Social media has become a part of people’s everyday life, but many do not think about the way these platforms affect their behaviors, mental health, or other spheres of their lives. This communication channel can influence people of different ages in diverse ways. Young adults tend to form some of the most relevant social ties (such as friends, fellow students, partners, spouses, and colleagues) that shape their lives considerably (Primack et al., 2017).
Digital communication is convenient and has numerous advantages, but it also poses certain threats to people’s ability to communicate in the real world. It may seem quite logical that social media can assist in meeting new people and becoming more connected. However, the effects of the use of social media have proved to be quite undesirable. The way people feel and their overall mental health determine their behavior and the way they communicate with others. Therefore, researchers have paid considerable attention to the particular outcomes of social media usage on this population’s mental health.
Recent research suggests that the overall impact of social media on young adults’ mental health is negative. Primack et al. (2017) claimed that the use of social media was associated with depression and anxiety in the target age group. Levenson, Shensa, Sidani, Colditz, and Primack (2016) found that “greater social media use was significantly associated with disturbed sleep” (p. 36). The development of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances have an adverse impact on the way young adults form their social ties. Hence, the use of social media on young adults’ mental health is rather negative, so it is important to promote the balanced and responsible utilization of this media in the target population.
References
Levenson, J. C., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B.., & Primack, B. A. (2016). The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults. Preventive Medicine, 85, 36-41. Web.
Primack, B A., Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., Barrett, E. L., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B., & James, A. E. (2017). Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression and anxiety: A nationally-representative study among U.S. young adults. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 1-9. Web.