Social media is usually associated with the terms stress, depression, anxiety and other negative terminologies. The moment you type, ‘social media and mental health’, searches showing the adverse effect of it pops up.
Contrary to this belief, social media is proving to improve psychological disorders. According to a recent study conducted by the Department of Media and Information in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University, Michigan, US, getting rid of depression and anxiety has grown easier with the use of social media.
Keith Hampton, Professor of Media and Information, Michigan State University, said, “Taking a snapshot of the anxiety felt by young people today and concluding that a whole generation is at risk because of social media ignores more noteworthy social changes, such as the lingering effects of the Great Recession, the rise in single child families, older and more protective parents, more kids going to college and rising student debt.”
He further added that, most of the studies are conducted on young adults or children, however, it’s the adults or ‘more mature population’ that gets benefited by the use of social media. It provides them a platform to maintain healthy relations and gain information about most of the things. It helps an individual to stay in touch with their family and friends, which reduces the stress level.
“Today, we have these ongoing, little bits of information popping up on our cell phones and Facebook feeds, and that ongoing contact might matter for things like mental health,” Hampton said in support of the new research.
