Is social media actually good for your health?
| Jun 28, 2019, 11:18 IST
It's no secret that in today's time people are pretty much addicted to social media. There are multiple apps that give you different kinds of information and honestly at this point, we're sure that everyone has at least one of these apps installed on their phones. But more often than not we've been told that being glued to social media is bad for our mental health. We've even been told that it could lead to depression and anxiety. However, a new study claims that social media can do quite the opposite to your mental health.
As per the new study, social media can actually be good for your mental health. Previous researchers have claimed that social media can ruin a person's overall mental well-being. However, media professor Keith Hampton from the Michigan State University says that all these previous studies failed to “isolate new tech from youth.”
“Taking a snapshot of anxiety felt by young people today and concluding that a whole generation is at risk because of social media ignores more noteworthy social changes,” says Hampton. The professor studied data on more than 13,000 adult relationships from a 2015 and 2016 household survey in which there were questions relating to communication technologies and psychological distress.
The results Hampton found, directly contradict the statements made by previous researchers claiming that social media can ruin overall mental wellbeing. As per the results, social media users were 63% less likely to experience serious psychological distress including depression and anxiety. In fact, people who had family members with good mental health faced even fewer mental issues.
“Today, we have these ongoing, little bits of information popping up on our cellphones and Facebook feeds — and that ongoing contact might matter for things like mental health,” Hampton says. Well, whether or not the professor is right, it's always important to remember that everything must be done in moderation. So, even if you're an avid social media user, know when to put your phone down. Stay tuned for more updates.
As per the new study, social media can actually be good for your mental health. Previous researchers have claimed that social media can ruin a person's overall mental well-being. However, media professor Keith Hampton from the Michigan State University says that all these previous studies failed to “isolate new tech from youth.”
“Taking a snapshot of anxiety felt by young people today and concluding that a whole generation is at risk because of social media ignores more noteworthy social changes,” says Hampton. The professor studied data on more than 13,000 adult relationships from a 2015 and 2016 household survey in which there were questions relating to communication technologies and psychological distress.
The results Hampton found, directly contradict the statements made by previous researchers claiming that social media can ruin overall mental wellbeing. As per the results, social media users were 63% less likely to experience serious psychological distress including depression and anxiety. In fact, people who had family members with good mental health faced even fewer mental issues.
“Today, we have these ongoing, little bits of information popping up on our cellphones and Facebook feeds — and that ongoing contact might matter for things like mental health,” Hampton says. Well, whether or not the professor is right, it's always important to remember that everything must be done in moderation. So, even if you're an avid social media user, know when to put your phone down. Stay tuned for more updates.