1.

Social Media electronic communication (such as websites

for social networking sites, application and microblogging)
through which users create online communities to share information,
ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos).

2. On the other hand, Mental health includes our emotional,

psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and
act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others,
and make choices.

3. So how are these two connected anyhow?? In the words of famous

anthropologist and digital analyst BRIAN SOLIS, “Social media
is about sociology and psychology more than about
technology.”

4. The rise of social media has meant that we as a global population are
more connected than we have ever been in the history of
time. However, our reliance on social media can have a detrimental
effect on our mental health, with the average Brit checking their
phone as much 28 times a day. While social media platforms can
have their benefits, using them to frequently can make you feel
increasingly unhappy and isolated in the long run. 

5. The constant barrage of perfectly filtered photos that appear on

Instagram are bound to knock many people’s self-esteem, while
obsessively checking your Twitter feed just before bed could be
contributing towards poor quality of sleep. 

6. "The Power of Social Media is that, it forces Necessary Change."

In the recent years, social media has played a pivotal role in knitting
the fabric of the Indian society. It has changed the Indian society from
a naive society to a mature one.
But this change and maturity is achieved at the cost of mental, social and
psychological health of the Indians. But why are incurring such costs???
The answer lies in the various stats that I will just present.
1. On average, Indian users spent 2.4 hours on social media per day,
in line with the global average. This has increased strain on their eyes
and about 88.6% population in the age group of 16-35 years have
reported severe headaches, dizziness as well as frequent urge to
puke due to this dizziness and Those who had spent more time on
social media had 2.2 times the risk of reporting eating and body
image concerns, compared to their peers who spent less time on
social media.

2. When it comes to Internet adoption trends, India is quickly outgrowing

China as one of the leading markets in the world, according to
McKinsey. As per latest data, Indians are spending the highest
amount of time on social media in the world. And it's bordering on
addiction almost. In March 2018, it was reported of a survey of 1,000
Indians stated that they were quitting social media for good as 41 per
cent stated that social media platforms make them feel anxious, sad
or depressed.

3. As per McKinsey's latest report on Indian online trends, there are an

estimated 560 million internet subscribers in India as of
September 2018. And that number's expected to increase
significantly by 2025 and this trend is attributed to low cost internet
availability to Indians these days.

4. Indian stats: 12.3 billion social media app download, 560 million
internet subscribers, 294 million people engaged in social media
sites and apps. And this is just the beginning.

5. Facebook: 88.05%, YouTube: 3.65% Instagram: 5.26%, Twitter:

1.28%. Due to this increased use of Facebook people are suffering
high levels of Facebook envy, the tendency to be jealous of
your friends’ activities on social media
 Focusing on likes: The need to gain “likes” on social media can cause
teens to make choices they would otherwise not make, including altering
their appearance, engaging in negative behaviors, and accepting risky
social media challenges.

 Cyberbullying: Teens girls in particular are at risk of cyberbullying

through use of social media, but teen boys are not immune. Cyberbullying
is associated with depression, anxiety, and an elevated risk of suicidal
thoughts.

 Making comparisons: Though many teens know that their peers share
only their highlight reels on social media, it’s very difficult to avoid making
comparisons. Everything from physical appearance to life circumstances to
perceived successes and failures are under a microscope on social media.

 Having too many fake friends: Even with privacy settings in place, teens
can collect thousands of friends through friends of friends on social media.
The more people on the friend list, the more people have access to
screenshot photos, Snaps, and updates and use them for other purposes.
There is no privacy on social media.

 Less face time: Social interaction skills require daily practice, even for
teens. It’s difficult to build empathy and compassion (our best weapons in
the war on bullying) when teens spend more time “engaging” online than
they do in person. Human connection is a powerful tool and builds skills
that last a lifetime.

 Fear of missing out: Fear of Missing Out has been linked to intensive
social media use and is associated with lower mood and life satisfaction.

 Sexual harassment: availability of pornography over internet with a

particular focus on crime against women (such as rape, sexual
harassment, and crime against women).

 Sleep: Sound sleep is very important for any individual. However,

excessive use of cell phone hampers the sleeping pattern of an
individual. We keep on scrolling through our cell phones before going to
bed, which makes it harder for us to get some slumber. Additionally, the
bright light of the cell phone suppresses the release of melatonin, which
eventually makes a person feel tired. 75% of Indians use social media
reported sleeping problems
2.3 lakhs suicide 70 thousand attributed to social media