Social media has changed the way we live, the way we feel, and even the way we wake up. People used to wake up to the buzz of an alarm, which they would reach over and tap on the snooze button. Now traditional alarm clocks have been replaced by cell phone alarms, which you swipe to get rid of and then get on Facebook or Twitter to see what’s going on. It’s something that is part of our everyday lives, but how does social media affect your mental health?
Social media was designed so that people could communicate, share ideas, photos, and connect with people in their circles. Now, people accept just about anyone because if you don’t have a lot of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter, then you’re not popular. Even worse, people post rude and offensive comments to see how many people give them likes or share their status. It’s a frightening world that we live in and unfortunately the fast-paced social media world has no stop, especially when people can go viral and become Internet sensations overnight.
A study by the University of Pittsburg surveyed 1,787 American adults on how much time they spend on social media to determine their risk for depression. On average they spend a little over an hour (61 minutes) on at least one form of social media during the day. Researchers found that the more time they spend on social media, the greater their risk for feeling depressed.
