As a major public health concern, mental health plays an important role in the lives of all individuals regardless of their age, social status, or gender. In turn, numerous elements can negatively affect the psychological well-being of individuals, thereby, resulting in the development of psychological issues. For instance, the compulsive use of Internet networks is frequently perceived as one of the main triggers of poor mental health. Even though the connection between the use of Internet networks and psychological health problems still requires deep research, there is an abundance of studies demonstrating the direct interdependence between them.
For example, when it comes to teenagers, it is estimated that the use of Internet networks can result in symptoms of depression, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, and mood swings. One of the recent research articles used a sample of 226 participants in order to determine the impact of the Internet on individuals ranging from ages 14 to 17 (Barry et al., 2017). As a result, researchers highlight that the most common health issues experienced by adolescents are depression and anxiety. At the same time, the concluding part of this research article is based on the idea to implement initiatives that would regulate the use of social media platforms by people of different age groups. It is predicted that such an implementation will result in positive long-term consequences for the well-being of individuals regardless of their gender, social group, or ethnic background.
In addition to the research study presented by Christopher Barry, there is a variety of other articles promoting the same idea. A similar study in this area is conducted by Dhir et al. (2018), who argue that social media use is one of the primary causes of fatigue, panic attacks, and depression. At the same time, to obtain the most accurate results, researchers took into consideration the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) framework. This research method analyzes information gained from over 500 participants (Dhir et al., 2018). The responses are reviewed from the perspective of stressors, strains, and outcomes. Therefore, the research finding presented in the study can be considered relevant and accurate. Moreover, the authors state that compulsive media use should be addressed by parents in the first place. Usually, teenagers are unable to control their potential addictions, which is why their parents should take this responsibility. For instance, they have the opportunity to limit screen time, encourage physical activity, and have electronic-free mealtimes, widely known as a digital detox. In case the adolescent is tremendously addicted to the use of social media, it is suggested to visit psychologists who would be able to provide appropriate help to the family member.
Drawing upon Dhir et al., O’Reilly et al. take the argument a step further and argue that compulsive social media use is the reason why adolescents can face mental health issues and suicide. The authors of this research study have taken appropriate measures to recruit six focus groups with 54 teenagers aged 11–18 years (O’Reilly et al., 2018). The analysis of the behavior of participants has helped researchers to make three important conclusions. First, it is highlighted that social media use is the main cause of mental health issues among adolescents in the 21st century. This conclusion was provided on the basis of information gained from the experiment in the study, as well as the analysis of credible sources related to the field of health care. Second, researchers state that compulsive use of social media is interrelated with cyberbullying. In turn, American psychologists believe that both bullying and cyberbullying are the problems that frequently encourage teenagers to think about suicide. Therefore, in order to decrease the number of suicide attempts among underage individuals, it is essential to minimize the time spent on the Internet. Third, research findings demonstrate that the use of social media is a habit that can be compared to nicotine or alcohol addiction. Thus, the compulsive use of social media is the problem that is predicted to affect the quality of life of numerous individuals, if unaddressed.
Somewhat in contrast to Dhir et al. and O’Reilly et al. is Amelia Strickland, who argues that social media use is an integral part of modern society. This researcher provides arguments against the idea to minimize the use of media sources, as she believes that the Internet is the only way to maintain social connections for adolescents today. The opinion of this individual is supported from the historical perspective. In fact, social isolation has always been used by captors in order to torture their enemies (Strickland, 2014). As a result, it was an effective strategy to make healthy, well-functioning individuals suffer from psychological and physical disintegration and even death. It is estimated that the overall health of human beings is strongly connected to communication, as this process is based on three essential elements, such as cultural engagement, level of trust, and community integration. In other words, all individuals are dependent on the way they are perceived by the representatives of various population groups. Taking into consideration that real-world communication has been replaced by virtual communication, adolescents need to utilize social media platforms. If they are prohibited to use these sources, they will most likely be affected by depression and anxiety. Accordingly, Strickland believes that social media sources offer their users the opportunity to keep in touch with other individuals, thereby, decreasing the chance of facing mental health issues.
Simultaneously, Hardy and Castonguay are taking this argument in a new direction. On the one hand, they provide evidence-based arguments in support of the idea that social networks can affect the well-being of adults. On the other hand, it is believed that adolescents and underage individuals cannot be affected by this trigger. In other words, researchers conclude that the connection between Internet networks and mental health is dependent on age. The analysis of information from the Social Survey demonstrates that people in older population groups are more likely to face mental health issues than the younger ones (Hardy & Castonguay, 2018). It can be explained by the fact that 18-29 years old people consider social media as a regular way to communicate, whereas older individuals are tremendously vulnerable to the negative information on the Internet. Therefore, the authors of this research article recommend adults minimize the amount of time dedicated to digital devices. In turn, the refusal of teenagers to use these sources is predicted to result in a considerable deterioration of the quality of their social life. The article is summarized by the idea that mental health issues are more likely to affect adolescents who do not use the Internet than those who constantly use mobile devices and computers.
Furthermore, the article conducted by Berryman et al. (2018) provides information that the use of social media cannot be associated with an increased chance of suffering from mental health issues. It is estimated that cyberbullying is the only reason why some adolescents can experience mental health problems. However, the likelihood of facing bullying in the real world is even higher. The researchers took appropriate measures in order to conduct a correlational study that examines the mental health of 467 young adults who are permanently engaged in social media activities (Berryman et al., 2018). The finding results demonstrate that vaguebooking is the only activity that can be associated with potential thoughts of suicide, mood swings, as well as symptoms of panic attacks. In fact, it is the activity that is based on the idea to post unclear but alarming sounding posts. Usually, it is done in order to receive feedback and attention from other users of the specific social platform. In other cases, no correlation between the health status of adolescents and their intention to use the Internet was not identified. Conversely, the results demonstrate that maintenance of social interactions with the help of Internet networks is expected to improve the self-esteem of teenagers and contribute to their social life.
The ideas suggested by Berryman et al. are considered questionable in the article conducted by Kelly et al. who highlight that media sources can affect health both directly and indirectly. First, the compulsive use of social media platforms can result in cyberbullying, fear of being neglected, and inadequacy about personal life or appearance. Second, adolescents can face reduced sleep duration which develops due to incoming notifications from different apps, and fear the miss new updates (Kelly et al., 2018). Moreover, considering that teenagers’ devices are usually located in close proximity to the sleeping person, children are likely to be affected by sleep disruptions. At the same time, researchers highlight that it is difficult for people to understand whether their health is impacted by social media. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to the specific signs, such as being distracted at school and comparing yourself unfavorably with others. Furthermore, if the person has no time for self-reflection, it can be a sign of the negative effect of Internet use. Once any of these signs are noticed, adolescents and their family members should immediately make an appointment with a doctor who would be able to provide appropriate help. In turn, if these signs are ignored, the teenager can face severe health issues, such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (Kelly et al., 2018). Thus, the problem of uncontrolled use of social media should be addressed to protect the well-being of adolescents in the whole world.
In spite of the fact that the majority of researchers highlight that permanent use of the Internet negatively impacts the overall health of teenagers, O’Keeffe and Clarke-Pearson state that only some of them are dangerous. For example, social media sites, such as Twitter or TikTok, are unlikely to cause mental health issues, as they are used for uploading news and entertainment content. At the same time, Facebook can be dangerous for the health of its users. This social platform is tremendously popular due to the fact its users frequently feel unworthy of life due to the success of others (O’Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). For example, adolescents frequently compare their physical appearance and achievements. As a result, the inability to accept the success of others can make Facebook users experience the symptoms of depression. Moreover, the problem of sexting has got a vast spread on Instagram. Whether adolescents share or receive naked pictures, they can face negative consequences on their mental health in both cases. For instance, the pictures can be sent throughout the whole Internet, thereby, making the person feel insecure and ashamed. Accordingly, Instagram and Facebook are expected to cause severe mental health issues in case of compulsive use of social media.
In addition, the use of social media platforms can be beneficial for gathering appropriate information by health providers. In one of the research articles, De Choudhury (2013) states that psychologists frequently experience difficulties during conversations with teenagers. It can be explained by the fact that adolescence is the period when people fear to trust others and express their true feelings. Simultaneously, pictures, videos, and personal posts of individuals can provide a vast amount of information about them. Moreover, if adolescent does not have the opportunity to ask for help from their parents or friends in real life, they can do it online. The majority of Internet networks have accounts of psychologists and social workers who are willing to provide help when needed. Communication with these specialists can save the health and life of some individuals who are facing a difficult period in their lives. In case the teenager has issues in communication with parents, they have the opportunity to monitor the life of their child through the Internet in order to make sure that this person is surrounded by individuals who share support and respect.
Once the signs of poor mental health are noticed, Koiranen et al. (2019) recommend paying attention to the strategy of modifying social media use. It is predicted that it can improve the quality of life without the involvement of healthcare providers and social workers. The 4-step strategy was developed taking into consideration all aspects of possible issues. First, it is important to reduce time online to approximately 30 minutes per day. From first sight, such a considerable decrease in time dedicated to the use of social media platforms is not enough to complete all the appropriate tasks. However, the research study demonstrates that this amount of time offers the opportunity to reply to messages, check the updates, and post personal content (Koiranen et al., 2019). Second, it is essential to change the focus from inappropriate information to useful content. When adolescents log in, they should remember their initial motivation. Third, it is recommended to spend more time with friends offline. Online communication will never be able to replace real-world conversation, as the hormones of dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins can be released only during real conversation. Lastly, it is important to express gratitude regarding everything that surrounds people. For example, every individual should remember taking time for reflection, practicing mindfulness, and volunteering. If all the steps are followed, the adolescent is unlikely to face mental health issues. Consequently, this model can also be applied in the life of adults and older individuals.
In conclusion, there is no consensus regarding the impact of Internet networks on the psychological well-being of teenagers. However, the majority of researchers provide evidence-based information in support of the fact that it is important to minimize the time dedicated to virtual reality. It is predicted that the prevalence of mental health issues will significantly decrease once this goal is accomplished.
References
Barry, C. T., Sidoti, C. L., Briggs, S. M., Reiter, S. R., & Lindsey, R. A. (2017). Adolescent social media use and mental health from adolescent and parent perspectives. Journal of Adolescence, 61, 1–11. Web.
Berryman, C., Ferguson, C. J., & Negy, C. (2018). Social media use and mental health among young adults. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(2), 307–314. Web.
De Choudhury, M. (2013). Role of social media in tackling challenges in mental health. Proceedings of the 2Nd International Workshop on Socially-Aware Multimedia – SAM ’13, 49–52. Web.
Dhir, A., Yossatorn, Y., Kaur, P., & Chen, S. (2018). Online social media fatigue and psychological wellbeing — A study of compulsive use, fear of missing out, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. International Journal of Information Management, 40, 14–152. Web.
Hardy, B. W., & Castonguay, J. (2018). The moderating role of age in the relationship between social media use and mental well-being: An analysis of the 2016 General Social Survey. Computers in Human Behavior, 85, 282–290. Web.
Kelly, Y., Zilanawala, A., Booker, C., & Sacker, A. (2018). Social media use and adolescent mental health: Findings from the UK Millennium Cohort study. EClinicalMedicine, 6, 59–68. Web.
Koiranen, I., Keipi, T., Koivula, A., & Räsänen, P. (2019). Changing patterns of social media use? A population-level study of Finland. Universal Access in the Information Society, 19(3), 603–617. Web.
O’Keeffe, G. S., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics, 127(4), 800–804. Web.
O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Whiteman, N., Hughes, J., Eruyar, S., & Reilly, P. (2018). Is social media bad for mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(4), 601–613. Web.
Strickland, A. (2014). Exploring the effects of social media use on the mental health of young adults [Bachelor’s thesis, University of Central Florida]. Web.