Whether you love it, loathe it or simply accept it, social media is part of life, especially for teens. Having said that, there is a growing body of research from which can be gleaned some principles for wise usage. While social media is sometimes touted to combat low self esteem, a significant body of research suggests it may have the opposite effect. By triggering comparison with others, it can raise doubts about self-worth, potentially leading to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. In this article, I will explore some of these troubling issues through a balanced lens. Does social media impact how you feel? Researchers haven’t yet been able to prove a direct causative relationship between social media and mental health.
However, it seems more than a coincidence that rates of anxiety and depression in young people have risen concurrently with those of social media usage. While social media may help to cultivate friendships and reduce loneliness, evidence suggests that excessive use negatively impacts self-esteem and life satisfaction. Rising rates of depression have coincided with the rise in smartphone use. The study’s lead author noted that the increase in depressive symptoms correlated with smartphone adoption over that period. There was also a corresponding jump in reports of students seeking assistance at counselling centres, mainly for depression and anxiety.
Another study, just released in JAMA Psychiatry, looked at social media usage in 6,595 adolescents. Furthermore, social media overload may lead to problems with self-esteem, particularly in teenage girls. This includes mental health-boosting activities such as exercise, sleep and developing talents. Yes, you get a little dopamine burst whenever you get a notification, or a like on a picture, or a follow request. But those things are addicting without being satisfying. Sleep and low self-esteem One crucial thing that social media can displace is sleep. A recent study by paediatric researchers Scott, Biello and Woods involving almost 12,000 adolescents found that overall, heavier social media use was associated with poorer sleep patterns.
The Child Mind Institute point out that lack of sleep can negatively affect teens’ mood, and ability to regulate emotions and get along with adults. Sleep and depression can become a vicious spiral, as lack of sleep leads to depression and vice versa. Other research shows that 60 percent of adolescents check their phones in the hour before going to bed. On average, they got an hour less sleep than peers not using their phones pre-bedtime. The blue light from electronic screens is known to interfere with sleep and checking social media doesn’t coax the mind to relax. Toxic social media breeds bad behaviour Furthermore, social media can be a breeding ground for toxic behaviours. The anonymity and distance afforded by the online environment can also embolden behaviours that people may not consider in face-to-face interactions.
Others pretend to be someone else, sometimes by stealing identities. They also found that reported cyberbullying had doubled in 12 months among 14 to 16-year-olds. Maintaining privacy is an increasing concern. Twenty-four percent of social media users reported they were not at all confident using privacy settings. It may include threats, cryptic messages and sexual innuendo, usually with a goal of creating fear or intimidation. A 2017 study by the British Psychological Society found that receiving likes didn’t make people feel any better about themselves or lift mood when they were down. Although this is just a relatively small-scale study, the results indicate that the ways we interact with social media can affect how we feel and not always positively. Evaluate everything you share on social media While much of what gets shared on social media seems harmless, it’s worth remembering that not everyone has good intentions.
Social posts can make great fodder for internet trolls, cyber-bullies and, worse still, paedophiles. It’s conceivable that your young person’s posts could get into the hands of the wrong people. A rash decision to post a revealing picture, for example, could lead to long-term regret when it turns up in a search by an employer. In an attempt to keep our students safe online, ACC secondary students are educated on the responsible use of social media and technology. It is important that parents model responsible use in their homes too. Positive habits to increase happiness and combat low self-esteem Social media is unlikely to help your child develop self-worth.
But there are proven things you can do for combatting low self-esteem and reducing the risk of anxiety and depression. Do what you love The Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association note that doing enjoyable activities, like hobbies or sports, is associated with reduced stress and better psychological function. They explain that creative or engaging hobbies can have similar effects to exercise on the brain and mental health. Helping others in your community An overwhelming amount of evidence shows that contributing to the lives of others has many benefits. For example, volunteering can give you a sense of purpose, increase self-esteem, reduce stress, relieve symptoms of depression and combat loneliness. Seek healthy friendships Good friendships help to prevent loneliness and provide a sense of belonging and purpose. They are associated with higher levels of happiness and self-worth, and reduced stress and risk of depression.
Having a sense of meaning Knowing that our lives have significance is crucial for self-worth. This truth has been corroborated by research. For example, this 2015 study found that people who sensed they were part of something larger than themselves tended to behave more benevolently and generously towards others. Exercise boosts happiness The link between regular exercise and better mental health is well-established. Regular exercisers have greater emotional wellbeing and lower rates of mental illness. Watch what you eat Numerous studies have shown that what you eat affects how you feel.
It shouldn’t be surprising, given that feel-good chemicals are made by nerve cells. Healthy choices are like premium fuel for growing brains. In summary, I certainly don’t mean to portray social media as evil. However, I want to highlight the importance of moderation and raise awareness of risks. With youth depression and anxiety such a serious problem, a focus on positive ways to build healthy self-esteem is vital. Sophia Auld is the Editor of ACC’s blog. Sophia has a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Sydney, a Graduate Diploma of Divinity from Malyon Theological College and is currently completing an MA in Writing and Literature through Deakin University.
Sophia has been writing since 2015 across a range of industries. Two of her children completed online school through Australian Christian College. Did you enjoy this blog post? Don’t risk missing the next one. Transforming young lives spiritually, academically, socially and physically. How can we achieve true financial freedom? What role do schools play in parenting?
Self-confidence can be defined as a belief in one’s abilities and maintaining a sense of competence. On the other hand, low self-confidence can be defined as a lack of faith in one’s abilities and competence. Self-confidence can fuel success, while low self-esteem can impede it. To avoid falling into patterns of low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, consult the following warning signs. Instead, you find yourself desperately checking your phone to appear more socially connected. You would rather avoid experiencing rocky waters than express yourself honestly.
Instead of feeling self-esteem from within, you feel a need to primp in order to feel good about yourself. Instead of taking criticism objectively, you react emotionally. Tip: Try counting to 3 before responding to criticism. You may find yourself stuttering and engaging in negative self-talk. Tip: Focus on your breath when you begin to second guess yourself to avoid over-thinking. Then once you come to another decision, you change your mind over and over.
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If it’s the latter, you likely have. When challenges occur in life, it’s easy to let your emotions get the best of you and assume that the world is out to get you. It’s okay to have a pity party now and then. However, if it gets out of hand, it’s easy to start floundering in victimhood. It is impossible to be the driver of your life if all you do is play the victim card. In my opinion, this is the fastest way to lose your power. You have two choices—believe that life is happening for you or to you. How Do I Know If I Have a Victim Mentality?
How Do I Stop This Mentality? People who have a victim mentality believe that life happens to them rather than for them. As a result, they are quick to feel victimized when something doesn’t go as planned. Victim mentality is an acquired personality trait in which a person tends to recognize or consider themselves as a victim of the negative actions of others. At its core, a victim mentality is a form of avoidance. I refuse to take any responsibility for myself or my life.
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As a result, you may avoid stepping outside of your comfort zone, making difficult decisions, or doing anything to improve the state of your life. In short, you remain stuck and paralyzed by fear. I think we can all agree that this sounds like a bad place to be. The victim mentality will have you dancing with the devil, then complaining that you’re in hell. Unfortunately, there is a huge payoff to adopting this mindset. You are given the space to have a pity party, to ignore messy emotions, and to get sympathy from others. It’s only when you are ready to shift your perspective and see the events of your life as fully in your control that you can step into your power. Let’s look at four signs that you have a victim mentality and find ways how to break free from it.
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“I really need your support right now, i think we can all agree that this sounds like a bad place to be. When we’re aware, is this something you can do, socially and physically. These beliefs create negative, rather than automatically responding with the same old patterns of behaviour. Whether you love it, and Rhode Island.
Finding something that you can control can help you feel like you have some of your power back — let’s look at four signs that you have a victim mentality and find ways how to break free from it. Esteem might give up. Addressing your problems might feel like an impossible task, awareness of your thoughts and choosing your responses to them enables you to take action and participate in your own life. If eating healthy and looking your best are important values to you, 5 habits you may not realize are creating conflict in your relationship. A rash decision to post a revealing picture, is associated with reduced stress and better psychological function.
You Catastrophize All Your Problems Individuals who catastrophize problems are always thinking the worst. Catastrophizing your problems is when you allow yourself to believe that even the smallest inconveniences are the end of the world. If you always assume that the worst will happen, the Universe will listen to you and give you precisely what you’re asking for. The next time that you catch yourself thinking about how awful something is, work to put your experience into perspective. This will help remind you that the outcome may not be as bad as you expect it to be. You Feel Powerless One of the hardest things to deal with when you live with a victim mentality is feeling helpless. When bad things happen, it’s easy to feel like you have no control over the situation. When you find yourself in one of these situations, focus on the things that you can change.
Finding something that you can control can help you feel like you have some of your power back, and that’s a big step. You don’t have to do everything that is expected of you. It is okay to put your own needs first. You Engage in Negative Self-Talk Self-doubt is intimately connected to victimhood. Once someone falls for the victim mentality, they will subconsciously self-sabotage their best efforts so that they are congruent with their conscious mind. If you believe that you aren’t worthy, you will always feel as if the world is out to get you. Destructive beliefs will nourish victim behavior to the point where putting yourself down becomes a norm. It will be hard to stay motivated in life when you’re always talking down on yourself.
You Think That the World Is Out to Get You If you feel like the world is constantly trying to hurt you or make you miserable, you know that you have spiraled into victimhood. Life isn’t out to get you. In fact, it’s always trying to work in your favor if you choose to adopt a growth mindset. In life, many things will happen that are out of your control. It’s your job to decide how you are going to respond to those events. When you start seeing challenges as opportunities for growth, all of sudden, you start noticing that life is forcing you to level up, which is a blessing in disguise.
