Social media and depression and anxiety

[Karalectric]

Hi! This is mostly for others with depression and anxiety, but anyone can answer as long as we agree to keep it positive and encouraging. This is the mental health section, after all!

I read an article online about a study that showed that lots of social media use contributes to depression and anxiety. But I came across another one that said maybe not as much as we think. Who knows? But it did made me think about it a bit and, of course I can only speak for myself here, but I think it does contribute.

Well there are the obvious things like how we always only put our best and happiest pics and posts out there...... why can't I be happy like they are? I wish I were as pretty like she is...... all illusions right? But it is easy to forget.

Also communication is soooooo tricky on social media. Is this person being sarcastic? I don't know! When you can't see someone or pick up on visuals or facial reactions or have that normal relaxed back and forth things can get lost. I was reminded for this earlier this week when I experienced a big misunderstanding with someone and I am 100 percent convinced it would have been different if the convo were unfolding IRL. Which leads me to another thing.... many times I am sure that things are all in my head. omg he didn't respond to me. hmmm.... Wait, am I being ignored? Does she hate me!!?? WHAT DID I DO WRONG???!!! I tend to wayyy overthink things. lol I know, that's on me. I have problems.

But yea, these things really do make a difference in my moods and my levels of anxiety I have found.

But all in all I am glad social media is a thing. I love being able to stay connected with my friends and in the case of VT, meeting people from all over the world! Although some people out there do not have our best interests but most are fairly obvs. I have received some great advice and support here, especially here in the mental health section. It can be rewarding to let your guard down and be "real." I like being able to encourage and help people on here too. And just sharing fun things and being silly with others, it really makes my day sometimes and I hope it does for you too. Like many things in our lives, it is important to find a balance. social media included. It wouldn't hurt me to scale back a little.

What are your thoughts?

[Caycedilla]

We certainly don’t think about the ones we affect with our words and our selfishness sometimes, do we? While I can understand the anxiety and depression that others cause (trust me, you should know)...it may be better sometimes to look at the things we have caused others to feel. It’s not a “me” thing, but rather an “us” thing. There are people who don’t have many friends or others to talk to, or have difficulty expressing themselves. A lie, or attempt at turning things towards yourself, can have major fallout and devastate someone else emotionally. When we put ourselves first everyone loses. People can claim that they are “nice” all they want too, but when they have a track record of putting themselves first...it doesn’t really work

Omg I’m so sorry this happened to you :( All the love in the world and I hope that you feel so much better for all the anxiety and stuff that’s affecting you and that’s caused to you

:heart:

[Pultost]

I can definitely relate to the "they look so happy, what am I doing wrong" part, and I think it's a very common mindset, I'm afraid. :/

[Karalectric]

We certainly don’t think about the ones we affect with our words and our selfishness sometimes, do we? While I can understand the anxiety and depression that others cause (trust me, you should know)...it may be better sometimes to look at the things we have caused others to feel. It’s not a “me” thing, but rather an “us” thing. There are people who don’t have many friends or others to talk to, or have difficulty expressing themselves. A lie, or attempt at turning things towards yourself, can have major fallout and devastate someone else emotionally. When we put ourselves first everyone loses. People can claim that they are “nice” all they want too, but when they have a track record of putting themselves first...it doesn’t really work

Omg I’m so sorry this happened to you :( All the love in the world and I hope that you feel so much better for all the anxiety and stuff that’s affecting you and that’s caused to you

:heart:

Thanks for providing some more perspective, Cayce. :heart:

I can definitely relate to the "they look so happy, what am I doing wrong" part, and I think it's a very common mindset, I'm afraid. :/

For sure. I think if might be more common feeling we might think.

[ska8er]

Just because they look good or have a
lot of friends and r happy isn't always
the case. The grass is not always greener
on the other side. I know u want to keep
this positive but there is a lot of unreal
things and situations with social media.

[Pultost]

For sure. I think if might be more common feeling we might think.

Yeah, all those "happy" people might be thinking the exact same thing for all we know.

[Uniquemind]

Social media made or amplified the sense that we’re in a “contest” for likes, follows, friends, and all the materialistic things and experiences one can do while they’re alive.

It’s weird too once it publically became known that some make careers out of it, and it became like the “new celebrity” goal to be in a way. On the flip side too, you can tell classic celebrity power and status has lost some influence in society due to the rise of online personalities.

This has caused tension too between old business models and new media models in terms of social clout, business reputations etc.


It’s also created a bad hate-mob effect, also referred to as social brigading, where ones own followers go start attacking the character of someone they perceive as slighting or wronging their “idol or friend”.

And it really stems from the natural defense mechanisms to want to stand-up for your friend and be supportive of them in real life, but online it’s different.


What’s also really interesting is to look at the different takeaways different genders take from social media, as I’ve seen mixed reports that females are impacted more than males with regards to “online comparing” status of themselves towards other profiles online they see.

Instagram is trying to take away the viewabiity of people’s “likes” for this reason; it’s impact on mental health.


It’s not inherently wrong to post pictures of ones experiences, food eaten, people met, it’s basically online scrapbooking, and sometimes for those who’ve been through natural disasters or lost a friend, the fact those images or memories are public has been a comfort to many on the flip side.


The morality and safety of how to use social media is definitely something we as a society have to figure out, as it opens up a window into both showing off, and those looking into that window to judge you. This includes future employers who will and have embarrassed individuals during job interview processes for things done when you were a young teen as well.

There’s been VT posts talking about experiences as well. So thought I’d remind people of what’s been discussed so far given those threads are dated and old now.

[Karalectric]

Social media made or amplified the sense that we’re in a “contest” for likes, follows, friends, and all the materialistic things and experiences one can do while they’re alive.

It’s weird too once it publically became known that some make careers out of it, and it became like the “new celebrity” goal to be in a way. On the flip side too, you can tell classic celebrity power and status has lost some influence in society due to the rise of online personalities.

This has caused tension too between old business models and new media models in terms of social clout, business reputations etc.


It’s also created a bad hate-mob effect, also referred to as social brigading, where ones own followers go start attacking the character of someone they perceive as slighting or wronging their “idol or friend”.

And it really stems from the natural defense mechanisms to want to stand-up for your friend and be supportive of them in real life, but online it’s different.


What’s also really interesting is to look at the different takeaways different genders take from social media, as I’ve seen mixed reports that females are impacted more than males with regards to “online comparing” status of themselves towards other profiles online they see.

Instagram is trying to take away the viewabiity of people’s “likes” for this reason; it’s impact on mental health.


It’s not inherently wrong to post pictures of ones experiences, food eaten, people met, it’s basically online scrapbooking, and sometimes for those who’ve been through natural disasters or lost a friend, the fact those images or memories are public has been a comfort to many on the flip side.


The morality and safety of how to use social media is definitely something we as a society have to figure out, as it opens up a window into both showing off, and those looking into that window to judge you. This includes future employers who will and have embarrassed individuals during job interview processes for things done when you were a young teen as well.

There’s been VT posts talking about experiences as well. So thought I’d remind people of what’s been discussed so far given those threads are dated and old now.

Good thoughts, UM. :yes: yea you are right. It does feel like a contest. That mentality is a big part of the problem, i think. And good for insta for at least considering mental health side of things.

You did a great job of highlighting how complicated it is to navigate this stuff!

Thanks, maybe i will do a search and look at some of the older threads. :)

[Uniquemind]

Good thoughts, UM. :yes: yea you are right. It does feel like a contest. That mentality is a big part of the problem, i think. And good for insta for at least considering mental health side of things.

You did a great job of highlighting how complicated it is to navigate this stuff!

Thanks, maybe i will do a search and look at some of the older threads. :)

I think for a person, to really understand why they feel compelled to post online images of themselves, to understand The underlying motivations behind why you do what you do, is vitally important to maintaining good mental health.

I try to lead by example by not posting images here on VT, and have the deeper think of my words matter most.

I’ll tell everyone too that that cuts down on creepers like 90% and is more likely to make time on VT a positive experience.

Posting food though is pretty neutral as well.


But there’s also a larger political context to showing off online. When countries and families experience economic inequality, showing off images of extravagant things looks bad. It’s not wrong, but it makes people think you’re lacking perspective taking to not help those less fortunate or those even in a friendship capacity to feel bad.

But those in higher smaller social bubbles where nobody is suffering economically, kinda stay within themselves, and just see it as business marketing, necessary to maintaining or growing a business or brand. It has to be public to do that, so they can’t shy away from it.

This is why also as a tangent to the metoo movement, the entertainment industry is struggling due to brand image and beauty image representation issues. Victoria secret and other well established brands have faced backlashes and their stock price has dropped.

People all over the developed world are really rebuking “idealism” and its showing in politics too, some of those topics are covered in ROTW.

As you get older you begin to see how all these sub-topics are interconnected to other topics. It’s like a web.


For the beauty and fashion industries, it’s connected to materialism body image, sexual desirability, and therefore depressionm and anxiety.

[Karalectric]

I think for a person, to really understand why they feel compelled to post online images of themselves, to understand The underlying motivations behind why you do what you do, is vitally important to maintaining good mental health.

I try to lead by example by not posting images here on VT, and have the deeper think of my words matter most.

I’ll tell everyone too that that cuts down on creepers like 90% and is more likely to make time on VT a positive experience.

Posting food though is pretty neutral as well.


But there’s also a larger political context to showing off online. When countries and families experience economic inequality, showing off images of extravagant things looks bad. It’s not wrong, but it makes people think you’re lacking perspective taking to not help those less fortunate or those even in a friendship capacity to feel bad.

But those in higher smaller social bubbles where nobody is suffering economically, kinda stay within themselves, and just see it as business marketing, necessary to maintaining or growing a business or brand. It has to be public to do that, so they can’t shy away from it.

This is why also as a tangent to the metoo movement, the entertainment industry is struggling due to brand image and beauty image representation issues. Victoria secret and other well established brands have faced backlashes and their stock price has dropped.

People all over the developed world are really rebuking “idealism” and its showing in politics too, some of those topics are covered in ROTW.

As you get older you begin to see how all these sub-topics are interconnected to other topics. It’s like a web.


For the beauty and fashion industries, it’s connected to materialism body image, sexual desirability, and therefore depressionm and anxiety.

And your thoughts on cat pics? :)

https://40cupx20bt643wowwz361l9h-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/kitty-1080x675.jpg

[Zika]

When we put ourselves first everyone loses. People can claim that they are “nice” all they want too, but when they have a track record of putting themselves first...it doesn’t really work


It is amazing how some people put themselves out there as being for everyone else, but their approach to real situations is always based on "I."

[Zika]

Everyone engages in confirmation bias, myself included. I do believe too much time on social media contributes to depression.

But part of it is self-inflicted. A person puts up a profile pic of her and her bf and lists her status as "in a relationship" on FB. Then she takes down that profile pic and puts one up of her alone and shows her status as blank. Now absolutely every single person in her life knows she has broken up with her bf. The last thing she wants is a bunch of nosy people asking her about it. It increases her anxiety and makes her more upset.

People choose to give up their privacy when they post everything about their lives. But some privacy is important, especially when situations in our lives take a turn for the worse.

[Uniquemind]

And your thoughts on cat pics? :)

image (https://40cupx20bt643wowwz361l9h-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/kitty-1080x675.jpg)

That’s one of the few things the internet got right. Pets, food, and poetry sharing, basically sharing art and stuff that is “distant” from personal information about yourself.

Basically, social media made the general population feel what it is like to be a celebrity. As the celebrity world has felt the fishbowl effect for a while now.

[Karalectric]

That’s one of the few things the internet got right.

Agreed. :lol:

Also.... this seems about right...

https://i.imgur.com/UVQRh6l.jpg

[Uniquemind]

Agreed. :lol:

Also.... this seems about right...

image (https://i.imgur.com/UVQRh6l.jpg)

Everytime humanity makes a invention or tool, the inventor forgets or assumes that tool will only be used for good righteous reasons and purposes and forgets to think how what they invent will be misused.



Now the risk is social media, and also now censorship of social media and how that’s controlling free speech and even legitimate criticism of controversial topics. Youtube is experiencing that now at the behest of google’s algorithms.

It’s starting out with good intentions, but watch how the moral police bullies payment processors or employers on who to let pay them for products and services based on the perceived moral behavior or reputation of what can be datamined about a person.


It’s really really scary because how many people going to look past whether accusations against your character were falsified or not? Worse yet what if an artificial intelligence is doing these decisions rather than a person? Who checks to make sure the robot program came to the right conclusion?

[Karalectric]

Everytime humanity makes a invention or tool, the inventor forgets or assumes that tool will only be used for good righteous reasons and purposes and forgets to think how what they invent will be misused.



Now the risk is social media, and also now censorship of social media and how that’s controlling free speech and even legitimate criticism of controversial topics. Youtube is experiencing that now at the behest of google’s algorithms.

It’s starting out with good intentions, but watch how the moral police bullies payment processors or employers on who to let pay them for products and services based on the perceived moral behavior or reputation of what can be datamined about a person.


It’s really really scary because how many people going to look past whether accusations against your character were falsified or not? Worse yet what if an artificial intelligence is doing these decisions rather than a person? Who checks to make sure the robot program came to the right conclusion?

Your comment on the robots reminds of some sci-fi i have read or watched! But of course it seems like the best stories are rooted in some kind of tech horror reality huh? I have heard that Black Mirror on Netflix does that real well but i haven't watched it yet.

btw back to that idea of Insta removing the viewability of likes, did you know there is an option here on VT to no longer be notified of likes?

[Uniquemind]

Your comment on the robots reminds of some sci-fi i have read or watched! But of course it seems like the best stories are rooted in some kind of tech horror reality huh? I have heard that Black Mirror on Netflix does that real well but i haven't watched it yet.

btw back to that idea of Insta removing the viewability of likes, did you know there is an option here on VT to no longer be notified of likes?

I was aware of it, for forums I have a mixed opinion as forums tend to be more idea sharing? So the likes are always relative to those being helpful or good natured.


I think a distinction should be made between social media that relies on images as the primary method of show-n-tell, versus a social media that relies on sharing typed or written experiences.

I think when it’s just words, there’s less likelihood people will try to compare their body with say someone else’s or something that derives harm.

Likes aren’t always likes it’s relative.

But the tough love scenario is that people at the end of the day might be equal spiritually in value to one another, but people have favorites. Parents have favorite children, bosses have favorite coworkers, people swap romantic partners and cheat and do all sorts of power-manipulation moves in life. People are born into different wealthy status.

Like one of my flaws I feel some guilt over is I don’t want to be with a partner who can’t help maintain the economic quality of life I was accustomed too growing up, and that’s only further reinforces the now, now that I experience college expenses and stuff. I have a hard time dating down which might be hallow, but at least I admit it.

Safe-spaces don’t really exist outside of a therapy, and part of growing up is understanding how to handle that adversity and still remain true to yourself.

[Croconaw]

I believe that social media definitely can cause depression. I deactivated my Facebook account and found myself happier since. People put a version of themselves online that only shows a positive side. I believe that people do this to display how wonderful their life is, however, everyone does this.

The news also contributes to depression. It is all useless and negative. If something happens in the world and I need to know about it, someone will tell me. There is no reason for me to be watching the news to be showered with negativity. Obviously, what about watching the weather? You can just walk outside for that. You’ll know why the weather is after looking outside. The news is not important and it only spreads negativity.

[Adamant]

Vt is the only social media account i have.
Sometimes it makes me depressed and inadequate but not sure i can blame vt. I reckon thats its issues i have rather than just a social media problem.
Its sometimes nice to be in a space away from real life and that can be a good or bad thing depending on if you actually need to deal with irl things and not ignore them or good if you get stronger by having a chance to think about other things.
I have met some nice kind people here and also been really hurt by someone.
So honestly think its very mixed.
Sometimes thought about leaving but havent so guesz i must think its more good than bad.

[Emilyfox]

I think social media lets people tell a story, some of it true and a lot not
Showing the good and not the bad or even the ordinary

[Uniquemind]

I think social media lets people tell a story, some of it true and a lot not
Showing the good and not the bad or even the ordinary

Now that you mention it, has media ever been good at representing true stories even in days of old? Was that truth to lies/exaggerateration ratio in media even in early movie history (1920’-30’s).

I’d argue it was always present, but is less present in literature.

[cleverme]

I definitely see your point but you can't overthink social media bc its setting you up for failure if you just compare yourself to other people who you assume that look "happier" than you do which is most likely not true, it could be a cover up for all the pain they go through. everybody on social media has their own stories to tell. and you have to stick to your story and realize. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. you can NOT compare yourself to people, all bc of what... you think she's prettier than you. you can't think like that no matter how hard it is. I suffered from this for such a long time. and after awhile I stopped crying ab it bc I was so over being sad and depressed ab somebody that is so called "prettier" than me and I told myself.. Im ME and that who I'm always going to be. and that ME is beautiful! :)

[Bluebyrd]

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