Introduction
In the past 25 years, there has been a 70% increase in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among youth (Keles et al., 2019). With the ever-changing societal, personal, and professional needs and demands, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are on the rise with around 280 million people suffering from depression (WHO, 2023). Research has shown that adolescent development can have severe consequences due to depression and anxiety. This can lead to a decreased level of educational attainment, decline in social interactions, school dropouts, increase in mental health issues, and risk of suicide (Keles et al., 2019). Social media is quickly becoming one of the major causes of the notable surge in depression and anxiety among Indian youth. Data analysis shows that more than 80% of the time on the Internet is spent on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. (Patterns of Internet Usage among Youths in India.pdf, n.d.). While the benefits of the advent of the digital era are undeniable, it is necessary to address the mental health concerns that accompany it.
But why is the youth so attracted to social media?
One of the major reasons for this is the aversion to any form of boredom. As seen in the study conducted by Eduljee et al. (2021), most Indian college students who participated in their study tended to access social media such as WhatsApp and Instagram the instant they felt bored. According to the self-awareness theory, humans often find it unpleasant when they are alone with their thoughts and emotions as self-reflection can drag us deep into the state of cognitive dissonance. Thus, one tends to spend an unhealthy amount of time on social media, which keeps the mind occupied with unproductive activities. Another factor is the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins upon receiving ‘likes’ and positive comments. This prolongs the time spent on social media, as individuals are driven by the rewards from the dopaminergic pathway, leading to an endless loop of increased usage of social media (Vishwakarma, 2022). ‘FOMO’ or the ‘fear of missing out’ is another aspect that draws people to social media. What was once a convenient way of staying updated about friends and family has quickly become an addicting force that compels the youth to keep checking stories and reels posted by others to avoid 'missing out’ on every little detail of their lives.
Social Media and Sleep
The ‘fear of missing out’ drives the youth to stay attached to their digital devices, and this combined with the addictive nature of micro-content such as reels, YouTube shorts and the autoplay feature makes it very challenging for a person to pull away from the stream of unending content. The users tend to keep scrolling through reels until the wee hours of the morning, completely ruining their sleep schedules in the process. This disruption of the sleep schedule due to this endless scrolling has a profound impact on an individual’s mental health. A study found a significant relationship between the usage of social media at night to reduced sleep duration, poor sleep quality and increased feeling of sleepiness during daytime (Carter et al., 2016). This reduction in quality of sleep and heightened sleepiness is accompanied by a decline in productivity, which can affect one's self-efficacy and in turn lead to low moods and, therefore, depression. Disruptions in the sleeping cycle of an individual can also affect concentration, which may be further worsened by the excessive use of social media.
Social Media and Attention
This rapid increase in consumption of micro-content, which consists of reels and shorts that are merely a few seconds long, has led to a decrease in the attention span of the youth. As the duration of the media consumed becomes shorter and shorter, so does the attention span. With growing impatience and problems in concentration, the number of real-life social interactions has gone down significantly. In today’s time, the youth prefers to spend more time on social media scrolling through reels than interacting with others and voicing their opinions, thoughts and feelings. This decrease in the quality of social interactions leads to a perception of isolation and loneliness. This may act as a double-edged sword where individuals tend to resort to social media usage when they feel lonely or isolated and then isolate themselves from meaningful social interactions (Keles et al., 2019). Due to the decrease in attentiveness, the youth population is facing problems with academic performance, absenteeism, addiction, etc. This may result in increased feelings of hopelessness, lack of motivation, and alienation.
Social Comparision
Additionally, reels and shorts on social media tend to create a hyperbolic version of the real world by constructing unrealistic online images in general about relationships, beauty standards, social norms, and more. As explained by social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954), people tend to compare themselves to others to assess their opinions and abilities. This can lead to people having a negative image and feelings as people tend to compare themselves to others and judge their worth based on these unrealistic images. The social and beauty standards set by such reels play a major role in social comparisons and feelings of worthlessness or “not being good enough”. Reels only show the positive and the happy side of the world purely disregarding the negative aspects. These comparisons can increase anxiety and depression, and lead to lowered self-esteem, isolation, and feelings of emptiness.
Interventions
The use of social media has significant negative impacts on the mental health of Indian youth. While social media has become an inseparable part of every individual’s life, certain measures can be taken to reduce its negative effects on mental health:
Taking regular breaks and social media detoxes.
Ensuring that social media is not the only form of social interaction. Maintaining a strong social circle and spending quality time with them face-to-face without the interruption of social media.
Engaging in productive activities outside of social media, such as picking up new hobbies (as a form of interaction with other people) and learning new skills to counter boredom.
Taking time out for oneself through introspection and self-care, either by practicing mindfulness, journaling, going on walks, etc.
Sticking to a regular fitness regime
Travelling, exploring new places and meeting new people.
Volunteering and community service are also great ways to spend quality time with people from the same community and also increase self-esteem.
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