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Laura Gibson

Professor Dean Leonard

ENG 1201

2 May 2021

How Does Social Media Negatively Affect Its Users?

According to the Pew Research Center, in the United States, around seven-in-ten

individuals use social media (“Social Media Fact Sheet”). With how common social media use is

around the world, there has been much research regarding the effects it has on its users. Social

media is used for many reasons including marketing, education, spreading awareness for social

issues, connecting with others, and for simple, personal use. Considering how many routes social

media can be taken in, it naturally has a vast number of negative and positive effects on users.

Social media can negatively affect its users through many factors including general physical

health, education, mental health, addiction, safety, and the spread of false information.

Social media has been around for many years. In 1999, an early form of social media,

blogs, became popular (“The Evolution of Social Media”). Social media has progressed over

time with new forms of social media and new sites.

Facebook, one of the most popular social media sites, was

created in 2004 (“The Evolution of Social Media”). It has

been discovered that 69% of adults in the U.S. use Facebook

(“The Evolution of Social Media”). The graphic on the right

displays different statistics regarding social media use in the

Figure 1: Statistics on social media
United States (“The Evolution of Social Media”). With the use (“The Evolution of Social
Media”)
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emergence of social media, and its large number of users growing daily, the effects of social

media has the power to affect more people over time.

Social media can create negative effects on the general physical health of its users.

Physical activity is vital to the physical health of an individual. According to the CDC, research

shows that a lack of physical activity can lead to an increased risk of health issues such as

cancer, diabetes, or heart disease (“Lack of Physical Activity”). In a study performed on college

students at the University of Sharjah, it was noted that 71.4% of the participating freshmen stated

that their use of social media had resulted in a decrease of physical activity (S. A. Rahman et al.

713-714). While there are posts on social media surrounding fitness that may act as motivators to

exercise (“Does Social Media Motivate or Discourage You to Work Out?”), the results of a lack

of physical activity due to social media are more important. Social media can decrease the level

of physical activity of its users, resulting in an increased risk of physical health issues.

The physical health of social media users can also be affected due to small physical

issues that are noticeable daily. The habit of looking at a screen often to scroll through social

media can lead to physical issues. In a study performed on college students, majority of

participating students stated that their use of social media had led to issues such as eye strain,

neck and back pain, bad posture, and headaches frequently (S. A. Rahman et al. 715). Although

some may argue that because these physical effects may not be major, that they do not hold

significance. This is not true considering the effects of bad posture on the spine and shoulders

such as spinal dysfunction or back pain (“Posture”), and the psychological and physical issues

that can spur from frequent headaches (“Chronic Daily Headaches”). Social media can create a

negative effect on the physical health of its users through physical issues that are noticeable

daily.
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Poor sleeping habits due to social media use are very impactful on the general physical

health of an individual. According to research on the effects of poor sleeping habits on physical

health, it is found that poor sleeping habits can increase the risk of health issues such as

Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes, hormonal issues, and obesity (Suni). In a study conducted on

college students and their social media habits, 68.7% of participating students admitted that their

social media use has led to later times of going to sleep, leaving them with less hours to sleep

during the night (S. A. Rahman et al. 713). With these poor sleeping habits leading to less sleep,

physical health consequences can ensue. Social media can lead to later sleeping times resulting

in less hours of sleep, which can create physical health consequences.

Social media also creates negative effects on the physical health of its users through the

possible development of eating disorders. Social media has been found to cause body

dissatisfaction due to viewing what is considered the perfect body on social media (K. Simpson,

T. Simpson), which is the leading cause in the development of certain eating disorders (“Body

Image & Eating Disorders”). These are both mental and physical illnesses. It is even noted that

taking selfies to strive for the perfect body image viewed on social media is linked with body

image dissatisfaction resulting in eating disorders, with a strong focus on Bulimia (K. Simpson,

T. Simpson). The physical effects that can take place due to eating disorders can involve heart

failure, infections, muscle atrophy, stomach, or esophagus rupture, and even death (“Health

Consequences”). It has even been found that the higher the number of social media accounts that

boys and girls have, the higher the rate of disordered eating is found (Wilksch, et al. 101). With

social media having the potential to cause body dissatisfaction, which can lead to eating

disorders, harmful physical effects can ensue.

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Social media not only creates negative effects on the physical health of users, but also

negative mental health effects. Poor sleeping habits caused by social media can also create

negative mental health effects. According to research performed on the mental effects of sleep

deprivation, poor sleeping habits have compelling links to mental disorders such as “depression,

anxiety, and bipolar disorder” (Suni). Considering higher levels of social media use leads to poor

sleeping habits (Hamilton et al. 127), users are likely to suffer from negative mental health

effects.

Social media can also create negative mental affects through body image. Social media is

widely known for promoting the perfect body image. According to research presented in a

TedTalk by the founders of “Live Life Unfiltered”, viewing the perfect, edited pictures on social

media of friends is actually more detrimental to one’s self esteem and body image than the edited

images of people in magazines (K. Simpson, T. Simpson). In a personal interview, the

interviewee stated that seeing posts of girls who embody the perfect body image, does contribute

to her issues with low self-esteem, and body image (Derksen). With seeing edited images

commonly on social media, prompting individuals to grow dissatisfied with their bodies, a habit

of editing their own photos in order to gain the perfect body image that they see on social media

can be created (K. Simpson, T. Simpson). Although there are posts promoting body positivity on

social media (Schreiber et al.), they do not outweigh the detrimental effects of social media on

body image.

Social media can also affect mental health through feelings of loneliness and isolation. A

poll describes where over half of adults in America state that they believe that users of social

media can be affected by loneliness/isolation (“Americans are Concerned”). Also, in a report

written on the effects of social media use on individuals in India, it is stated that social media
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decreases the in-person connections that individuals make, creating feelings of loneliness among

its users (Swarnam 3). While it is sometimes argued that social media can help to keep people

connected to each other digitally (Swarnam 3), it is still important to have in-person interaction

to avoid isolation or loneliness. Through research, it is shown that feeling of loneliness and

social isolation are created through use of social media due to lack of in-person interaction.

Social media creates an effect on its users’ mental health through mental disorders. There

is a strong association between certain mental disorders and social media use. In a report written

on the effects of social media on individuals in India, it is stated that the result of a lack of in-

person interaction from usage can lead to issues such as avoidance, depression, and anxiety

(Swarnam 3). All of these issues are linked to mental disorders such as Body Dysmorphia, Social

Anxiety Disorder, or Depression. In a research article on individuals in Sweden, it was noted that

an increase of time using Facebook correlated with a negative mood afterwards, and that this

could lead to depression if there is consistent social media use (Scott, et al. 2). In the same

research article, it was noted that a study concluded that there is a positive correlation with

depression and frequent Instagram use (Scott, et al. 2). This research shows that depression is

associated strongly with social media use. While it is argued that social media has positive

mental health posts (Derksen), these do not outweigh the negative effects of social media on

mental health. Social media is shown to have strong correlations with the progression, or

development of mental health disorders.

Social media’s users’ mental health can also be affected by cyberbullying. In an article on

cyberbullying statistics, it is shown that 59% of teens in the US have been bullied online

according to the Pew Research Center (“Cyberbullying Statistics”). Cyberbullying can be done

in many ways. In an article from the newspaper The New York Times, it is stated that
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cyberbullying can be carried out in different ways including threatening someone, making mean

comments to an individual, impersonating someone online, and just blatant harassment

(Valencia). Cyberbullying can have effects on mental health. According to a study conducted on

the psychological effects of social media, teenagers who had experienced cyberbullying had

admitted that they had “cried, felt embarrassed, anxious, scared, angry, insecure, sad, temporary

depression, lost temper, the problem in trusting others and started avoiding friends” (Ghosh, et

al. 96). Teenagers in the same study also admitted to effects such as social isolation, thoughts of

suicide, self-harm, and decrease in self-esteem (Ghosh, et al. 96). While social media can also act

as an outlet to encourage others (Swarnam 3), this does not outweigh the issue of negative

mental health effects caused by cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can create negative mental effects

through social media use.

The users of social media are also affected through education and academic performance.

Social media can create distraction from education and academic performance. In a study

conducted at the University of Sharjah on the effects on health and academic performance by

social media, 74.8% of participating students in the study stated that they check their phones

during lectures in school (S. A. Rahman et. al 713). It has also been noted that during

assignments, students can become less aware of their tasks due to the distraction of social media

(Swarnam 3). Out of the students in the study at the University of Sharjah, 51.6% of students

admitted that social media distracts them from their study time (S. A. Rahman et al. 713). The

distraction from schoolwork that can be caused due to social media use can also lead to late

work. In a study on college students regarding social media, it was discovered that 42% of

participating students admitted that they had turned work in late due to their use of social media

(S. A. Rahman, et al. 713). The image on the previous

Figure 2: Student using a phone in class

("Cell Phone Policies")
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page is a visual representation of the distraction of a student on their phone while in class (“Cell

Phone Policies”). While it is noted that social media can keep students connected, as well as pose

for a place for students to share knowledge (Akram, et al. 350), the distracting effects of social

media are more important. Social media can act as a distraction to students who are attempting to

stay focused in class, while studying, or doing schoolwork.

The education and academic performance of students is also affected by social media

through the quality of schoolwork and grades. In a study conducted on students, it was shown

that students that students who are users of social media don’t have as much time for work,

creating a drop in grades (Cao, et al. 5). While social media takes away time from schoolwork

affecting academic performance, it also has effects on grammar. In a study performed at the

University of Sharjah on the effects on health and academic performance by social media use,

41.6% of students stated that their constant use of social media created negative effects on their

grammar and writing skills (S. A. Rahman, et al. 713). It has been discovered that the common

use of slang and abbreviations in social media affects the grammar used in schoolwork by

students (Akram, et al. 351). Through social media, distraction from schoolwork can be created,

grades can be lowered, as well as grammar issues through slang and abbreviations commonly

used among social media platforms.

Social media can negatively affect its users by causing the development of addiction.

Social media can cause users to suffer with “Fomo” (“Causes of Social Media Addiction &

Illness”). “Fomo” is known as the “Fear of missing out”. Addiction to social media can develop

through “Fomo”. Social media users will often check their phones frequently in attempt to keep

up with posts on social media. Doing this will ensure that the user will not miss out on anything

posted on social media. Addiction can spur from users developing “the inability to stop checking
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their social media” (“Causes of Social Media Addiction & Illnesses). This inability is an

addictive behavior. Social media addiction can cause negative effects such as mental issues

(“Causes of Social Media Addiction & Illnesses”), or distraction from everyday activities.

Addiction to social media can be developed through “Fomo”, negatively affecting social media

users.

Social media can negatively affect its users by the spread of false information. If false

information flows throughout social media platforms, it can make people believe things that are

not true. Through research it has been found that on Twitter fake news spreads even faster than

news that is accurate (Dizikes). People on Twitter retweet false information (Dizikes), to where

each of their followers will view it. This creates a cycle of followers retweeting each other’s

tweets, even if they contain false information, spreading this information all throughout the

platform. While social media can have accurate information, this does not outweigh the negative

effect of false information spreading through social media. The spread of false information on

social media can negatively affect its users by making them misinformed on certain topics or

situations.

The jeopardy of safety can also be caused by social media. Social media is often used for

personal use, where one’s personal information can be spread. When making an account, social

media does ask for personal information such as one’s full name, date of birth, place of work,

name of school, or the town in which they live in (Lewis). If this type of information is online, it

can make an individual an easy target of identity theft (Lewis). Photos and personal information

can be used to steal one’s identity. If someone shares their place of work on social media, and

possibly even their work schedule, this could give dangerous individuals access to personal

information. If an individual also posts their whereabouts, this could result in stalking, or even a
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possible assault or robbery (Lewis). While social media can be used in an enjoyable way to share

aspects of one’s life, it can become dangerous if too much information about one’s life is shared

on social media. Safety can easily be jeopardized if personal information is on social media.

Social media creates many negative effects on its users. These can include effects on

mental health, physical health, addiction, and the spread of false information. Social media

negatively affects mental health through factors such as body image, mental disorders, loneliness

and isolation, through poor sleeping habits, and from cyberbullying. Social media also affects the

physical health of its users through poor sleeping habits, a lack of physical activity, and

noticeable issues from looking at a screen for extended periods of time. Social media can also

create negative effects on its users through creating social media addiction, the jeopardy of

safety, and spreading false information. While there are some positive effects of social media,

they do not outweigh the immense negative effects that social media holds.

Works Cited
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