Over the last 10 years, the algorithms of social networking sites have been meticulously sewn into the fabric of our lives, subconsciously altering our neurological systems and shaping our outlook on reality in the midst of this already information-filled era where we can’t differentiate fact from fiction. This world is becoming a place where narcissism is plentiful yet self-doubt overrules and a time where conspiracy theories seem to get more attention than real news and the most sensationalist headlines guide the public’s knowledge. Social media is the new digital drug designed to keep you scrolling for longer. With more and more people logging in and the number of accounts on social media services increasing exponentially, it begs the question whether these services are dictating our lives more than we should let them and changing the way our daily lives unfold. In this article, I aim to uncover the darkness behind the social networking global obsession and the link to the pandemic of psychological disorders like depression and anxiety by giving a personal and bird's eye view into the online world. Is social media truly the main culprit of this mental health crisis?
The online world can be very tempting. We scroll through pictures for hours on Instagram and click on the next suggested video on YouTube until we get hopelessly lost in the whirlpool of content. We see our friends out at a party and get an aching sense of FOMO leading to sadness and depression and ultimately this stops our productivity and freezes our lives. We yearn for likes and our brains provide us with a dopamine rush every time we see our followers list number go up, much like a drug. Essentially, our brains are hardwired to seek these momentary pleasures. However, we eventually become desensitised to it and crave for more likes and more followers to create that same feeling. In short, our brains are leading us to our downfall. So, instead of trying so hard to pose for a perfect picture to show off a holiday to followers, we need to learn to live in the moment. Immerse yourself in nature for it is the biggest healer and has been known to help with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Marvel at the real world rather than getting lost in the virtual world.
Our personality develops through interactions with the people around us. We pick up skills and attributes by looking at others. We are conditioned to be morally virtuous through the lessons we learn from real life experience which leads to both our mental and spiritual development. However, these essential parts of our lives are being snatched from under our noses by these social media sites where we find ourselves more immersed in the virtual world rather than the real world. What happened to the days were children were climbing trees and playing outside together. I think my parents were lucky as their childhood was filled with temporary physical bruises rather than permanent mental bruises left by this digital age.
The only way we can break out of this vicious cycle which is leading us to sadness, is if we stop letting ourselves become victims of our screens and say no to endless hours of scrolling. I cannot say that it is entirely the fault of social media companies that we are in this crisis. They, like all companies are set to make money, it’s the way life works. However, this does not mean we sacrifice our own lives and mental well-being falling victim to their algorithms. We must learn to take a stand for ourselves and have digital detoxes when we see social media take a toll on our lives. It’s the only way we can save this world from a new mental health crisis.
コメント