Social Media: How Too Much of a Good Thing Can Really Impact Our Youth

Social media is one of the most profound advancements made in the twenty-first century. Our society is more interconnected than ever before; with just the click of a button, we can glimpse into the lives of our family, friends, and even strangers living thousands of miles away. However, as the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Having such powerful technology at our fingertips may come at the expense of our mental and physical health if used in excess.

This systematic review conducted in 2020 analyzed literature on the correlation between social media use, sleep quality, and psychological distress in the forms of anxiety and depression among individuals between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five. In particular, the results of thirty-six cross-sectional studies and six cohort studies were examined.These studies looked at self-reported measures of sleep quality such as duration, frequency and presence of sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness, and so on, in addition to questionnaires regarding symptoms of anxiety, depression, and negative mental health. Significant associations between frequent social media usage and increased psychological distress as well as lowered sleep quality were identified in all studies. Mobile phone usage and use of the Facebook platform were most commonly tied to these negative health outcomes.

During quarantine, I’ve found it’s been especially difficult to stop myself from mindlessly scrolling on social media. I’ve also been experiencing some troubles falling asleep and staying asleep, and have been confronting some issues with anxiety. While correlation does not always equate to causation, I think this study served as a useful reminder that consuming anything in excess has detriments that accompany it, and this includes social media. Instead of abstaining from all social media completely, however, I think a more practical takeaway message from this review is to consume social media more thoughtfully and to be intentional with your online interactions. Giving yourself a time limit on certain apps or following and befriending only the individuals who spark joy in your life (rather than feelings of missing out or self-doubt) can be good first steps to approaching social media with more mindfulness.

Citation

Alonzo, R., Hussain, J., Stranges, S., & Anderson, K. K. (2020).

Interplay between social media use, sleep quality, and mental health in youth: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 101414.