In the last decade, the world has witnessed a significant increase in the number of social networks. Some of the common platforms that people use for social networking purposes include Twitter, Myspace, and Facebook. The platforms allow people to interact, communicate, and share information on a wide range of matters. The number of people using the social networking platforms continue to increase ( Pantic, 2014 ). The trend is attributed to a wide range of factors such as the increased uptake of the internet, development of smartphones, and availability off other devices that can easily be connected to computers. There is a consensus among researchers and experts that the rise of social networking platforms has changed the manner in which people live. Many people around the world feel that they are more connected compared to the previous years ( Pantic, 2014 ). In addition, the platforms have provide a basis for personalizing one’s online presence and conveying the desired digital persona. It is undeniable that the social working platforms are critical to the everyday life of the current generation since they allow for sharing of information, communication, and online learning. However, it is also imperative to state that social networking platforms are a major cause of mental health issues such as depression in the community.
The relational model is an approach that is usually used to manage data. The approach entails using language and data structure that is consistent with the first order predicate logic in computer science. In this case, the data can be represented in from of tuples before it is grouped based on the existing relations. It is also worth stating that the relational approach entails creating relational databases on the basis of the identified model ( Saunders, 2007 ). The main objective of adopting such a declarative model is to help in specifying queries and data. In addition, the technique enables uses to state what information the database or system of interest contains and the information that makes it up. Moreover, this approach provides a basis for describing data structures to facilitate easy storage and retrieval ( Saunders, 2007 ). In the present case, the relational model can be used as the basis for identifying the nature of information linked to the social networks which affect the users and cause depression. In particular, it may be used to categorize the kind of information and social networking behaviors that can adversely affect the health and wellbeing of an individual. The primary objective is to evaluate and understand the potential link between social networks and the risk of developing depression among the users.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
A review of the existing body of research evidence show that there are diverse reasons that may users of social networks vulnerable to depression. One of the factors is that is linked to the trend is the fact that many people spend a significant amount of time on the social networking sites ( Pantic, 2014 ). It is estimated that on average, people check their social media sites more than 30 times a week. It implies that user normally spend more than 1 hour everyday on social media. Available research evidence suggest that those who spend a significant amount of time on such sites are more likely to develop depression compared to their counterparts who rarely use the sites ( Pantic, 2014 ). The trend may be attributed to the fact that the frequent users may be exposed to stressful information that can adversely affect their mental health. The relational model can be used to analyze the nature of information that such frequent users are exposed to. The primary objective is to assess whether a specific category of digital information can increase the risk of a person suffering from depression.
Another major factor that has been explored when examining the issue of social networks and depression is cyberbullying. In the recent years, cyberbullying has evolved to become a major security and health concerns. Research evidence show that cyber bulling is a serious issues that needs to be addressed in the current world. The problem is more prevalent among children and those who are from the minority groups. With many young people spending a significant amount of time in the internet, the risk of cyber bullying has increased significantly ( Pantic, 2014 ). Like in the previous case, the relational approach may be used as the basis for evaluating the nature of information that victims of bullying are exposed to. The outcome of the analysis provides a basis for determine the extent to which specific form of data contributes to the development of depression among the social network platform users.
Depression is a major mental health problem affecting many people around the world. In addition, it is an issue that has continues to affect both young people and adults around the world. There are several factors that have been linked to the increasing cases of depression globally. One of the causes that have been explored in previous studies is the continued use of social network platforms. With the advent of technology, many people are spending a significant amount of their time in the social networking platforms for communication and interaction. Others use them to share information and get news. However, the continued use of the platforms appears to be increasing the risk of depression. The trend is linked to factors such as spending a lot of time of the sites and cyberbullying. These are issues that should be assessed closely to determine how the risk of depression can be reduced among social network platform users.
References
Pantic I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking , 17 (10), 652–657. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0070
Saunders, C. (2007). Using social network analysis to explore social movements: A relational approach. Social Movement Studies, 6 (3), 237-243.
