Social Media’s Impact on Young Generation!

Social Media’s Impact on Young Generation

AGRITA CHHIBBER

What is your favorite pastime?

Playing chess with your cousin? let me guess playing badminton with your sister or flying kites?

Umm, not these then what, yes got that sitting in your bed with AirPods on and scrolling through Instagram reels or following your favorite profile. Ah! Guessed it right, well it is the familiar scene in a desi household. I hope you can instantly feel connected to the above-mentioned scenario.

Social media is the most powerful tool in the present modern era. While half of the generation is busy performing on social media platforms and dreaming to gain followers the other half is just watching those things and spending hours without noticing it.

group of people in public toilet using smartphones

Digital media have totally transformed the space today. Giving us platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to stay in connection with each other, to giving us platforms to express ourselves has greatly changed our ways of how maintaining our relationship with the outer world and with each other.

However, despite the fact that we now take these online communities for granted, academics are only just starting to fully comprehend the effects that social media use will have on future generations.

Major platforms like Meta and Instagram are transforming into primary digital advertising places as much as they are into social media platforms, and social media models are altering daily as a result. Marketers have a vital responsibility to disseminate ideas that educate rather than add to the social media sea of disinformation.

Social Media’s Impact on Young Generation

You must be aware of the negative impacts that social media can have on mental health. Experts are weighing in on the role that the algorithms and design of social platforms play in exasperating these concerns.

“Ironically, social media, which is meant to bring people together, can really make you feel more alone and isolated and aggravate mental health issues like anxiety and depression if you spend too much time using it.”

Aza Raskin, co-founder of the Center for Human Technology, talked about the “digital loneliness epidemic,” which focused on the rise of depression and loneliness as it relates to social media use. During the panel, Raskin spoke about the “infinite scroll,” the design principle that enables users to continuously scroll through their feeds, without ever having to decide whether to keep going—it’s hard to imagine what the bottom of a TikTok feed would look like, and that’s intentional.

But with the knowledge that mental health concerns are undeniably linked to social media use, the dilemma we’re now facing is when does good design become inhumane design?

“If you’re spending too much time on social media and you experience depression, discontentment, annoyance, or loneliness impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance.”

Many people in the globe now use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram to communicate with one another. While each has advantages, it’s crucial to keep in mind that social media can never fully replace face-to-face interaction. The hormones that reduce stress and make you feel happier, healthier, and more optimistic are only released when you are in direct physical contact with other people.

Ironically, social media, which is meant to bring people together, can really make you feel more alone and isolated and aggravate mental health issues like anxiety and depression if you spend too much time using it.

If you’re spending too much time on social media and you experience depression, discontentment, annoyance, or loneliness impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance.

FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) might keep you coming back to social media. FOMO will trick you into thinking that there are many things that can wait or require an immediate response. Maybe you’re concerned that if you don’t catch the newest news or rumors on social media, you’ll miss out on the conversation at school or work.

Or perhaps you fear that if you don’t like, share, or comment on other people’s postings right away, your relationships will suffer. Alternatively, you can be concerned that you’ll decline an invitation or that others are having a better time than you.

Simple Signs That Social Media is Influencing Your Mind:

Spending more time on social media than with real friends:

Online platform has juxtaposed reality. Even when you are out with your family or group of friends still you are constantly checking social media to know what others are doing rather than enjoying yourself.

Comparing with others:

You begin comparing yourself with filter reality and start criticizing yourself for not being perfect like them. Media is openly selling fakeness to lure young generation.

Distracted while working:

The pressure to post something on Instagram or snapchat is real. Then the worry to get more likes and comments on posted picture keeps you distracted and in that zone for whole day.

Zero Self-Reflection:

Every moment is filled with engaging content on social media. There is no time left to reflect upon self and learn a new skill in order to make self-capable in this world.

If you are able to relate to the above-mentioned scenario then it is a perfect time to focus on yourself and take the charge of your life by engaging in conscious living. You need to shift your focus from unreal to real world to live a more fulfilling and grateful life.

[Writer Agrita Chhibber is from Jammu, images from different sources]

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