Mental health issues affect many people at some point in their lives. In this day and age, there are many different ways to seek help and gain support for mental health issues, including social media believe it or not. Social media undoubtedly has its negative aspects, however, it can also act as a great way to connect with others who may be going through similar experiences that you are going through. Social media also helps you find helpful resources and can be a place where you feel supported. If you have never entertained the idea of social media being a benefit for your mental health, here are a few reasons why it is.
Social media can increase feelings of connectedness to others
Billions of people around the world are active on various social media platforms. If you have a social media platform/platforms, you can connect virtually to your friends, family, and strangers from all across the world. Human beings have a natural need and desire to socialize, interact and connect and social media enables this to happen effortlessly. Through social media, people can facilitate conversations and build friendships with like-minded individuals. Many friendships and even relationships develop from social media these days and it has become the most effective way to connect with friends and family members. A survey was conducted on 1000 pensioners and it was found that 7 in 10 of the respondents use the social media platform Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family. This is a great way to combat loneliness.
Social media can provide a sense of belonging
The world is full of diversity and that diversity is reflected on social media as well. If you are someone who struggles with finding a sense of belonging in the real world, you are sure to find that belonging in the virtual world. There are so many niches and communities on social media that no matter who you are or what you are interested in, you are guaranteed to find a niche or community of like-minded individuals. Social media allows people to communicate with one another whenever they desire and through this communication, a sense of belonging is produced. Many people find support and security on social media, even from strangers and it is now common for people to talk about their personal lives on social media and this includes their problems at home, in relationships, friendships, and at the workplace.
Social media can help increase self-esteem
People, especially teenagers are very likely to be affected by feedback received on social media. When the feedback is positive, self-esteem is enhanced and the reverse effect is applied with negative feedback. You have to have a strong sense of self-worth before using social media because this makes you immune to negative feedback. On the flip side, social media can be an effective self-esteem booster especially when you get positive feedback and appreciation after posting a selfie or sharing your art for example. This in turn boosts self-esteem and gives a feeling of social acceptance.
It provides a space to voice opinions on important issues
One of the most important benefits of social media is that it is a great platform for raising awareness about important issues. People use social media to make a positive impact and promote change through information sharing. Many people and organizations use social media to raise awareness about mental health issues, fundraising, corruption, and other social and political ills. Through social media, these issues can reach millions of people around the world in a matter of minutes which demonstrates how powerful this tool is.
How to use social media responsibly
When you use a specific social media platform, you must familiarize yourself with the community guidelines to ensure that the content you post does not infringe on these guidelines which can result in your account being banned, suspended, or even deactivated. If you want to operate different accounts for whatever reason, make sure you use private proxies to avoid a ban. Also use your platform to spread love, not hate, and avoid cyberbullying at all costs. Before posting videos of images of others onto your account, the responsible thing to do is to first ask their permission. Also, remember that the amount of likes you get is not your self-worth.