Covid Awareness

Social Media and its Impact on the mental health of people during the lockdown

Currently, the world is fighting against a serious and contagious virus: Covid-19. It has quickly affected the lives of all individuals, be it a student, working-class citizen, or homemaker. People are going through a major lifestyle change due to the outbreak of this pandemic as their social interactions are decreasing. Since all the offices, schools, colleges, etc., are closed, there has been a huge spike in people spending time online via social media platforms. Many are trying their hands at cooking, while others are brushing up their dancing, singing, and painting skills. People are trying to cope with and adjust to this critical situation by staying as connected with others as possible and trying to make the best use of their time. Nevertheless, how is it affecting people’s mental health?

People of all age groups tend to engage on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and exchange a vast variety of information among their acquaintances. With a considerable amount of time being spent on social media, people come across a variety of information about the pandemic. From posting pictures to sharing different videos and content on social media, people influence a varied population. It is quite common to come across conflicting information on such platforms, which can be stressful and manipulative. For children, parents must keep a keen eye on their activities so that it does not cause any harm to them and others. Adults need to understand that all information provided on such platforms is not always correct and needs to be backed up by genuine research and knowledge. Sometimes, the information is true and can prove to be useful, which can help individuals take appropriate precautions against the virus. However, at times, people share inappropriate things that cantrigger anxiety and fear in individuals. For example, when the news about the markets being shut down due to the rising number of corona cases broke out among the people in different cities, people were seen panic buying and coming out on the streets in large numbers.

People need to understand and remember that social media is a platform that needs to be used wisely and cautiously as it affects the lives of many. Many individuals can be seen as forwarding messages that are unnecessary and unwarranted on Whatsapp groups. Sometimes such messages and videos turn out to be conflicting and creating a sense of discomfort in individuals. This could lead to higher levels of stress.

Social Media and children

It is quite perspicuous that gadgets fascinate children. We can see in our families that children these days have become smarter than ever. They can easily operate smartphones and hence, tend to be stubborn about using them. Moreover, since their academic classes are running online these days, they are exposed to screens for a long time throughout the day. They cannot go outside to play with friends and thus choose to spend their time on phones, watching videos on YouTube, playing games, and even logging into social media accounts.

Teenagers tend to spend more time using phones rather than sitting and talking with family members. It results in inadequate sleep and can lead to irritation. In addition to the physical symptoms, social media also affects the mental health of teenagers as well as adolescents. Researchers report that kids who spend more time online tend to be unhappier than those with limited usage. Social media can set and build standards for children that can be difficult to maintain and it affects the child’s relationship with the family.

The youth these days can be seen making different videos and posting them on platforms like Instagram and Tik-Tok. While some content is entertaining and enjoyable, others could be labeled as inappropriate, as it tends to send out the wrong message since such apps and videos address a major population of the country. Individuals have been complaining about their disturbed sleep cycle and feeling lethargic throughout the day. Being on the gadgets for most of the day could be a reason for that. Many people have reported that since they cannot go out, spending their time using phones can lead to an addiction.

The unsuitable and overuse of gadgets can also lead to physical symptoms like pain or irritation in eyes, headache, or body pain, etc. There are psychological symptoms as well, such as a difficulty in sleeping, aggression, mood swings, etc. What can be done to prevent such problems? A multi-level approach is needed, as a one-size-fits-all approach may not work. The following strategies can be adopted to prevent the overuse of gadgets.