Social Media's Effect on Mental Health

There are many causes of mental health problems, but the biggest problem plaguing people in recent years is the expansion of social media. While social media might not be the only issue, it still has very negative effects when used incorrectly. This is especially true for young people who are often very impressionable. Mental health issues have been rising at an alarming rate and it's no coincidence that the rise of mental illness is happening during the advancement of technology and the growing influence of social media. When we get into the science of social media and mental health, we can see that getting likes or retweets online can cause the release of oxytocin and dopamine from the brain. Oxytocin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that are released inside the brain to make people happy. They are often referred to as "love chemicals" because they are usually released during sex. However, these chemicals can also be secreted through the use of drugs, alcohol, and now even social media. This can be dangerous because people can become addicted to social media. This addiction can lead to a downward spiral where if a person post something that gains little to no recognition, their self esteem goes down, leading to depression and unfortunately suicide. Thankfully, not everybody who uses social media falls into such a deep hole. Mental health awareness and being knowledgeable about how social media can effect people can potentially change the way people use social media. Social media is a tool and it is not inherently dangerous so if people use the tool in a correct manner it can prove to be great device that can connect people from all over the world.