Social media, it’s everywhere and used by pretty much everyone. Social media has taken over the world, but is it a good thing?

Social media has indeed been a monumental movement in the modern world, encouraging individuals to connect with one another and share life experiences with the click of a button. It can even lead us to be healthier. However, scientists everywhere are talking about the negative impact that social media has in today’s world. In this article, we are going to look at some of these negative impacts, to determine whether or not social media is good or bad for us.

Cyberbullying:

One of the most well known negative impacts of social media is the rising increase of cyberbullying. While social media encourages new friendships and connections, when put into the wrong hands, it can cause devastation to a young or older individual. Behind their keyboards, anonymously or not, cruel people can terrorize their peers and embarrassing them online. Proven to drive people to commit suicide, harm themselves, and isolate themselves from society (read more). Cyberbullying throws people into an entirely new world of online abuse. Sometimes, it’s easy to become a cyberbully ourselves, without even realizing it, as we can’t see the harm that we are causing with a single comment.

Unrealistic Expectations:

When you are browsing online, it’s easy to fall into the trap of unrealistic expectations when you are always being showered with photos of private jets and brand new cars. In the reality of things, you have no idea if any of this is true. It’s been known that some individuals pretend they are in relationships and that they live vibrant lives, when in fact they do not. These expectations can cause depression and anxiety, as individuals try to become something that they are not.

Addiction:

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thing you do? Like most individuals in today’s world, they usually roll over and check their phones to see what they have missed during their night’s sleep. Without knowing it, we are becoming addicted to life on social media. It can even alter our sleep patterns and cause us to take longer to fall asleep. When looking at the time people spend on their phones daily, the stats are only rising, to where some individuals can spend up to 4 hours a day, looking at their social media accounts.

Body Image Issues:

When looking at advertisements and influences, it is hard for you not to compare your body to the thousands of beautiful models online. It’s essential for us to remember that we are all human, and those models you see on the screen have been made up and sometimes edited to look a certain way. Many people have even taken unhealthy steps to try and create a perfect look online. However, it’s important to remember that as humans, we come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and as long as we are healthy, active individuals, we have nothing to be ashamed about.

So there you have it, social media, although addictive and fabulous, also has a hidden world of negative impacts on our wellbeing. I think overall, it is essential to remember to moderate our time on social media and remember that there is a whole world out there to see and explore. Yes, it’s great to upload photos of this world to your Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook, but always remember to put the phone down, and take in its beauty and grace.