TÁC ĐỘNG CỦA PHƯƠNG TIỆN TRUYỀN THÔNG XÃ HỘI

ĐẾN SỨC KHỎE TINH THẦN CỦA NGƯỜI TRẺ

SVTH: Lê Quỳnh Phương Hoa(5A23),

Trần Khánh Huyền (5A23), Đàm Ngọc Linh (5A23)

GVHD: Nguyễn Trà My

Tóm tắt: Trong thế giới hiện đại ngày nay, ngày càng nhiều người trẻ thích sử dụng các nền tảng
truyền thông xã hội như Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube và Instagram để kết nối với nhau hơn
là gặp gỡ ngoài đời thực. Mặc dù nó có nhiều lợi ích nhưng điều quan trọng cần nhớ là mạng xã hội
không bao giờ có thể thay thế được sự kết nối giữa con người với thế giới thực. Nghiên cứu này nhằm
mục đích để tìm hiểu, phân tích và làm rõ các tác động tích cực cũng như tiêu cực của mạng xã hội
lên sức khỏe tinh thần của con người, đặc biệt là giới trẻ. Bên cạnh đó, bài nghiên cứu cũng đưa ra
nguyên nhân giải thích rằng tại sao mạng xã hội lại phổ biến trên toàn thế giới như vậy. Để từ đó đưa
ra một số khuyến nghị giúp khắc phục những mặt hạn chế và tận dụng, phát huy các mặt tích cực mà
mạng xã hội đem lại cho con người.

Từ khóa: mạng xã hội, sức khỏe tinh thần, giới trẻ

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL HEALTH

OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Abstract: In modern world, the increasing number of young people prefer using social media
platforms such as Facebook, Twitter ( now known as X platform), Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram

to connect with each other rather than face-to-face communication in reality. Despite all of its
advantages, social media will never be able to completely replace in-person human interaction. The
purpose of this study is to investigate, evaluate, and elucidate the effects of social networks both good
and bad on people's mental health, with a focus on the youth. Furthermore, the study offers
explanations for the global popularity of social networks. Next, it will offer some suggestions for getting
around the obstacles in the way of utilizing and promoting the advantages that social networks offer
users.

Key words: social media, mental health, the young

1. INTRODUCTION

Many youngsters now take communication via smartphones and social media for granted in
their pursuit of personal development. Although the majority of children have positive online
experiences, there are concerns, including the likelihood that excessive social media use will
have a negative influence on their psychological health. Research in this area is still in its
early stages, yet social networks have a significant impact on the lives of many young people.

2. SOCIAL MEDIA
2.1. Definitions of social media

According to Dollarhide (2023), “ social media” refers to digital technology that facilitates the
sharing of ideas and information through online communities and networks, as well as the
exchange of text and visual content.

2.2. Overview of social media

The first social media platform which was used as a way for friends and family to
communicate, but it soon expanded to be used for a variety of purposes. According to The
Rise of Social Media, MySpace was the first network in 2004 to attract one million active
monthly users. Following the launch of Facebook and Twitter in the following years (now
combined into the X platform), social media use surged. Businesses rushed to these platforms
in order to quickly establish a connection with a global audience. 46% of internet users
worldwide get their news from social media, according to Global Web Index (The Global
Media Landscape). In comparison, 40% of those who visit news websites do so in order to
view news. Gen Z and Millennials were the most likely to watch news on social media than
any other group. Additionally, social media plays a crucial role in many businesses' marketing
strategies given how much time users spend on social media websites and applications each
day. At the same time, the social media landscape is continuously changing as relatively new
apps like Clubhouse, Signal, and TikTok start to appear alongside established social networks
like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X platform. One clear indicator is the fact that over
4.7 billion people, or over 60% of the world's population, use social media sites like
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the X platform (formerly known as Twitter). In early
2023, 94.8% of users globally visited chat and messaging websites and apps; 94.6% of users
went to social media platforms (Dollarhide, 2023).

Social media platforms are typically divided into six categories: social networking, social
bookmarking, social news, media sharing, microblogging, and online forums. These varied
platforms cater to a wide range of user objectives and preferences. Some are more suitable for
amateurs than for professionals. They are employed to locate people worldwide who share
comparable political or other viewpoints. Social media acts as a bridge between funders and
charity, celebrities and followers, and politicians and voters. Social media is a common tool
used by governments to disseminate important information during catastrophes. Businesses
use it to recognize and engage with consumers, boost revenue through marketing and
advertising, spot rapidly shifting consumer trends, offer support and care to customers, and
sometimes surreptitiously gather user data (Dollarhide, 2023).

2.3. Effects of social media on mental health

2.3.1 Positive impacts of social platforms on the youth

Even while face-to-face contact offers greater psychological benefits than virtual interaction
on social media, there are still many ways in which virtual interaction can improve and
maintain human connection. Social media virtual interaction has numerous beneficial benefits
that can help people maintain and strengthen their connections with people around the world,
even though it does not have the same psychological benefits as in-person interaction. The
most obvious advantage is that it strengthens global connectivity. Social media has made it
possible for people to stay in touch and make new connections with distant or long-lost
contact with family members and friends.

Moreover, social networking sites enable users to have quick access to latest information,
interpersonal communication, and the discovery of specialized groups. Social media is
claimed to assist users in finding their soul mates with whom they may confide about life's
events and the challenges that people face. It connects human being with friends, family, and
coworkers all around the world and gives them a feeling of inclusion and connection. Their
daily lives now revolve around social media: human being communicate with friends and
family, accept friend requests from one another, and engage in daily activities. In addition,
these platforms are used to interact with people who have similar interests by joining online
communities.

The emergence of social media in the early 2000s has expanded the communication channels
and outlets available for social interactions. According to recent Statista research, users spend
2.3 hours a day on social media. The usage of Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube by
young people has grown in 2022. Social media users can improve their mental health by
connecting with others and getting support from their peers. In actuality, online groups can
provide a platform for discussing shared challenges, bad life experiences, and health-related
concerns. This can improve feelings of emotional connectedness and support while reducing
stigma. People tend to receive emotional support and overcome difficult situations as a result
of it.

In addition, it developed into a vital instrument for communication during the COVID-19
pandemic. According to a 3- person survey, peer friendships, fulfilling social contacts, and
humor on social media also helped people feel less stressed during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Their poll focused on the usage of digital media and the psychological well-being of teenagers
during the COVID-19 pandemic. While stay-at-home directives prevented people from
getting together in person, they used social media to interact and exchange information. It
turned into a means of establishing connections and social support that they would not have
otherwise had. Use of social media tends to be reinforced. Social media use can occasionally
trigger the release of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, which opens the brain's
reward area. People keep returning as a result of this dopamine release because they want to
have those pleasurable moments again. Self-esteem can also be increased by social media,
especially if someone is well-regarded by others or gets a lot of likes or comments on their
postings.

Additionally, some people can share aspects of themselves on social media that they might
find difficult to express in person. For those who struggle to communicate with others in
person due to social anxiety, social media can be very useful. Social media facilitates global
communication and keeps friends and family informed. Humans can network with others who
have similar interests or goals, which helps them make new acquaintances and build
communities. They would seek out or provide emotional support when things were hard.
Furthermore, people will find sources of important knowledge and learning if they are
interested in learning or studying. Social media offers a digital platform where people may
express themselves, find new prospects, and create communities. Social networking platforms
may make meaningful conversations, celebrate accomplishments, and improve social
relationships by allowing us to share images from our vacations and to engage in meaningful
conversations. Social media also provides a forum for professional and personal development.
It enables people to exhibit their abilities, know-how, and capabilities, which opens avenues
for professional growth, networking, and collaboration. Making connections with people who
have similar interests to their own may be motivating and powerful, fostering both
professional and personal growth.

2.3.2. Negative impacts of social platforms on the youth

Social media offers benefits, but it also has a number of drawbacks that might harm one's
mental health. The carefully chosen content is one of the major obstacles. Individuals
typically only portray the best parts of their lives in a polished manner. In daily life, people
who pay attention to their appearance can suffer from lower self-esteem and feelings of
inadequacy. An unhealthful cycle of self-doubt and low self-esteem can be brought about by
the unrelenting search of affirmation and comparison. Even though people have awareness
that most posted photos on online communities are unreal, they cannot stop worrying about
their outlook and individual background. Likewise, they know that other individuals typically
only discuss the most memorable parts of their seldom the darkest moments in life that they
go through. However, it still makes people feel envious and unsatisfied when people go
through their friend's Photoshop vacation pictures from an exotic beach or read about their
amazing new job promotion (Corporate Wellness Magazine, 2023).

Social media has also led to a rise in cyber bullying and online harassment. People may feel
more confident to act dangerously because of the anonymity and distance provided by these
platforms. Teenagers report experiencing cyber bullying at a rate of 10%, and many more
have heard rude remarks. Social networking websites including Twitter (now known as X
platform) might serve as focal points for the dissemination of destructive whispers,
deceptions, or mistreatment that may culminate to permanent psychological harm. Mental
health issues could result from this, such as suicide thoughts and depressive and anxious
moods. Humans require face-to-face interaction for mental wellness to exist. The most rapid
and most successful strategy for lowering stress while boosting a person's attitude is to
connect with someone they love deeply. The more they distance themselves from in-person
relationships, the greater the likelihood that they will develop or exacerbate mood disorders
such as sadness and anxiety. The pressure to conform to societal norms or face judgmental
anxiety can cause a tremendous deal of psychological suffering.

Furthermore, social media's addictive qualities lead to a deterioration in mental health. An

incessant desire for social affirmation, participation, and approval can cause stress, disturbed
sleep patterns, and diminished productivity. The dopamine rush that comes from getting likes,
comments, and shares can lead to a dependency that makes it difficult for people to
communicate with others in real life and keeps them from giving their all in the moment.

However, a number of studies have discovered a direct correlation between excessive social
media use and a higher risk of social media addiction and FOMO (fear of missing out). Social
media platforms like Facebook and Instagram tend to intensify FOMO, even though the
feeling that other people are having more fun or have better lives than individual does. FOMO
has been present for far longer than social media. Similar to an addiction, the belief that
people are missing out on something can have a negative effect on their self-worth, cause
anxiety, and encourage people to use social media more. FOMO can make people obsessively
check for updates on their phone continuously without resting or react irrationally to every
alert, even forget to get away smart devices when doing other things, results in staying up late
on a daily basis, or puts social media involvement ahead of in-person connections.
On the other hand, social media is also invented in order to communicate with other people.
Creators establish both private and mutual chats as a major benefit for users contact with their
relationships. However, adolescents suffering from psychological disorders often make
matters worse by engaging in social media chat rooms. Private conversations are not an
exception; research indicates that talking with people all the time without experiencing their
physical presence associate with mental health issues. This is a rising concern among the
youth since a study that conducted by a university revealed that high Facebook, Instagram,
and Snapchat usage does not lessen loneliness; rather, it worsens it. Posting countless selfies
and their deepest thoughts on online communities may cause bad things such as unhealthy
self-centeredness and a disconnection from people in real life. In addition, the research
discovered that cutting back on social media use boost their general health and help people
feel less alone and isolated (Robinson & Smith, 2023).

3. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

3.1 Conclusion

Social media addiction is a rising problem that many teens and young people face. Someone
may experience withdrawal symptoms and feel driven to check social media when they
refrain from doing so. An addiction to social media can lead to physical problems like
insomnia as well as detrimental effects on one's emotional health. It might be possible to limit
one's own use of social media. However, if this is not possible, they might want to look into
getting professional mental health help.

3.2 Suggestions
All participants in online interactions need to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks.
Consequently, when utilizing social networks, you should concentrate on highlighting good
aspects and minimizing negative aspects. Social media users should provide uplifting content
and images of local and social events, and criticize bad things and aberrant expressions in
favor of humanitarian and constructive messages. a sophisticated and polite online behavior
culture. As a result, users need to have a kind, thoughtful, sharing, listening, and sympathetic
attitude toward others. All comments and viewpoints should reflect appropriate attitudes and
emotions, be courteous and impartial, and avoid slandering or dividing people in an effort to
undermine their respect and dignity.
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