33 Mental Health in Social Media

33.1 Introduction

Programs that run on mobile phones and desktop platforms and rely on the internet’s ability to produce and distribute information are referred to as social media. The seeming growth of promising technology has altered how civil society connects and communicates in their daily activities. People use social media to stay in touch with loved ones all over the world, as a source of entertainment, and as a key to information. While social media has a major impact on the world, excessive use can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, fear of missing out, and loneliness. Social media, particularly in the fitness industry, is a strong tool. Fitness narratives on social platforms involve influencers claiming to be mentors in hopes of motivating others to live a better lifestyle. They achieve this by publishing photographs and films of what they regard as a desirable physique of a man or woman on their platforms. Influencers are pushing for healthy diet eating to achieve a certain body shape. All the focus is on selfies, huge muscles, toned bodies, and before and after photos. This type of content triggers vulnerable people with fear missing out on the trend of the obsessive exercise with image and fitness with eating disorders such as Anorexia as they try to restrict themselves from eating certain foods or even starve to get into shape. Social media is the most popular version of communication used in the 21st century. Individuals of all ages use social media as a gateway and a form of education. With so many hours spent on social media platforms, mental health has become an issue. Social media has affected mental health negatively based on unrealistic promotions, eating disorders. and body imaging issues.

 “Mental Health Word Cloud” by Pixabay is licensed under CC0 1.0

33.2 What is mental health?

Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all part of our mental health. It has an impact on the way we think, feel, and act. It also influences how we deal with stress, interact with others, and make decisions. Mental health is vital at all stages of life, including childhood, adolescence, and maturity. Mental illness can also have an impact on daily life, relationships, and physical health. Everyone, regardless of age, sex, income, or race, is at risk of acquiring a mental health issue. A person’s mental health can be influenced by social and socioeconomic situations, biological variables, and lifestyle choices.

There are many different disorders that can develop from mental health. There are anxiety disorders (which are the most common), panic disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-trauma disorders, mood disorders, and eating disorders. Anxiety and panic disorders develop from social situations. Individuals with anxiety disorders may have extreme anxiety when confronted with daily tasks that do not pose a direct threat, such as doing chores or making appointments. A person with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) may experience anxiety without any apparent cause. A person with a panic disorder can experience panic attacks, which include abrupt, overpowering anxiety or a sense of impending calamity and death, which are common in people with panic disorders.

Phobias can also be developed. There are simple phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobias. Simple phobias could be an exaggerated dread of certain objects, scenarios, or animals. For example, a fear of snakes or spiders. Social phobias can result from social anxiety and the fear of being “judged by someone”. Agoraphobia is the dread of being trapped in a scenario where getting out is difficult, such as an elevator or a moving train. Many individuals mistake this phobia for a fear of the outdoors.

33.3 How mental disorders develops

Mental disorders can develop by genetics, psychological, or environmental factors. Mental diseases are known to run in families, so people who have a family member who suffers from one may be more prone to develop one themselves. It is handed down through the generations via genes. Many mental diseases, according to experts, are linked to defects in multiple genes rather than just one or two, and that the way these genes interact with the environment is different for each person (even identical twins). That is why someone can inherit a vulnerability to mental disease but not necessarily develop it. The combination of several genes and other circumstances causes mental disease. Infections and brain defects also can cause mental disorders to develop. Certain infections have been related to brain damage, as well as the onset or aggravation of mental disorder. Environmental factors contribute to mental illness as well by certain stressors and triggers. An example of this is a death or divorce, any change in an individual’s environment. Also low self esteem, rage, or loneliness or the relocation of a school or job.

33.4 Effects of social media on mental health

Individuals of all ages are glued to their phone, more specifically social media. Everyone wants to know what each other are doing and what is going on in each other’s lives. People also go to social media for inspiration, recipes, or ideas. People usually look for “influencers” to gain knowledge about everything. They look for a larger following and the most popular because it is the social norm to want to follow the group and to be “trendy” and follow what everyone else is doing.

 “NSDUH_0004_MentalHealth” by SAMASHA is in the public domain

No one can disagree that these influencers and other social media stars have the best of intentions when it comes to sharing their tips. Whether it is health tips or decorating, or advice, etc. Despite advocating self-acceptance and self-love, there is still a considerable disconnect between the photos uploaded and the motivational statements that accompany them on social media. For example many influencers are known for their following for health tips or because of their physic. Due to continual exposure to photos that are so precisely posed, promoting programs that promise the same body in 6 weeks, participants are participating in actions that are well beyond the grasp of a healthy lifestyle. In their pursuit of the “ideal” body type, users are damaging themselves, or rather, the photo they’re shown sets the bar higher than it should be (Berryman et al.). To achieve the perfect Instagram figure, it leads to a terrible connection with food, excessive exercise, or injuries, leaving you bewildered as to why your results aren’t the same, which harms an individual’s self-esteem. According to mental health experts, social media profiles do not promote good diet and physical activity. Influencers with eating disorders and body image concerns have been discovered, and they are inadvertently pushing their behaviors and troubles onto people who are vulnerable. The need to keep a trim, toned body becomes a source of affirmation and acceptance. Unfortunately, research shows that this obsession with achieving a certain body type has negative effects on body image. It also increases the risk of developing eating disorders, compulsive exercise, and disordered eating.

33.5 Future of mental health in social media

Mental health/ disorders have been a common effect due to social media. In order to help individuals, many groups have been put together to try and stop the mental abuse. There is a “body positivity” movement over all social media platforms where influencers and stars post their most realistic and photoshopped images of themselves to show that everyone has flaws and to not be ashamed of them. The body positivity movement has helped millions of people to overcome their disorders and influence them to help others.
There is also an “ed recovery” movement over all platforms. This movement helps those with eating disorders recover from their starvation and shows them new recipes and a healthier way of living to sustain themselves without harm.

Case Study

Chapter Summary

Overall this chapter goes through what mental health is and all the variety of mental disorders that can develop in an individual. Also how social media is one of the main causes for these mental disorders, and how influencers and the social media content can affect people of all ages.

References

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