A Study on How Social Media Promotes an Unrealistic Lifestyle

Introduction

When we consider this topic, it's evident that social networks have become integral technologies of our era. With a significant portion of the global population using social media, its prevalence is projected to keep expanding. In this essay, we delve into the advantages of employing social media for scientific purposes, investigating the potential benefits these platforms extend to both the scientific field and society at large. However, amid the positive impact, it's crucial to address the darker side of social media, including how social media promotes an unrealistic lifestyle and perpetuates misinformation.

Advantages of Social Media for Science

When we think of this topic as an essay our first instinct is yes social media has benefited society but at the same time it has allowed the spread of information that is not totally accurate to the truth. But why is it that when we think of this topic do we immediately know that we are going to have to weigh the befits with the harms? But I think the best way to do this is to start by finding out what social media is according to the Ruhani Rabin “Social media is a medium where a group of channels is present. These channels interact, share content, and collaborate. These tools affect the perception of our society directly and indirectly. Social media is considered as the fastest growing medium in the world. It would not be wrong to say that social media has a very strong impact on the human beings in the modern world.”

But I think it is now time for us to begin with what are the advantages of social media scientifically Social media networks can help spread scientific knowledge. Sharing is the very nature of these platforms it’s why they exist, so that they can help bring down barriers to what we had in the past where we couldn’t get scientific information to foster a culture of science communication between different people

They can also help make research and scientific contributions more widely available. Traditionally, scientific communities have been “gated”, but social media can contribute to making important documents and messages of scientific value and make it easily access to more people. As an effect, this can generate curiosity and or a deeper appreciation for the contributions that science has made and can made to society at large by just scrolling through your social media feed

Last but not least, science itself can have a stronger online profile in the public thanks to social networks.by allowing this we are able to add credibility to the wealth of information generated in the public sphere whilst trying to counter the effects of fake news or unproven claims with solid scientific research, and generate public debate about issues that are of utmost importance for society as a whole. Which lead to us as the public going and actually checking if the information that we have gotten if it is accurate trust worthy.

Social Media Promotes Fake News

Although after this you may think that social media is a brilliant tool that allows us to access information easier in reality almost 70% of everything we see is false information. False information is not new, however it has become a hot topic since 2017with Donald J Trump using the now famous statement “Fake News.” Traditionally we got our news from trusted sources, journalists and media outlets that are required to follow strict codes of practice. However the use of social media has enabled a whole new way to publish, share and consume information and news with very little regulation or editorial standards. Many people now get news from social media sites and networks and often it can be difficult to tell whether stories are credible or not. Social media sites can play a big part in increasing the reach of these type of stories.

Psychological Impact of Social Media

Now we see that not all of what we see on social media is accurate and I wish I could say that the bad news ends there but sadly it doesn’t social media creates a platform where everyone tries to portray a perfect lifestyle and in reality this lifestyle that people are looking for doesn’t exist and forces people to feel like they are different from society and how they feel useless and eventually become depressed.

A new study has found that Individuals who engage in social media, gaming, texting, cell phones, etc., are more likely to have depression and anxiety. The study conducted by psychologist Dr. Mark Becker, of Michigan State University, found a 70% increase in self-reported depressive symptoms among the group using social media and a 42% increase in social depression, anxiety, and ultimately stress. It is obviously shown here that excessive usage on social media leads to some pretty devastating results

The second way social media causes depression anxiety is from the stress produced from constantly trying to project an unrealistic and unachievable perception of yourself and your life and how everything is too perfection within your social network. The social anxiety of stress is associated with trying to project a perfect self at all times. The constant stress from constantly trying to project an image of perfection, a perfect family, perfect relationship , etc. leads to the constant release of the stress hormone called cortisol, and just like social media usage, leads to depression anxiety. The constant release of the stress hormone cortisol, from heavy social media usage, over time causes damage to your gastrointestinal tract, which opens the door to a response in the body and brain, leading to anxiety Clearly excessive social media usage leaves one prone to be at a higher risk of Stress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social media is a double-edged sword, wielding immense potential for both constructive change and detrimental consequences. Harnessing its advantages for science communication and societal engagement is essential, but a vigilant approach is necessary to curtail the rampant spread of misinformation. Moreover, individuals must recognize the boundaries of curated online personas, prioritizing mental well-being over the pressure to maintain an illusion of perfection. As we navigate the digital landscape, society must strike a balance between utilizing the power of social media and safeguarding its members from its potential harm.

Works Cited

1. Rabin, Ruhani. 'Social Media - Impact on Society.' International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, vol. 2, no. 5, May 2012.

2. Subrahmanyam, K., and Smahel, D. 'Digital Youth: The Role of Media in Development.' Springer, 2011.

3. Kim, J., and Lee, J.R. 'The Facebook Paths to Happiness: Effects of the Number of Facebook Friends and Self-Presentation on Subjective Well-Being.' Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, vol. 14, no. 6, 2011.

4. Manago, Adriana M., et al. 'The Appeal of Social Networking Sites: Investigating the Role of Pre-Retail Entertainment and Hedonism.' Journal of Interactive Advertising, vol. 14, no. 2, 2014.

5. Hobbs, William R., et al. 'Digital Epidemiology.' PLoS ONE, vol. 11, no. 2, 2016.

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6. Becker, Mark W. 'Depressed and Anxious Individuals More Likely to Use Mobile Phones While Driving.' Society for Research in Child Development, 2017