Social Media May Cause or Contribute to Depression
Lisa Mason
Lisa Mason, Yahoo Contributor Network
Jul 26, 2011
MORE:Online CommunityTeen DepressionSocial Media Sites
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Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace continue to increase everyday as more and more people sign up for new accounts. Social networking sites can be a great place to meet other people, find business partners and stay connected with friends and family. Therefore, it's no wonder this type of technology is so popular. However, there is a downside to being part of an online community. Some studies have shown that social networking sites can create the perfect environment for depression in some people.
For starters, when you're sitting at home on your computer, …show more content…
It's a lot of pressure for someone who wants to fit in and be popular when you know that everyone is watching and waiting to see what you'll post next.
Just like in real life, when things don't go well in the online community, depression can take over. In fact, the need to fit in and be popular can be even stronger when you know so many people can see your profile. Many people don't even realize that being online and interacting with these social media sites is the reason for their depression. They begin to look for things in their everyday life to blame for all the negative feelings they're going through and this can cause even more problems.
To avoid becoming a victim of social media depression, take a step back and log off once in awhile. Get out and enjoy some real life activity such as participating in sports or go see a movie with friends. There's nothing wrong with being a part of an online community. In fact, it can be lots of fun and very entertaining as long as you find a healthy balance between your online activity and real life
Lisa Mason
Lisa Mason, Yahoo Contributor Network
Jul 26, 2011
MORE:Online CommunityTeen DepressionSocial Media Sites
FlagPost a comment
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace continue to increase everyday as more and more people sign up for new accounts. Social networking sites can be a great place to meet other people, find business partners and stay connected with friends and family. Therefore, it's no wonder this type of technology is so popular. However, there is a downside to being part of an online community. Some studies have shown that social networking sites can create the perfect environment for depression in some people.
For starters, when you're sitting at home on your computer, …show more content…
It's a lot of pressure for someone who wants to fit in and be popular when you know that everyone is watching and waiting to see what you'll post next.
Just like in real life, when things don't go well in the online community, depression can take over. In fact, the need to fit in and be popular can be even stronger when you know so many people can see your profile. Many people don't even realize that being online and interacting with these social media sites is the reason for their depression. They begin to look for things in their everyday life to blame for all the negative feelings they're going through and this can cause even more problems.
To avoid becoming a victim of social media depression, take a step back and log off once in awhile. Get out and enjoy some real life activity such as participating in sports or go see a movie with friends. There's nothing wrong with being a part of an online community. In fact, it can be lots of fun and very entertaining as long as you find a healthy balance between your online activity and real life