The Era of Social Media Essay Example

visit these sites several times per day or at least five times a week. Over the past five years, there has been an upward trend in these figures, leading to a rise in rates of depression and suicide correlated with social media utilization. Furthermore, Miller highlights how the prevalence of smartphones has contributed to the growth of various social media platforms through heightened sales.

Therefore, the use of social media significantly increased with more individuals using these apps excessively on a daily basis. The correlation between smartphone usage and depression is direct. Nowadays, people feel very uncomfortable talking to others offline due to a sense of unacceptance and social awkwardness, which leads to depression. One subfield related to social media is Clinical Psychology, and this is likely because social media can eventually lead to mental illness, abnormal behavior, and psychiatric problems.

My personal observation reveals that social media has a significant influence on individuals, leading to changes in their behavior. Some people make decisions based on what they see online without fully grasping the impact of this influence. In his article titled "Social Networking's Good and Bad Impacts on Kids," Larry Rosen discusses how teenagers and young adults display aggressive behavior and signs of psychological disorders as a result of using social media platforms. As a consequence, individuals become highly distracted and spend more time on Facebook instead of interacting with friends. During my high school years, my English teacher addressed the issue of girls easily falling into depression by comparing themselves to the appearance and actions of other girls on social media, feeling inadequate or unable to measure up. This change in behavior can be easily

linked to clinical psychology, as I personally witnessed this phenomenon among girls during high school.

Therapy may be needed for certain individuals, as stated by authors Nathan DeWall and David Myers in their Psychology textbook. Various types of therapies are offered, including psychotherapy, biomedical therapy, and humanistic therapy. Psychotherapy utilizes psychological techniques to aid patients in overcoming challenges. Biomedical therapy employs medications like antidepressants. Humanistic therapies provide support for individuals facing self-acceptance issues, including those who seek acceptance through social media.

Today, individuals have access to various therapies and treatments that aim to help them. Cognitive Psychology is a field that targets the modification of thought processes such as memory, problem-solving, and decision-making. In addition, our thought processes and abilities in memory, problem-solving, and decision-making can be influenced by technology and social media. For example, people might make decisions based on what they see on social media or struggle with solving problems because of information obtained from their social media pages.

In the article "Social Media and Teen Depression: The Two Go Hand-In-Hand," Jeff Nalin discusses how individuals feel pressured to conform and fit in. They are willing to post anything on their social media platforms in order to gain acceptance, and their decision making is often influenced by societal norms. Independent thinking is no longer common among individuals. For example, even though groups on social media may promote negative behavior, youngsters still join them because they find them entertaining.

According to Amedie (2015), despite not considering the consequences, selfies are primarily shared due to low self-esteem. An online survey was conducted with around 250 participants to assess traits related to narcissistic personality. Of these respondents, 22% were male

and 78% were female. The survey revealed elevated levels of narcissism and remarkably low self-esteem rates among the participants. As a result, there has been an increase in the uploading of selfies on social media platforms. This phenomenon impacts cognitive processes and leads individuals to share more self-portraits in order to enhance their emotional well-being (Evita, 2018).

Social

skills are becoming difficult and distant for many of us due to our constant online preoccupation. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of the media, leading to children losing their lifelong communication abilities and developing negative behavioral traits. The incidents of cyberbullying are increasing, accompanied by a rise in depression as a result of changing mindsets. Personally, I have encountered situations where I felt conflicted when faced with a choice because an individual behaved differently on

social

media compared to their behavior in person. Despite being very outgoing on

social

media, they were more reserved in person.

Social

Psychology investigates the impact of individuals' thoughts, feelings, and actions on each other in both offline and online settings. Moreover, it examines the frequently disregarded relationship between psychology and social media. One instance is when young women view Instagram models as role models and strive to emulate them because of the influence exerted by others on these platforms.

In his article entitled "Online Social Networking and Mental Health," Igor Pantic explores the influence of

class="custom-blot check-text__match red frequency--match check-text__match--highlight" data-match-index-1="0">social media on behavior and its ability to redefine what is considered 'normal' behavior, often leading to abnormal tendencies. The prevalence of social media has given rise to various disorders as it greatly impacts and alters individuals. For instance, young women may modify their appearance or behavior to conform to societal expectations. Another example is when individuals intentionally post provocative content on social media platforms to provoke reactions from others, which is something I have personally encountered as well.

In his article titled "Measuring the relationship between social media use and addictive behavior and depression and suicide ideation among university students," author Luis Medrano examines how technology and social media have become an essential part of college students' daily routines. The article emphasizes that students are grappling with concerns about maintaining connections with their peers, feeling pressured by societal expectations that being disconnected from the online world implies being out of touch. Consequently, students are experiencing a loss of self-control, waning interest in their previous hobbies, and attempting to manage online relationships even when it is inconvenient. The more they engage with social media, the more their attention may divert from academic responsibilities and real-life social interactions.

Today, students frequently prioritize staying connected and avoiding the fear of missing out (FOMO) over important matters. Unfortunately, this inclination can easily occur as social media generally has a significant adverse effect on society. It exposes users to becoming targets, shapes personalities, and triggers dramatic shifts in behavior. Additionally, technology and its social media platforms have become deeply integrated into our daily

lives, resulting in a rise in depression and anxiety.