My position:
Social
media has had negative effects to users mental health when used at
high frequencies as outcomes have been increased suicidal
thoughts, anxiety, stress, and depression.
Argument #1:
Cyberbullying has been at an all-time high with the easy access to
social media sites, in many cases children as young as 12 years
old have committed suicide from this.
"Social media can
affect adolescents’ self-view and interpersonal
relationships through social comparison and negative
interactions, including cyberbullying; moreover, social media
content often involves normalization and even promotion of
self-harm and suicidality among youth" (Abi-Jaode, Naylor
& Pignatiello, 2020, p. E136).
"Social support was
a consistent protective factor for all
negative outcomes, including suicidal thoughts" ((Berryman,
Ferguson & Negy, 2017, p. 312).
Argument #2: Images on social media of what the
"ideal body" looks like has cause many women to over-stress their
bodies to try and fit this false image - leading to anorexia,
bulimia, or over-working yourself at the gym and not eating
correctly.
"Evidence from a
variety of cross-sectional, longitudinal and
empirical studies implicate smartphone and social media use in
the increase in mental distress, self-injurious behaviour and
suicidality among youth; there is a dose–response
relationship,
and the effects appear to be greatest among girls" (Abi-Jaode,
Naylor & Pignatiello, 2020, p. E137).
"Lead researcher
Martin Graff says social-media users tend to think that thin
people are more attractive, and may be more self-conscious
about how they themselves look. The are also more motivated to
exercise in a bid to improve their bodies" (Ridley, 2018).
Argument #3: Social media leads to increased
depression, anxiety and stress for users
"In the last decade,
increasing mental distress and treatment
for mental health conditions among youth in North America
has paralleled a steep rise in the use of smartphones and
social media by children and adolescents" (Abi-Jaode, Naylor
& Pignatiello, 2020, p. E136).
"Many who are
concerned about social media use point back to a 2011 report
by the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) who claimed 'Facebook
Depression' could develop
among youth who used social media too long" (Berryman,
Ferguson & Negy, 2017, p. 308).
"The research,
published by the American Psychological Association, found
sharp increases in the number of young adults and adolescents
who reported experiencing negative psychological symptoms -
specifically in those born in 1995 or later, known as iGen.
Coincidentally, the greatest spike in symptoms occurred in
2011, around the same time social media bursts onto the scene"
(Charles, 2019).
Sources:
Abi-Jaoude,
E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones,
social media use
and youth mental
health. CMAJ:
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 192(6),
E136–E141.
Berryman,
C.,
Ferguson, C. J., & Negy, C. (2018). Social media use and
mental health
among young adults. The
Psychiatric
Quarterly, 89(2), 307-314.