Social media was never something I thought about. It was just a tool that everyone had access to. Myspace was the first major social media site, although I was not born at the time. Myspace is a popular social media site that was founded in 2000. I have heard many good things about it. Because facebook was launched only one year after myspace, it is still a messaging site that only “older” people use. Myspace is virtually inactive and only older people use it. Instead, popular apps like snapchat and twitter are used. Teens often focus on their number of followers and likes, which can lead to negative self-image issues. Although I don’t pay much attention to what my friends and followers are doing, I find it sometimes sad to see someone with more popularity on the internet than I. It always fascinated me that even though many people in their 40s/50s claim that social media can lead them to sadness or depression, I’m not aware of anyone who is. Social media is a complex topic with a complicated history. According to dictonary.com “social media” is “websites that allow large numbers of people to communicate and make professional or social connections. Let’s examine the history of social media and its origins to better understand what it is.
It all began with BBS, or bulletin boards system, in 1978. BBS allows users to communicate and share information online. Compuserve was soon followed by another website. Compuserve was similar with BBS, except it offered the ability to chat directly. Social media began to take off. In 2002, friendster was launched. This allowed people to connect with each other online and promote a community. Facebook, linkedin, myspace and myspace were all created soon after. Facebook is more appealing to young adults than myspace. And linkedin allows businesses to create a network. Soon after its release in 2006, Twitter followed suit and soon joined Facebook at the top. The new social media that is emerging is called “Instagram”. It was released in 2006 and remains popular today. This type social media is more about sharing the fun parts of your lives than building an online community. While facebook and Twitter are still popular today, snapchat and instagram are also very popular. But without original sites such as friendster and BBS, there would be no history of social media. Social media can have a negative impact on kids’ mental health and well-being, parents claim. Harvard postdoctoral fellow Emily Weinstein believes that parents can blame social media for their children’s sadness and health. They ignore other factors like grades, or conflicts with friends. Parents also worry that their child isn’t being safe on social networking sites or might develop body positivity issues. Teens are not only not safe from people they know, but also from voices that say they’re not worthy. Instagram is a place where everyone wants to feel and look their best. Young girls with different body types than models are particularly vulnerable to this problem. Parents worry that their children will become depressed and anxious from too much online time. However, they can also set bad examples. Social media is used by 77% of Americans, so many parents don’t set a good example.
Amanda Lenhart, the Deputy Director at the Better Life Lab, said that parents are often good role models for their children online. Parents are not afraid to take away a children’s gadget if they use it too often. While this has been proven to be a positive effect, parents do not want to limit their kids screen time. Parents often believe that their child is miserable because they use social media. However, many don’t take into account other factors or follow their lead. Social media can either make depression or anxiety worse. Social media can worsen anxiety and depression disorders, including major depressive disorder. Sarah Fader, an author who writes about mental health and raises awareness for it, recently wrote an article called Social Media Obsession & Anxiety which discusses a newly discovered mental illness called Social Media Anxiety Disorder. This is a new illness that was only discovered recently. There won’t be any tabs on Google to show information from the mayo clinic. Fader writes about Social Media Anxiety Disorder. It is a mental disorder that has many similarities. People with it will not only disrupt their lives but also withdraw from their friends and family in order to access social media. 20% can’t stay on social media for more than 3 hours, and 30% spend more time on it per week.
Yoryen Young is a senior at University of Pennsylvania. When asked her opinion about social media she stated that “if you use less of social media, you feel less depressed and more lonely.” She believes that while many people know the dangers of using social media but choose to ignore them out of fear of being disliked by peers. Social media can be a positive influence on your life, but it can also cause or worsen mental illness.
Today, nearly 80% of people have access to social media. This coincides with an increase in anxiety and depression. Social media has become increasingly popular and there are many ways to protect yourself from mental illness, such as the social media anxiety disorder. Parents can also take extraordinary measures to ensure their children are safe online. Sometimes they just need a hand or a gentle reminder. It’s clear that social media has had a long history. Teens have always been drawn to the most depressing path. This started with myspace. Although there are many ways that people can keep themselves safe and protected from harm, many people continue to be unhealthy and check their accounts every hour. Social media can be just as addictive as drugs and it should be made known to people. Social media is a force that is ever-present in our society. It has the potential to have devastating effects on a person’s mental well-being, including anxiety and depression.
