The Social Media Double-Edged Sword: Navigating its Impact on Mental Health
Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 9:19 pm
Social media has changed the way we interact or share information with others. It is, however, worthy of note that its impacts can be positive or negative. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide us with the opportunity to build relationship with communities that can help kill boredom and loneliness. We can share our own experiences or benefit from the experiences others share with us.
However, the excessive use of social media has been blamed for anxiety, depression, low self esteem and, in some cases, suicide. Cyberbullying and online harassment have caused serious mental issues for a lot of people. Again, some people set unrealistic targets for themselves owing to the fake lifestyle being exhibited by their online friends. I am of the opinion that there must be a deliberate effort to limit screen time and boundaries must be set. It's not everything we share online. We must also create time to interact with people physically. By protecting ourselves, we promote our mental health and foster healthier online interactions.
However, the excessive use of social media has been blamed for anxiety, depression, low self esteem and, in some cases, suicide. Cyberbullying and online harassment have caused serious mental issues for a lot of people. Again, some people set unrealistic targets for themselves owing to the fake lifestyle being exhibited by their online friends. I am of the opinion that there must be a deliberate effort to limit screen time and boundaries must be set. It's not everything we share online. We must also create time to interact with people physically. By protecting ourselves, we promote our mental health and foster healthier online interactions.