Psychological Effects of Social Media

Inmaculada Puntas Serrano

Department of English Language and Literatures, University of Seville
1830032: Inglés Instrumental II
Dr: José Enrique García González
December 26, 2022
320 words

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 The topic of social media has proved to be rather a highly controversial one in the
present day. The increasing use of the internet is supposed to bring benefits to our lives,
supporting that joining people together is the main goal of it. Nevertheless, it has been
proved to be quite the reverse.

It happens to be that the misuse and overuse of social media in our daily life may
bring about negative psychological effects affecting those who consume them. (McLean
Hospital, 2022). It is pivotal to bring focus to the fact that people, especially the youngest, are
experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other illnesses which affect the regular
functioning of the brain (McLean Hospital, 2022).

Further, some are those who develop a sense of dependence on social networks.
(Diomidous, 2016). Users base their wellness and mood on them, feeling under the weather
when taking a rest from them. Choosing to stay at home rather than going out with friends or
posting photos in unnecessary moments are common situations that all of us experience on a
daily basis (Diomidous, 2016). In this way, many are those who struggle to sleep,
concentrate, interact, or even eat. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2017).

Be that as it may, even though everybody knows what the use of social media to the
excess may cause, we turn a blind eye to what is occurring. In whatever way, we are unlikely
to change our addiction to social media since it has become the average behaviour in all of us
(Kuss & Griffiths, 2017). Therefore, being stuck to the screen has become the norm, and
social networks are taking control of our minds more and more. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2017).

All things considered; it is needless to say that something should be done in order to
fight its excessive use. Only by raising awareness of social media’s harmful effects when
used incorrectly, we will reduce its psychological effects on users.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Diomidous, M. (2016). Social and Psychological Effects of the Internet Use. Acta
informatica medica: AIM : journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia &
Herzegovina : casopis Drustva za medicinsku informatiku BiH, 24(1), 66–68.
https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2016.24.66-68

Kuss, D., & Griffiths, M. (2017). Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons
Learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311.
MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311

McLean Hospital. (2022, January 21). The social dilemma: Social media and your mental
health. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias- affecting-your-
mental-health