Finding the Balance Between Social Media and Mental Health
It’s no secret that social media has become a big part of everyday life, more specifically a big part of life for college students. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat are common names that are heard daily. These apps allow people to stay connected with people they see every day or with people all across the country. I know for me, social media is a way to stay connected to people that I don’t see as often as I’d like. While these platforms offer that connection to remain steady, they can also have negative effects on mental health if not used in a balanced way.
When scrolling on social media, it can be easy to get caught up in comparison. With social media, users have the option to post what they want other people to see. This means most people are going to post the highlights of their lives, including their vacations, what they did that was amazing, and other things that might make you compare yourself to them or wonder why your life doesn’t look like that. When you constantly compare yourself and wonder why other people’s lives look different than yours, it can lead to feeling insecure about yourself. While this is hard for everyone, college students already deal with so much pressure academically that constantly comparing yourself increases that stress level.
Like I mentioned earlier, social media is a great way to stay connected, but it can be tiring to feel like you need to always stay connected. For example, when notifications or messages pop onto your phone, you could have an overwhelming sense of stress that you need to respond right away or that somebody is going to think you’re ignoring them. This can interrupt personal time that is off social media, interrupt sleep, and interrupt studying. It can also make you miss out on face-to-face interactions, which are just as important for building strong relationships.
On the contrary, social media is not completely harmful. When used in a healthy, balanced way, it can provide community. Not only that, but people can also receive helpful information from others. Many students on our campus and on other campuses around the world use social media to stay connected with friends and family and to learn about daily living. The key to having social media is learning how to balance it with real-life experiences.
Something that people can do is set limits on their screen time. For example, iPhone users are able to determine how much time they want to allow their phone to be used for social media. After that time is up, a timer will lock that application. This could be helpful during midterms, test weeks, or other weeks when you might want to unplug for a little bit.
It’s also important to control what you are seeing on social media. Your social media is all up to you. You can determine if you want to see accounts that promote positivity and realistic content or accounts that are making you not feel as good about yourself. Make sure to not only follow positive accounts but also have those positive influences in real life as well. Spend time with friends, exercise, and have that positive well-being be part of in-person activities too.
While social media can be both positive and negative for mental health, finding that balance is key. Yes, social media can create pressure through comparison, but on the other hand, it can also produce connection and support. By setting boundaries with yourself, you are able to enjoy the benefits of social media while also protecting your inner well-being.
