Topic Introduction
The topic that I chose to write about is on the effects of digital media on the brain. Researchers have found out that there is an immense connection between the increased use of social media and deteriorated mental health. The increased use of social media on young adults has shown that there is a high risk for developing mental health issues. The rapid advancements in technology has brought about the explosion social media and social networking sites in the human society. Social media has brought about the increased focus on the value of social relationships. According to Gkotsis et al. ( 2017) people pursue digital medias rewarding outcomes such as approval, acceptance and reciprocity as a means of learning about others and fulfilling our social needs of creating meaningful relationships. Over the years, there has been an increasing shift from the use of the computer as a classical communication tool to the use of internet enabled mobile phones. Although people from around the world are within the reach of mobile cellular signals that have been upgraded with 3G/4G signals, there is still a huge gap of the developed world that still do not have access to the internet. It is no longer just a cliché as today people are all connected no matter where they are in the world as we are merely just a click away from our families, classmates, co-workers, mentors, idols and even strangers.
This topic appeals to me because there is an increased use of digital media among young adults that has led to anxiety, stress, depression and eating disorders. Although social media is accessible to virtually everyone, young adults are the most active users. It is estimated that 85 percent of young adults aged between 18 – 29 are already on social media. According to Gkotsis et al. ( 2017), the motivations behind the increased use of social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram are that there is a need for self-presentation and a need to belong. Gkotsis et al. ( 2017), found out that there was a sense of loneliness on the increased use of Facebook on a study conducted on American university students. Lou et al (2012), also found out that the participants who performed more Facebook image management and spent more time online showed evidence of clinical symptoms of depression. Digital media is vital in our society today for it is used as the main means of communication to our families, friends, works and cuts across globally despite the age difference. Young adults are the future and they present an immense value to the country.
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Topic Discussion
With technological advancements evolving every minute, it’s only natural to say that social media and how we use is constantly changing. Basic instant messaging evolved into many ways to create, share as well as engage with one another. According to Seabrook, Kern & Rickard (201 6 ), the more that is spent on social media, the more likely we are to suffer from mental health issues. The top-most popular digital media sites are Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. Facebook is the leading with 80 percent of online users. Apart from the numbers, Facebook has 71 percent of its users are active and engaged visiting the site at least once a day, with 50 percent visiting the platform multiple times during the day. The most pronounced concerns on the increased use of social media lie in:
- Feelings of inferiority
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lack of connection
- Decreased self-esteem
- Deterioration in concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity.
- Addiction to social media.
The topic on the effects of social media on mental health is relevant in this course on digital and social media because young adults are avid users of digital media and it is alarming that the young adult population is prone to experiencing mental illnesses. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are prone to experiencing severe mental health issues when compared to the rest of the population. Mental health issues in young adults also have an effect on brain development and function. According to Seabrook, Kern & Rickard, mental illness in emerging young adulthoods could lead to a lifelong disability that erodes an individual’s ability to develop occupationally, educationally and socially. Therefore the issue on how social media affects mental health is of great importance to the course on digital and social media as the prolonged use of social media affects our health.
Additional Research
Numerous studies conducted by different researchers have found the connection between social media and the increased negative outcomes of narcissism, depression, loneliness and compulsive behavior (Toseeb & Inkster, 2015) . The executives at Facebook at one time admitted that the platform may pose a risk to the users’ emotional well-being. According to a research that was conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health in London found out that social networking sites such as Instagram are the main contributing factors to body confidence and body image issues. Another study conducted by the University of Missouri found out that people who used Facebook regularly showed symptoms of depression if the website triggered feelings of envy in the user (Toseeb & Inkster, 2015) . Depressive symptoms such as low moods and feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness have been linked to the quality of their online interactions. Researchers also found out that people with higher levels of depressive symptoms were reported to have had more negative interactions. According to (Toseeb & Inkster, 2015) , a study that was conducted on 1800 people found out that people who used the most social media platforms have high chances of showing signs of anxiety and depression. The reasons for this include the high risks of cyber-bullying and having a distorted view of other peoples lives (Toseeb & Inkster, 2015) .
May at times, people compare their lives critically with other people’s and also by using the posts of others as a measure the failures and successes in their loves. The impacts of this could be catastrophic as it could lead to suicidal feelings in some people. The continued use of social media sites results in less well-being and sadness (Richards, Caldwell & Go, 2015) . Researchers have found out that , the increased use of Facebook creates feelings of social isolation in a way that most solitary activities don’t (Richards, Caldwell & Go, 2015) . The more time people spend on social media, the more socially isolated they perceive themselves to be. Perceived social isolation is the worst thing that could happen to anyone both physically and mentally. There is also the fear of missing out which is a type of social anxiety that is becoming more prevalent. As people see and interact with photos of their friends having fun on social media, they feel that others might be having the best of their lives when they are absent. The fear of missing out is often associated with decreased life satisfaction, decreased moods and the increased need of browsing social media feeds and the checking of messages regularly (Richards, Caldwell & Go, 2015) .
The topic on the effects of social media on mental health is relevant in this course on digital and social media because young adults are avid users of digital media and it is alarming that the young adult population is prone to experiencing mental illnesses. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are prone to experiencing severe mental health issues when compared to the rest of the population. Mental health issues in young adults also have an effect on brain development and function. According to Kim (201 5 ), mental illness in emerging young adulthoods could lead to a lifelong disability that erodes an individual’s ability to develop occupationally, educationally and socially (Kim, 2016) . Therefore the issue on how social media affects mental health is of great importance to the course on digital and social media as the prolonged use of social media affects our health.
Mental health problems that develop in young adults due to the use of social media have profound consequences on young adults as they have the potential to plague an individual throughout their lifespan (Richards, Caldwell & Go, 2015) . A research that was conducted by the Department of Education found out that the increased use of social media affected the mental well-being of teenage girls in the UK. Instagram has been termed as the most damaging social media platform (Kim, 2016) . According to a survey conducted by independent health institutions, Instagram is being accused of deepening the feelings of anxiety and inadequacy in young adults. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have been found to be negative because they aggravate sleep problems, body image worries, anxiety and depression among young adults. Doctors, parents and the politicians have a growing concern about young people suffering as a result of cyberbullying, strengthening the feelings of self-isolation and to the risks of some committing suicide. Digital media is of great importance today (Kim, 2016) From online communication, to marketing, politicks, health and human interaction. In many of these areas, digital media presents substantial benefits.
The relationship between young people and internet use has been brought about by the excessive time spent by young adults online. Another important factor to look at is the amount of information that is being shared on social media sites. People would rather share more about their lives online than what they would when they are offline. The increase of smartphones has increased the opportunities for young people to access social media at times when they are most vulnerable. This in turns leads to young adults sharing personal information such as videos and photos on social networks about their activities. Access to harmful advice and information online have the ability to encourage thoughts of self-harm (Kim, 2016) . Some digital media site imply that unhealthy behaviors such as anorexia can be termed as normal health and lifestyle choices The availability of online groups on social media sites such as Facebook also encourage these unhealthy behaviors. There is also the risk of contagion where young adults have been encouraged to take their own lives after witnessing their peers describing suicidal thoughts or leaving suicide notes on their social media walls (Kim, 2016) .
References
Gkotsis, G., Oellrich, A., Velupillai, S., Liakata, M., Hubbard, T., Dobson, R., & Dutta, R. (2017). Characterisation of mental health conditions in social media using Informed Deep Learning. Scientific Reports , 7, 45141.
Kim, H. (2016). The impact of online social networking on adolescent psychological well-being (WB): a population-level analysis of Korean school-aged children. International Journal Of Adolescence And Youth , 22(3), 364-376.
Richards, D., Caldwell, P., & Go, H. (2015). Impact of social media on the health of children and young people. Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health , 51(12), 1152-1157.
Toseeb, U., & Inkster, B. (2015). Online Social Networking Sites and Mental Health Research. Frontiers In Psychiatry , 6.
Seabrook, E., Kern, M., & Rickard, N. (2016). Social Networking Sites, Depression, and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. JMIR Mental Health , 3(4), e50.
