Is social media bad for mental health and well-being? by CTL tech

1 Key Learning - Luxshetta Yoganathan

2024-06-06 17:08:17 UTC

Upon reading the article, 1 key learning that I found was that social media is extremely addictive among adolescents. Many of the participants referenced how some individuals would lose sleep over checking their phone to see if they got messages throughout the day and night, while others stated that "people can’t survive without their phone" and "social media is like an online drug". Treating their addiction to social media like substance abuse showed me how social media has become a "bad habit" with concerning side effects for some teenagers. It was extremely interesting to see how social media can impact young adults and how they phrase their opinions and experiences.

1 Connection - Luxshetta Yoganathan

2024-06-06 17:13:01 UTC

This article reminds me of my time as a young adult, where social media was still up-and-coming. Social media platforms were all the craze and many individuals became obsessed with it. Considering it was a great way to connect with others outside of school, many individuals were constantly using it or posting on it. Reflecting on this now, I am surprised by the way in which students portrayed themselves on social media and how much power it had in creating arguments about friendships and relationships. Who you posted, the comments you posted, the likes and reposts spoke volumes in comparison to face-to-face interactions. As an adult now, I can understand why many young adults face serious issues with social media and bare the consequences of it.

1 Additional Post (Resource) - Luxshetta Yoganathan

2024-06-06 17:18:38 UTC

A resource I have found that may help individuals who struggle to step away from social media or limit their use are apps/features on your phone that can set app limits or monitor your screen time. While it may be difficult at first, it can be extremely beneficial in the long run to reduce your screen time on social media platforms. We often get caught up in scrolling mindlessly, but through setting a limit, you are forced to stop. You might be bored or lost when your screen time is cut, so I would recommend doing activities that use little to no social media, such as arts and crafts, listening to music, exercise, watching a movie, playing a sport or reading!

1 Key Learning - Tina Wang

2024-06-06 21:44:52 UTC

One key takeaway from reading this article is that social media causes a lot of stress and potentially leads to mental disorders for adolescents. On social media, there are many photo-shopped photos that raises people's expectations of their own body images. When people are not satisfied with their own body images, their mood is affected and may be depressed. In worst case scenarios, depression could lead to suicides.

1 Connection - Tina Wang

2024-06-06 21:49:49 UTC

Adolescents in the research talked about how there are certain beauty standards on social media platforms, but often the images are edited to look impressive and perfect. I could definitely relate this to myself as my beauty standard is heavily influenced by people, especially celebrities and influencers, that I follow on social media platforms. They affected how I perceive my self-image, how I perceive others, how I dress myself, what kind of makeup I like, and etc. Luckily, I did not look down on myself if I did not meet their standards because I accept who I am. However, there are many people, especially teenagers, that will be heavily influenced and may be body shaming themselves due to the content they see on social media.

1 Resource - Tina Wang

2024-06-06 21:55:09 UTC

A resource I wanna share is the screen time feature on iPhones. If you go in "Settings", there is "Screen Time", and you can see the total amount of time you looked at your phone daily or weekly. It also tracks what apps you like and how much time you spend on each one of them, as well as what purposes you use those apps for (such as social/travel/entertainment). If you want to reduce your screen time, this is a good resource for you to check whether your screen time is acceptable or way above the limit for you. You could see clearly which apps you use more and thus adjust your screen time accordingly.

1 Key Learning - Junyi Yang

2024-06-07 04:22:08 UTC

One key idea from the article is that adolescents described cyberbullying as a pervasive issue. Specific points highlighted include the ease and anonymity of bullying on social media, which can intensify the harm inflicted. Victims often experience anxiety and depression, and many adolescents find it difficult to report bullying incidents due to feelings of shame, fear of retaliation, or belief that no one will help them.

1 Connection - Junyi Yang

2024-06-07 04:32:14 UTC

Reflecting on the information about cyberbullying in the article, I realize how critical it is to acknowledge and address the pervasive issue of online harassment. The experiences shared by adolescents resonate with the broader challenges many individuals face in the digital age. This makes me think about my interactions on social media and the importance of fostering a positive and supportive online environment.

Seeing the significant impact that cyberbullying can have on mental health, it's evident that collective efforts are needed to create safer online spaces. This includes being mindful of the content we share, supporting those who might be victims of bullying, and promoting awareness about the consequences of cyberbullying. Additionally, it underscores the need for educational programs that teach young people how to use social media responsibly and how to seek help if they encounter bullying.

1 Resource - Junyi Yang

2024-06-07 04:38:19 UTC

The website StopBullying.gov offers comprehensive resources to help people better understand and combat cyberbullying. It provides information on how to recognize cyberbullying, tips for prevention, and steps to take if someone is being cyberbullied. This resource can be valuable for parents, educators, and adolescents in creating a safer online environment.

Understanding these dynamics can help us all be more vigilant and supportive in our online interactions, ensuring social media becomes a space that promotes positive connections rather than harm.

1 Key Learning - Laura Packer

2024-06-07 13:26:57 UTC

A key learning that I took away from the reading was that youth often refer to experiences on social media through a third person perspective, demonstrating how all-encompassing the effects are. It is interesting that they recognize the damaging effects of social media on mental health, yet they do not refer to how it impacts them directly or deliberate getting rid of social media. As the authors say, it is a shame that the largely anecdotal evidence reflects “an underpinning fear of online interactions, when such social media use could in reality provide a rich source of mental health support” (O’Reilly et al, 2018, p. 610). The takeaway from this being that users of social media need to be involved in the development of curriculum and pedagogical methods of teaching about social media use in order to break away from the cycle where social media inherently has a negative impact on mental health.

1 Connection - Laura Packer

2024-06-07 13:28:07 UTC

A connection I have to this reading is to recent articles written in the student newspaper at the high school that I work at, highlighting just how realistic it is that youth are aware of the impact social media has on their life. In one of the articles, students wrote about how their vernacular is changing as a result of spending too much time on TikTok which uses language that they describe as “brain rot.” Another article reflected on the power of the 15-second video on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube. In both of these articles, students reflected on how these social media platforms are impacting their everyday life and, thus, how they feel about themselves as a result of using them. Students were upset that their language was changing out of habit while watching TikTok videos, and that algorithms were feeding them videos which kept them hooked and distracted. This reading emphasized that a lot of the anecdotal evidence that youth provided was reflective of larger cultural norms and assumptions regarding social media, and these student articles demonstrate these same ideas in real time.

1 Additional Response (reflection/aha!) - Laura Packer

2024-06-07 13:30:22 UTC

I found the conclusion that the authors came to regarding the youths’ use of anecdotal evidence to describe the impact of social media on their lives to be an interesting one. It was strange to me that youth referred to the experiences of social media as a sort of “out of body” experience where they speak about other people on social media but never refer to their own experiences. It was interesting for me to see that they have a hard time admitting the fact that they are addicted, that they lose sleep as a result of it, and that it is having a negative impact on their own mental health. To address that social media is something that impacts other people, without roping themselves into the scenario, perhaps distances them from the effects of it, and possibly rids them of any ownership or responsibility for the actions which occur on the platforms. This just reminds me that youth are just that, YOUTH, and of course they have a hard time grasping the impact of the changing world around them. Social media companies are created and operated by adults who manipulate this uneasy and sway-able mindset of youth to keep them hooked, and to continue the cycle of poor mental health. Youth should not be blamed for changing as a result of social media, rather the creators and people who fuel their addictions should be.

1 Additional Post (Reflection)- Tate Paul

2024-06-07 17:37:53 UTC

The results section of the article was really interesting and eye-opening for me. It’s fascinating to see that while many adults already know about the negative side effects of social media on mental health, teenagers are just as aware. They recognize how social media affects them, noting their dependence on it, the addiction, and the presence of dangerous sites and people. They also see the fake realities and images that show misleading versions of people’s lives.

What really stood out to me was how these teens talked about social media's negative effects. They often used third-party attributions rather than acknowledging their own experiences, almost as if they were distancing themselves from their own dependency. This shows they're aware but maybe reluctant to fully confront the issue.

Something else that caught my attention was the lack of discussion about getting off social media. This ties back to the design of these platforms—they're made to be addictive. Social media developers track everything we do, our preferences, and keep giving us reasons to stay engaged. Despite all the negative aspects, the positive elements and the way these platforms are designed keep us coming back.

It really highlights how important it is to understand what makes social media so compelling. It shows we need to teach digital literacy and mindful usage, helping teens not only recognize the impacts but also develop strategies to manage their social media use better. By equipping young people with the tools to critically assess their online interactions, we can help them make more informed choices and have a healthier relationship with social media.

1 Connection (Reflection/Resource)- Tate Paul

2024-06-07 18:52:53 UTC

Reflecting on the study by O'Reilly et al. (2018) about how social media impacts adolescents' mental health, I see a lot of my own experiences mirrored in their findings. To manage these effects, I've relied on tools like Apple Screen Time and have taken deliberate breaks from social media apps like Instagram by deleting them for periods of time.

Using Apple Screen Time has been a game-changer for me. It tracks my screen time, provides detailed reports on app usage, and lets me set limits for specific apps. Scheduling downtime has helped me take necessary breaks. These insights have made me more aware of my digital habits and encouraged healthier social media use.

I believe integrating tools like Apple Screen Time and Qustodio can be extremely beneficial for adolescent digital well-being and mental health. These tools offer practical strategies for managing social media use, helping students and parents navigate the digital world more safely and healthily. They can raise awareness about digital habits and support students in developing healthier online behaviours, directly addressing the concerns raised by O'Reilly et al. (2018).

1 Key Learning- Tate Paul

2024-06-07 19:13:19 UTC

One key learning from the article is the idea that instead of just criticizing social media, we should involve teenagers in creating programs that help them navigate it safely. Social media is such a big part of their lives now, and telling them to avoid it completely isn't practical or helpful. Instead, we should focus on teaching them how to use it in ways that boost their well-being.

The article points out that digital technology is here to stay and will keep being a crucial part of young people's lives. Simply avoiding it won’t make them healthier, happier, or better prepared for adulthood. What we need to do is give them the tools and knowledge to handle the potential negatives while making the most of the positives.

By involving teenagers in developing these programs, we make sure the solutions are relevant and meaningful to them. This approach empowers them and makes them more likely to engage with and benefit from these programs. Teens know best what kind of content and interactions are helpful or harmful to their mental health, so their input is invaluable in tailoring programs to meet their specific needs.

These programs can focus on promoting digital literacy, encouraging mindful usage, and building resilience. Teaching young people to critically evaluate online content, recognize unhealthy social media habits, and develop healthier online behaviours can change their relationship with digital technology. This way, social media can become a tool for positive growth and connection rather than a source of stress.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a balanced view of social media, acknowledging its risks but also its benefits. By empowering teenagers to shape their digital experiences, we help them develop the skills and resilience they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. This proactive and inclusive approach can lead to healthier, happier, and more capable young adults who are ready to handle the complexities of both online and offline life.

1 Key Finding-Amelia Narduzzo

2024-06-10 16:19:05 UTC

One key learning from the article I discovered was the discrepancies in how adolescents describe their social media usage. In the study, participants discuss and compare their social media use to an addictive drug, which results in adverse mental health outcomes. Despite these consequential claims, the authors noted individuals would refrain from self-identifying as social media addicts, instead generalizing their generation or other individuals as the culprits. The inconsistency in answers reflects the lack of conversations surrounding social media and mental health as a whole, which must be addressed to mitigate this anxiety.

Most of these issues are due to society framing social media as a negative space. The authors mention familiar narratives about the internet, including adverse outcomes, resulting in shame when adolescents use it for daily tasks such as messaging (O’Reilly et al., 2018, p.609). This finding made it clear to me why there were discrepancies in how adolescents described their usage online. If there are negative connotations with using social media, they would want to refrain from condensing their accurate use.

The article provides suggestions surrounding education on social media to alleviate anxiety and other mental health issues while using social media positively. With technology only increasing, we cannot have individuals feel shameful for using it. As discussed in class this week, internet safety education gives students the knowledge to use social media safely. The same can be done in this case, where we use various tools to assist individuals and students in understanding the balance between social media usage and positive mental health.

1 Connection/Reflection-Amelia Narduzzo

2024-06-10 16:38:53 UTC

When reflecting on the study surrounding social media and mental health by O’Reilly et al. (2018), I could draw on instances where online platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have hindered my well-being.

I am constantly aware of my body, performance, and mindset as an athlete. The same can be said about content online, where algorithms are continually feeding users posts catered to their preferences. While the internet is a valuable device for education and entertainment, the use of memes catered with propaganda and ideologies around diet culture has unintentionally sparked an uprise in eating disorder culture, as found on TikTok. Within the memes, their everyday appeal is the comical approach to hyper-fixating around toxic food habits. For example, the screenshot I attached references society's ideologies of a model diet by eating almonds as a meal. Although the video was created humorously by labeling it as a “cheat day” with having lipstick, it is perpetuating the risk of developing a toxic relationship with food. With TikTok’s highly refined algorithm, once one communicates with groups posting eating disorder content, it is challenging to escape.

So challenging that in 2019, my mental health took a toll when I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. TikTok did not help this case since I would try to recover but fail due to the addicting and humorous posts I would find pleasure in viewing online. I was purely addicted to losing weight and watching videos that promoted these habits because It was a coping mechanism for me.

At one point, I knew a change needed to be made, so I restricted my time on TikTok. If I had cut the internet out completely, I knew I would have struggled just as much. The article mentions how we need to find a balance in how we use the internet, and I agree; hence, we should refrain from going to extremes on both ends of the pendulum.

Although the app has a disordered side, it also provides users with amazing recovery resources to improve their mental health. Other users' opinions can not only help someone mentally but also serve as a positive community for sharing ideas. By finding balance, we can promote a healthy online community for all users.

1 Connection (Related Resource) - Jimmy Chan

drjimmychan — 2024-06-10 21:12:05 UTC

This article is done in UK with a small sample size (54). It helps to locate for this group a mix of positive and negative impact of social media on mental health. I wonder how this small size could give any reliable conclusion for a large population, and how Canada's results might be different. I looked up and find some resources from Canada. I recommend checking out this site from Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). They collect data from US APA and Canada CPS to come to this conclusion:

There is a growing understanding of the potential for negative effects of social media on youth – with the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association both issuing advisories in May. Emerging evidence published since the Canadian Paediatric Society’s 2019 position statement on digital media use by school-aged children and adolescents correlates social media use and adverse mental health impacts—effects that have magnified since the onset of the pandemic. Evidence gaps exist on the long-term impacts of social media use and overuse due to novel technologies, but there are enough red flags to warrant action. We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis that demands meaningful and conscientious mitigation measures.

I think for Canadians the resource coming from well-established psychology and mental health societies could serve as a reliable conclusion that mental health is negatively impacted by the continuous use of social media by Canadian and US adolescents. Despite some positive impact that the original article points out, this current link I share would give a valuable voice closer to home.

1 Additional Post (Resource) - Jimmy Chan

drjimmychan — 2024-06-10 21:30:52 UTC

As a comparison of the original article, I recommend reading this article from Canada.ca, where in 2018 they have done a research across two groups of Canadian adolescents Grade 6 to 8 and Grade 9 to 10 students on their mental health condition vs problem social media use (PSMU) index. The sample size is much larger (15184), and the study was done nationally as well. This is pre-COVID, but even so, the study shows adolescents who were classified as having PSMU and at moderate risk of PSMU were more likely to report high psychological symptoms, high emotional problems, and less likely to report high life satisfaction, compared to adolescents at low risk of PSMU. (You can read the article how they assessed PSMU.) I would guess post-COVID the effect would be even more substantial, given the increased proliferation and penetration of social media compared to 2018.

1 Key Learning - Jimmy Chan

drjimmychan — 2024-06-10 21:44:32 UTC

One key learning from this article is that at least for this small group of 54 adolescents in UK, even though social media might boost some happiness due to connecting with friends and others in the cyberspace and even in the first theme, there is no direct evidence to suggest a direct cause of social media and suicidal rate, one should not overly positive about this "benefit". In fact, the one alarming result is Theme 3: Addiction: 'While the impact on young people and sleep was recognised, so too was the general dependence

they felt. While it was usually attributed to third parties, the adolescents did report that they would

keep checking to see if messages arrived during the night. Thus, the young people in the study did

acknowledge that they used social media regularly, and some felt that they were pretty dependent

on social media" (P. 609). Dependence on social media to receive recognition, connection and eventually happiness seems to be propagating this cycle. What is being sacrificed? Real human connection with a real identity, perhaps. I got from the conclusion that there is hope, that let the adolescents be aware of the need to address the shortcoming and remind them their lives, while having social media 'integrated' into it, still is MORE THAN social media. We should not demonize social media but to use it responsibly with a wider scope of holistic wellbeing education for our next generation. "Indeed, digital technology is unlikely to go away, and it increasingly becomes integral to adolescents’ lives. There’s also no reason to think that digital celibacy will help them be healthier, happier, and more capable adults (boyd, 2014, p. 93)." Well said, maybe, with well-balanced, effective digital literacy education that includes wellbeing education, adolescents will be happier in the cyberspace and out of it.

1. Additional Post: Amelia Narduzzo

2024-06-11 01:07:09 UTC

I would like to extend the article’s research on promoting social media while maintaining internet safety. There is heightened anxiety about using the internet and social media in classrooms, which tends to form negative connotations for both teachers and students. O’Reilly et al. (2018), advocates for engagement with social media through development workshops and integration of these platforms in classrooms (p.610). This reminds me of cyber wellness and citizenship, which refer to the positive well-being of internet users. Many workshops involve these themes since they promote healthy internet use while facilitating active participation amongst internet users to combat negative sightings online.

Fuhua Primary School has a fantastic tool guide for cyber wellness. It informs students and parents about positive internet well-being and provides valuable links, infographics, and step-by-step guides to keep students safe online daily. My favourite feature of the website is the newsletters about spotting fake news. With fake news becoming a prevalent topic in the twenty-first century, students and parents must know how to find it. Not only can this educate individuals, but it can also allow them to be more aware of their mental health due to the posts they see online.

Integrating these practices into the classroom can transform the narrative around social media from fear to empowerment. Educators can leverage social media for learning and collaboration, showing students the positive potential these platforms can offer when used mindfully. This way, we can integrate a responsible and more informed generation of internet users.

Resource:https://www.fuhuapri.moe.edu.sg/general-information/resource-for-parents/cyber-wellness/

1 Key Learning - Mia W

2024-06-11 17:40:29 UTC

My biggest takeaway from reading this article is the acceptance that social media will continue to be a part of our lives means that we need to continue to prepare young people to be resilient on social media. Cyberbullying will continue to exist as long as social media does, and thus it's better to work with it than against it. Many of the participants in this study outlined how cyberbullying negatively impacts their mental health, and that they tend to not tell anyone when they're experiencing cyberbullying. Thus, it is extremely important to educate young people about reporting, online protection, and strategies for dealing with hateful messages.

1 Connection - Mia W

2024-06-11 18:03:23 UTC

Many of the participants in the study explained how expectations set on social media can negatively impact their mental health, which is an extremely real feeling for many people - not just young people. Because social media has algorithms that will cater your discover pages to content you tend to engage more with, it is very easy to let this content impact your self-perception the more you view it. However, it is evident from this paper that the participants are highly aware of the toll that social media takes on their mental health, yet they continue to engage in it anyway. We need to leverage this self-awareness to educate students on how to respond when they begin feeling negative emotions from social media as this seems to be the gap.

Aha Moment - Mia W

2024-06-11 18:25:33 UTC

After reading this article, I asked myself why so many young people allow social media to be such a present part of their lives despite knowing it can be so harmful to their mental health. However, as a health and physical education teacher, I can completely understand why there is such a gap in students' resiliency in online environments, and this is because it is only a small section in the grade 9 HPE curriculum in Ontario. The curriculum has students "demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and risks of using electronic communication technologies [...], and describe strategies that they can apply to ensure their safety while using these technologies" (p. 104), as well as "identify warning signs and symptoms that could be related to mental health concerns" (p. 107). Although these are wonderful topics to be addressing in school, there needs to be much more focus on integrating these topics into more subjects, and/or refining the HPE curriculum to have a stronger emphasis on health strands. From my experience teaching in these classrooms, many of the health units are covered for the sake of checking a box and not providing integrative learning opportunities given the importance of this information. To better serve students and educate them about being safe in online environments, there needs to be more support from policy makers and governments to integrate this into curriculums.

Key Learning - Kaitlyn Boyd

2024-06-13 23:07:18 UTC

A key learning from the article is the importance of educating adolescents about the meanings of mental health and wellbeing, as well as about mental illness and ways to prevent or manage it if diagnosed with a condition. The study highlighted that many adolescents had varying understandings of mental health, often confusing it with mental ill health or lacking a clear definition. By enhancing adolescents' knowledge and awareness in this area, it can help them make informed decisions about their mental wellbeing and navigate the digital world more effectively.

A Connection - Kaitlyn Boyd

2024-06-13 23:08:48 UTC

The provided article outlines that adolescents generally expressed negative views about the potential impact of social media on mental health, perceiving it as dangerous and risky for their wellbeing. Despite some recognition of possible positive effects, the overwhelming consensus among participants was that social media posed risks to mental health, particularly in terms of the mental health of others. This highlights the need for further research and interventions to better understand and address the complex relationship between social media use and adolescent mental wellbeing.

Additional Post - Resource - Kaitlyn Boyd

2024-06-13 23:14:11 UTC

My resource paper this Intersession was actually based on the impact social media usage has on mental health and how it in turn affects youth’s educational experience. In conducting my research, I stumbled upon this resource. Although I didn’t use it in my paper, I do believe that it had some crucial information. It not only informs us of cautions surrounding social media usage, but also provides numerous suggestions of how to create a better relationship with social media. Take a look, I adapted some of these into my life and the benefits are almost instantaneous!

Key Learning - Adsaya Anpalagan

2024-06-14 02:01:34 UTC

A key point to mention from this article that stood out to me was this sentence: "Adolescents may need to be encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour on the Internet and on social media and not see these as beyond their control" (O'Reilly, Dogra, Whiteman, Hughes, Eruyar & Reilly, 2018). It is easy for us to blame social media for deteriorating our mental health and well-being, because it is true for the the most part. However, that does not mean that we have no control over it. Young adults can be taught how to use these platforms safely and appropriately, but effort needs to be put into making those changes. The article explains the effects social media has on adolescents, and instead of consistently blaming the platforms for affecting the well-beings of these young adults, the article gives advice instead about people having control over online use. I thought that was a key point because I never thought about the fact that taking responsibility plays a huge role when it comes to preventing the effects that social media has on us. When we start to pay attention to our behaviours online and become more aware, that will go a long way when it comes to social media use and how it affects us as a whole.

Connection - Adsaya Anpalagan

2024-06-14 02:15:22 UTC

As a 24-year-old who still spends majority of her time on social media, I can honestly say most of my young adult years were used on posting, reposting, commenting and sharing online. I remember the peers in my high school being highly invested in the lastest posts on Instagram, and wanting to know what the other classmates were up to online, which also caused me to be invested in posting what I was up to and keeping my classmates updated on what was going on in my life. Reading the article taught me that society and culture is what causes us to be addicted to social media: not social media itself. When we see people around us being invested in social media, it influences us (especially at a young age when "monkey see monkey do was the key point to living at the time) to also become invested in those platforms. This article really caused me to reflect on my younger self and how I spent my time online, and taught me to look at those days through a different lens.

Aha Moment - Adsaya Anpalagan

2024-06-14 02:29:41 UTC

An "aha" moment I had while reading this article was when I read the part that talks about social media taking over the time that should be spent with friends and family (O'Reilly, Dogra, Whiteman, Hughes, Eruyar & Reilly, 2018). That part stood out to me because it made me realize how realistic that part really is in reality. Since it is easy for us to see what our friends and family are up to on social media, we are less likely to go see them in-person and spend time with them, because we feel like we already know what's going on in their lives, so we don't feel the need to catch up with them about anything. This article had a lot of aspects about social media that I can honestly recognize in society today, but this part about social media taking over important time with friends and family really was an "aha" moment, because I did not realize it until now.