In my college comp class, the first part of our class is based on mental health and social media.The discussion at hand argues whether or not social media is a cause of depression. While discussing this topic, we talked a lot about different scenarios in which this was true, and, eventually, my interest was piqued.
We, as social media users, have all found ourselves becoming emotionally unstable here and there because of the way we use social media. Do you really think that Facebook and Instagram were made specifically so that we could compare our lives to other people's? The answer: No. Do you feel pressure from social media to only show the positives? Is it too much pressure? Have you ever experienced a decline in your overall happiness because of social media? Does it concern you or make you question yourself if not enough people like your picture or favorite your tweet? Do you use social media the way is was intended?
Isn't it outrageous to think that you can answer yes to at least one of those questions?
Hold that thought.
Before continuing I’d like to stop and clarify the way that these social media sites were intended.
Facebook. Facebook was intended to connect friends and family members while sharing exciting events and moments with them over the Internet. Easier access to friends and family across the world. (I guess? Right? Sure.) Facebook was not created so that teens, and even some adults, can lurk from afar or “creep.” This site was not made for bullies to hide behind. And that goes for all of the sites to follow, too.
Instagram. To share pictures with friends and families. Instagram was not created so that when you're bored, you can scroll through and look at your ex-boyfriend's new #wcw. Instagram was not created to make fun of a persons' pictures, or captions, or make fun of how they're spending their summer. Instagram was not created so that users had to find the perfect place to take a perfect picture with the perfect person with the perfect caption to post at a perfect time.
Twitter. To tweet events and things going on in your life. Twitter was, in fact, not meant to argue with people and hide behind your phone. Twitter was not intended to be a virtual world of subtweets and not-so-subtle stabs at other human beings. Twitter was never meant to be a war ground.
Now back to the point.
Does social media cause depression? My honest opinion is that it's possible. It's possible to be affected by things that happen on social media because, over the years, social media has gotten out of hand. However, I believe that it depends entirely on how you are using the sites. If you are only using social media to compare yourself to others or if you're using social media to create a virtual self, you're using it wrong. Just as you are mentally trained to post only about the positives in your life, so are other people. So guess what, the people you're comparing yourself to are only posting about the positives as well. You're comparing yourself to someone, but you're missing all the empty gaps in between posts. Their life might not be as great as their profiles say.
Isn't it just insane that we let ourselves do this? I mean, we spend our spare time on phones and laptops just scrolling through social media. We look at old friends' accounts and ex-boyfriends' (or girlfriends') to see how they're doing without you, then probably go and subtweet about them when you're feeling something about what they're posting. And then we have the times when what you see actually upsets you. And there you are, an emotional wreck, all because this person is posting about how great life is without you. But, let's take a second. If they weren't doing great, would they post about it? Would you?
I'm agreeing that social media can cause a decline in a person's overall happiness and possibly lead to depression. However, there is a way to avoid it.
Step 1. Realizing that while you're only posting the positives and what you want other people to see, so is everyone else.
Step 2. Acknowledging that following, friending, or subscribing to someone on social media does not mean that you know the struggles of that person.
Step 3. Accepting that you are you. Don't compare yourself to others and don't accept anything less than absolute happiness.
Is it true that it’s all just too much pressure? Have you ever used social media to compare yourself to others? Do the things other people post on social media actually affect you and your emotions? Have you ever gotten to the point of almost deactivating your accounts because of how pointless it all is? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions then you are proof that it's possible. If you are using social media for anything other than what it was originally intended to do, then you could be at risk for falling into an unstable emotional state and possibly depression. If you answered no, you’re lying. (It's not your fault, it's simply inevitable to do at least once.) If you find yourself becoming sad or experiencing symptoms of depression related to social media, stop and take a step back. Ask yourself the point of all of this. Are you using social media to portray a self that is not truly you? Is it worth thinking less of yourself just because "Susie posted a picture about how great her life is, blah blah blah." The answer is no.
The truth is that you've got no one to impress other than yourself. Those who mind, don't matter. And those who matter, don't mind. So be you, do you, be weird, go crazy and make the best of your life. And don't worry about tweeting the right thing, using the right filter or posting the perfect status.
P.S. I am not a hypocrite. I am well aware that I have used social media in a way that it was not intended. I only portray the positives in my life and I have found myself comparing my life to other people's posts. And yet, here I am writing this. I admit I do these things. But I know when enough is enough. I know that my real self is my virtual self and that there is no in-between. I have not created a me on social media that is not truly the real me.
That's it for this rant. See ya later!
- Log Mac
