The mission of this blog is to investigate the impact social media has on the mental health of today’s youth, both the pros and cons, and what role social media plays in daily lives. We will also examine what mindful use of social media looks like and how we can protect youth from potential negative effects. Explore the blog posts and the tabs at the top of this blog for more information.
This is an important topic to understand for communications professionals hoping to build a brand and for the public at large. The ability to reach mass audiences through advertising campaigns and public relations on social media is a power that should be used responsibly so we have a positive influence on the people we reach.
History and evolution
How social media platforms influence people connects with our overall news literacy as a society. How easy is it for the normal person to be duped by something they see on social media, especially if that person is an impressionable teen? Why do we feel the need to be on social media and attempt to connect with others in this fashion? The dual-factor model of social media use claims we engage for two reasons: the desire to belong, and then the need to constantly shape how others view us (Baran, 2024).
Since we a society do feel the need to belong, it’s vital to understand ways of living with social media. Abstaining from it completely is simply not an option for many people. Therefore, this is an important contemporary issue in our society as more and more people are discovering for themselves how to digest social media. Platforms like Facebook have become integral to our daily routines by helping us interact with family members and friends and join online communities to meet people who share similar preferences (Zsila & Reyes, 2023). In these instances, I see social media as a positive in society. However, it can also lead to a negative self-image, depression and anxiety. The impact of social media can also completely depend on the individual, as the use of social media is linked with healthy and unhealthy effects (Mayo Clinic, 2024).
References
Baran, S. (2024). Introduction to Mass Communication (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781265401955
Le Blanc, T. (2017). Person holding iPhone showing social networks folder [Stock image]. https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-iphone-showing-social-networks-folder-607812/
Mayo Clinic. (2024). Teens and social media use: What’s the impact? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437
Zsila, Á., and Reyes, M.E.S (2023). Pros & cons: impacts of social media on mental health. BMC Psychol 11, 201. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01243-x
The effects of social media on adolescent mental health 