How Social Media Affects Mental Health Essay

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The Impact and Important Implications of Social Media for Mental HealthToday, nearly 240 million Americans (about 70% of the population) are subscribers to one or more social media platforms, and this number has increased every year since their introduction in the late 1990s (Kemp, 2024). Not surprisingly, this proliferation of social media sites has resulted in a mixed array of mental health outcomes, with some users reporting feeling more connected and less isolated than in the past, while others are suffering from various negative experiences such as cyberbullying that cause them real problems in their daily lives. To learn more about this public health issue, the purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature to develop a timely and informed answer to the question, “What impact do you believe that social media is having on mental health and why is it important to address this issue?” Following this review and discussion, a summary of the research is provided in the paper’s conclusion.Review and DiscussionAlthough Facebook, YouTube and Instagram are currently the global industry leaders in social media platforms with about 80 million active users in the U.S. each month (Most popular social networks worldwide, 2024), there are also tens of thousands of social media platforms of various popularity that cater to every taste, preference, interest or political ideology possible. The vast majority of these sites provide a positive, valuable and useful framework in which people can share their personal thoughts, created content and feelings about anything, and mental health resources are available from some social media sites for those in need but who are reluctant to seek professional help for any numbers of reasons.There are some other sites, though, that seem to attract the type of people who used to stay in their basement, out of sight and mind of mainstream American society, writing their manifestoes and plotting their revenge.

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Indeed, no matter how crazy something may sound, at least a few people are probably already talking about it in some social media site where like-minded crazies gather to share their craziness of choice. The so-called “dark web” also features social media…

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…In this regard, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) emphasizes that, “The types of use and content children and adolescents are exposed to pose mental health concerns” (Social Media and Youth Mental Health, 2024). The HHS provides useful guidance for consumers of all ages who are concerned about mental health problems associated with social media use, but this resource is just a drop in the bucket compared to the growing need caused by this looming public health threat.ConclusionOn the one hand, the research showed that social media sites can help reduce loneliness, provide entertainment and information, and generally connect people with one another who might not otherwise ever communicate. In fact, the sustained increase in the popularity of these sites is proof positive that they offer something that many people find valuable in their lives. On the other hand, however, the potential for cyberbullying, exposure to extremist ideologies, and the reinforcement of conspiracy theories pose serious threats to public mental health. In sum, as social media usage continues to increase so too will its associated mental….....

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"How Social Media Affects Mental Health" (2024, October 11) Retrieved May 20, 2025, from
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