How much is too much?

Social media in moderation.

By Kaylee Pietroski

Today, people are in their own media bubbles. [1]

Media rich homes are normal, and everyone is huddled in a “cyber cocoon”.[1]

The past few years have seen a dramatic increasein the use of social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. [2]

People aged 18-34spend on average

6 hours and 6 minutes per week on social

media [4]

70% of teenagers aged 12-17 spend

time on social media in a typical day [3]

“In moderation, social media can be a great way for teens to connect to others, to relateto their peers and to express themselves” [3]

- Dr. Karrie Lager

“However, excessive internet and social media use can have serious negative consequences.”[3]

- Dr. Karrie Lager

But in doing so, they engage in strenuous impression management.

They search for validation and seek the approval of others, thus filtering their own reality. [2]

Active social media users continuously participate in posting pictures, videos, status updates, comments, or posts. [2]

We are hard-wired with a desire to feel relevant and important in the minds of others.

Social media promises us that, but also promotes being self-absorbed.

[5]

Photo by David Phan, Flickr

Social media is becoming an addiction. Too often,

we experience a biological reward when exposing information

about ourselves.

This reward can be thought of as a quick-hit,

and is the reason that we cannot stop

updating, liking, and hashtagging.

[3]

“I’ve encountered many young children as well as teenagers and adults who have become obsessed with social media, using it as a tool to guide their self-esteem and self-worth.”

However, these are “false measures, and when reality sets in, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric issues begin to emerge.” - Dr. Charles Sophy [3]

Photo by aaayyymm eeelectriik, Flickr

Heavy social media usage also has a negative impact on physical health.

Social media users often remain sedentary; cooped up in their rooms, slouched over in a chair, with their faces glued to their screens. They often miss out on regular exercise and a proper diet.

[2]

However, researchers Andrew Przybylski of Oxford University, and Netta Weinstein of Cardiff University, determined that there is a “just right” amount of screen time. [6]

The moderate use of screens is not harmful, and could even be advantageous. [6]

It is unclear if social media is a contributing factor to poor mental health among adolescents because of cyberbullying and unrealistic body images [7]

or rather if it is a coping mechanism for those who suffer from poor mental health and feel alone in the world. [7]

Social media is not necessarily bad for us, however, it is important that everyone

knows how to use it safely. [7]

There are risks to privacy with sharing online, including the susceptibility of people to identity theft, and having personal images used for unintended purposes. [8]

Social media helps many people stay informed about what is happening in the real world. From following the news, to sharing political opinions, using social media platforms is one of the best ways to remain up-to-date. [9]

Social media also is a helpful tool to reach out to young people, in order to inspire change in the world.

It is an outlet that allows teens to feel that they are a part of something even when they may actually feel isolated from society.

[9]

Photo by Francisco Osorio, Flickr

One in five teens has listed social media as a reason they feel more confident.

52% of teens have said social media improved their relationships with their friends.

“Teens said that they feel that social media has a more positive than negative impact on their social and emotional lives”

– Shira Lee Katz[10]

Almost six out of ten teens has said they have met a new friend online, and 20% of those teens followed up with meeting their new friend in person. [11]

Today, many physical friendships and relationships begin online. [11]

When we consider the benefits, it is seemingly more advantageous to be online rather than off. However, it is crucial that we moderate our usage, and engage in safe online behaviour.

It is vital to “trust but verify” and maintain a healthy level of caution in our online interactions, as well as those in the real world. [11]

The truth is, social media is very much anti-social. Users should ensure they maintain a real-world social lifein addition to the one they maintain online. [2]

If you notice these signs, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your social media usage

You find out WAY too much

about your social media

“friends” [12]

You care more about what your friends

are doing than your own life

[12]

You update the world on

EVERYTHING. From daily

habits to chores[12]

You feel naked or anxious

without your smartphone

[12]

ReferencesAll photos used have Creative Commons (CC0) licensing, and thus do not require attribution, unless otherwise noted on the photo.

1. Matrix, Sidneyeve. (2017). Module 01 Lecture 02 Media Use Research Part 1 of 2. Retrieved from https://onq.queensu.ca/d2l/le/content/71613/Home

2. Whitely, R. (2016, September 14). Here’s Why Social Media Harms Your Teen’s Mental Health. The Huffington Post, Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/robertwhitley/social-media-mental-health_b_11893462.html

3. Stein, E. (2014, May 7). Is Social Media Dependence a Mental Health Issue? The Huffington Post,Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/07/social-media-mental-health_n_5268108.html

4. Krashinsky Robertson, S. (2014, December 4). Four ways Canadians are consuming media differently. The Globe and Mail, Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/four-ways-canadians-are-consuming-media-differently/article21949630/

5. Forrester, N. (2011, December 12). Social Media: An Epidemic of Narcissism. The Huffington Post,Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nicole-forrester/social-media--narcissism-_b_1128168.html

6. Salmon, L. (2017, February 20). Why you don’t have to unplug your children from digital world. Belfast Telegraph, Retrieved from http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/why-you-dont-have-to-unplug-your-children-from-digital-world-35464049.html

7. Payne, E. (2015, August 8). Teens’ poor mental health linked to social media use. The Ottawa Citizen, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.queensu.ca/docview/1702249271?accountid=6180

8. Schein, J. (2017, February 20). How Much Is Too Much: Are Parents Oversharing Their Children On Social Media? WUFT, Retrieved from https://www.wuft.org/news/2017/02/20/how-much-is-too-much-are-parents-oversharing-their-children-on-social-media/

9. Agrawal, A. (2016, March 18). It’s Not All Bad: The Social Good of Social Media. Forbes, Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajagrawal/2016/03/18/its-not-all-bad-the-social-good-of-social-media/#b44934e756fb

10.Wallace, K. (2014, October 7). The upside of selfies: Social media isn’t all bad for kids. CNN, Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/21/living/social-media-positives-teens-parents/

11.Wallace, K. (2016, February 4). Nicole Lovell’s killing raises questions of how to keep kids safe on social media. CNN, Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/04/health/internet-safety-kids-social-media-parents/

12.Deegan, K. (2014, December 17). Can You Use Social Media Too Much? Signs to Watch Out for. The Huffington Post, Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-deegan/can-you-use-social-media-_b_6336366.html

References