6 ways social media is unhealthy

AvilipsaRautela

6 ways social media is unhealthy


Now let’s take a look at some of the ways social media can be unhealthy if used in an irresponsible way:

1. Distraction & loss of productivity
More than one thirdof employees report turning to social media as a mental break from work. And while taking a break isn’t dangerous, getting distracted can be a problem. The temptation to glance at social media can take people out of the meetings, social gatherings, and other events that may require your attention.

2. Addiction
In extreme cases, the constant urges to check social media and make posts can lead to a kind of addiction. People afflicted with social media addiction aren’t just frequently involved with the platform; they feel compelled to engage constantly, to the detriment of their personal relationships, health, and happiness.


3. Stress and mood
Frequent engagement on social media can also affect your stress and mood. One study found that participants who browsed Facebook for 20 minutes had a lower mood than a control group who browsed the internet in general. Negative online interactions have also been shown to be correlated with rates of depression.


4. Anxiety
There’s also a high correlation between use of social media and anxiety. People who used seven or more social media platforms were three times as likely as people using two or fewer platforms to experience symptoms of general anxiety disorder. You may have experienced some level of anxiety in your own life, even if it’s just in the moment before opening the app and wondering if your friend saw your message from earlier.


5. Social isolation
One study found that among people between the ages of 19 and 32, the people who spent the most time on social media were twice as likely to report feelings of social isolation. The irony is, of course, that social media was created to bring people closer together. The problem is that people often feel temporarily fulfilled with an online interaction, so they don’t pursue a more fulfilling real-world one; over time, these limited interactions form the majority of their socializing, and they feel isolated as a result.


6. Sleep.
Excessive use of social media, including exposure to blue light late in the night and obsessive “checking” behavior, is also linked to problems with sleep—and sleep problems can lead to other negative health outcomes, including depression and increased risk of physical ailments, like obesity and heart disease.


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