With about 3.6 billion users, social media is more popular than ever. Apps like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Facebook allow you to easily share information and stay connected with family and friends. Unfortunately, along with positive connections, social media can also lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and body image and eating disorders.
While social media platforms are slowly making improvements to help protect users’ mental health, you can be proactive right now. We’re sharing tips on how you can use social media as a way to build positive and healthy relationships.
A Look at Some Stats
Let’s start with two statistics may (or may not) surprise you:
- Studies have found a correlation between the amount of time spent on social media and mental health problems.
- Women ages 18-29 have an increasing desire for cosmetic surgery.
Understanding Photo Editing
Apps like FaceTune and Photoshop allow users to edit their faces and bodies in photos and videos. Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok have filters to remove acne, brighten teeth, and change facial features, blurring the lines between what is real and what is not.
And thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, people are using technology more than ever before. Online video calls for class or work constantly reflect our image back to us. So, it is no surprise that FaceTune usage went up by 20% during the pandemic.
The Rise of Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders
Comparing yourself to edited photos of friends and co-workers can lead to severe consequences, including self-image issues that often spiral into eating disorders and body dysmorphia (BDD), a preoccupation with appearance. This is why it’s so important to promote healthy social media practices and remind others that images are often fake.
Look out for yourself, your friends and your family members by being aware of eating disorder warning signs, including:
- Obsession with body appearance
- A change in self confidence
- Hiding food
- Fluctuating weight or low body weight
- Eating alone
- Binging
- Purging
How Social Media Is Changing to Combat Mental Health Issues
Various social media apps have been called out for allowing the promotion of unhealthy practices. In 2019, Instagram took action by banning certain filters and stating when someone uses a filter. BeReal, a new ap that many teens are choosing, tries to create a more authentic social media experience. It doesn’t allow filters or editing and gives just two minutes to post—no time to stage the perfect shot. While these are good steps, they don’t fix the problem.
Build a Healthy Relationship with Social Media
It’s important to learn practices that help you build a positive and healthy relationship with social media. Here are a few tips:
- Take social media breaks
- Unfollow accounts that are not positively impacting you
- Find a community on social media that fits you and your interests
With its ever-growing popularity, it is safe to say social media is not going anywhere anytime soon. Help yourself and others by posting authentic glimpses of your own life and recognizing that social media is often not an accurate picture of reality.