Sure, social media is a great tool to connect with your friends and family all over the world, meet new people and learn new things but did you know that it can also trigger depression?
According to a survey that was conducted among adults aged 19-32, researchers found that people who used social media were more likely to be depressed than those who use social media less.
You might be unaware, but here are a few ways Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat can make you feel depressed.
FOMO
Experts say that the fear of missing out (FOMO) experienced on social media elevates anxiety and depression among teenagers. It’s a desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing. For instance, a teenager feels depressed and sometimes mad at their parents when she sees photos of her friends out in the club while she’s stuck at home.
Jealousy
When you see updates on your friends’ happy and successful lives, you feel jealous and depressed because you have less rewarding experiences than them. But when you think about it, of course users will post only the good stuff. How sure are you that they are really happy with their lives? So don’t let those trip you up. Instead, think about your own blessings and work hard to reach your own success in life. Make it a motivation and a source of inspiration instead of something to make you feel envious.
Low Self-Esteem
On Social Media, you’ll see a lot of posts from your friends or celebrities showing their beautiful faces, sexy bodies, nice clothes, successful careers and more which can sometimes wreck your self-esteem and make you feel depressed. If you feel like your self-worth is affected by these types of posts or users, help yourself by clicking the “unfollow” button.
