himself. 

“The evolution of social media has been like an epidemic,” Arnar states over a cup of coffee, surrounded by students on their smartphones. He then mentions that in his class, he tries to consider both the negative and positive effects of the rise of social media.

Social media – a health issue?

Ever heard of so-called “text neck”? It’s one of those really bad headaches that even an ibuprofen can’t cure. Tension and pain in the neck and shoulders are common, especially among the younger generation, simply because smartphone use has become so widespread. Many people spend numerous hours of their day on computers, which already strains the body. The addition of frequent social media consumption basically screams catastrophe. Bending the neck for several hours a day impacts the cervical spine in nasty ways and causes a lot of pain that isn’t always easy to fix. Then there are other health issues that smartphone use can cause, such as problems with eyesight, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a lack of concentration due, quite frankly, to an addiction to social media and phones. Arnar says it’s remarkable how fast this addiction has developed.

In addition to physical health issues, there is the recurring topic of social media’s effects on mental health – specifically, the use of Instagram and Snapchat. “It is very popular, in short essays, to write about the personal self-image on Instagram,” Arnar says. He explains, “The essays I mostly get [from students] are on self-perception through Instagram and the danger of being perfect.” There is this fear of not being enough, the fear of missing out - even just from seeing friends doing things in which you cannot take part. But also, seeing perfect pictures of seemingly flawless people creates pressure and stress. The addition of wannabe “challenges” inspired by hashtags such as #thinspiration establish “almost something like a cult,” says Arnar. Comparing a path in education to traveling the world and visiting all those picture-perfect locations results in anxiety and jealousy.

Furthermore, the Snapchat fire-hourglass conundrum does not define who someone is as a person. Snapchat keeps track of how often you’re interacting with other users, creating a “streak” signified by a fire image that turns into an hourglass when you are at risk of “losing” a streak. A streak does not define friendship, and a loss of this streak does not indicate failure. All it really does is underline that, as Arnar asserts, “We are digital slaves to corporate machines that create fake needs to feed the ego.” Nevertheless, the pressure can make one’s own life appear dull; it can make one feel stressed and depressed, but this does not reflect reality. 

Positive news

“Social media can help people to get out of their cave, can help people to connect,” Arnar points out. News and media outlets, though, seem to focus solely or at least to a greater degree on negative news. Therefore, after examining the dangers of social media and Instagram in particular, he makes sure to state that, “Naturally, research focuses on negative things.” Social media in moderation is wonderful; it is a creative outlet for many and a tool for inspiration. For instance, it can be used to share artistic talents with a large audience. Many people become interested in new hobbies due to these platforms and feel motivated to attempt new things after being influenced by other like-minded individuals on Instagram and YouTube. Having hobbies is important for freeing one’s mind, and being less stressed and frustrated can help one succeed in one’s studies.

Another great benefit of the use of social media is its inclusiveness. Shy people, those who do not seem to have a voice in the “real world,” can make themselves heard without leaving their comfort zones. Also, people who want to learn how to incorporate a healthy diet into their lives, which is extremely helpful for concentration and energy levels, can find numerous recipes all over social media. Food blogs and YouTube channels have been booming for a long time, and there is enough inspiration out there to make a positive change.

In general, YouTube, although there is still a lot of hatred reflected in the comments, is a great platform to connect, to work out, and to find help with study-related topics. There’s no doubt that it is also a great distraction, but, after all, when one is procrastinating, anything is a great and welcome distraction. If the focus, however, is on life-improving, habit-changing, and study-benefiting behavior, YouTube does have a lot of information to help viewers achieve their goals.

Becoming a more responsible social media user

It has been established that social media can be both beneficial and dangerous for frequent users. But what can you do if the pressure simply gets to you and you can’t get over the feeling of not being or doing enough? Firstly, it is good to remember that many of the photographs you see are highly edited. Secondly, we, the audience, really have no idea how long those bloggers and influencers had to wait in line to take that gorgeous picture sitting on a swing overlooking the rice fields of Bali. However, more than that, consider all the great things that fill your own life.

Being able to meet up with friends and family, not having to constantly upload pictures or content, not having a little mental breakdown because the weather isn’t nice enough to take a specific photo… There are countless situations that make an Instagrammer’s life tedious. Sure, they get invited to dream destinations, and seem to spend almost every day on the beach or in places many people desire to visit. However, let’s remember that it’s their job to make their pictures and life look like this. It’s hard work just like whatever you do is hard work. And if, after considering all the things influencers have to do, you still can’t let go, try it for a week. Give yourself challenges to make your online presence look this way. Edit your photos and upload something new, exciting, and current every day.

Another great way to simply limit your usage of social media or your phone in general is, ironically, connected to your smartphone. There is a wide selection of productivity apps. Ever heard of “Forest – Stay Focused”? You set a timer, during which time you are not allowed to touch your phone, and if you succeed, you plant a virtual tree. If you fail, the tree dies. And who wants that, right? And if you really keep it up, you eventually get to plant up to five real trees. Therefore, instead of taking out your smartphone when you get home, set a timer for 30 minutes, plant a tree, and get something done. You can do it. Let’s go!

Social media and the future

Finally, considering the future of social media, Arnar is of the opinion that “We are the first people to experience social media, without truly knowing what it is.'' His prediction is that possibly around twenty years from now people will meet and talk about the time when everyone was constantly on social media, when everyone behaved like “kids in a candy store.” This is just like how people now talk about the times when people smoked anywhere and everywhere, or when people procrastinated by doing other things than using social media. This is, of course, a positive forecast made by a truly positive person. Though, since no one can time travel to see how the future will actually be, it is wonderful to think about the best-case scenario: a world without this constant stress.

EnglishClaudia Magnússon