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5 negative impacts of social media and how to avoid them



Experts tips on how to enjoy social media without the negativity

Negative impacts of social media


In 2021, the use of social media grew by 5% compared to 2020. Today, there are 3.78 billion social media users worldwide.

These ever-growing numbers of users don’t only discover the perks of social media but also experience its negative aspects. Here are the 5 most often experienced negative effects on mental health:

Feeling inadequate about yourself. Most people don’t share their low moments on social media. They share the highlights: vacations, new purchases, promotions, and other special moments. They don’t post when they lounge around in an old tracksuit, are sick, or have a large pimple on their forehead. Also, most of the images are manipulated. But even if we know that this is not people’s everyday life, seeing everyone around us doing so well makes us feel inadequate, jealous, or upset.

Depression and anxiety. Comparing yourself to others may lead to a lot of negative emotions, including inadequacy, anxiety, or worse. According to makeuseof.com, chronic social media users are more likely to report poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Fear of missing out (FOMO). This phenomenon was first identified back in 1996, but its prominence increased with the arrival of social media. FOMO refers to the feeling that others are having a better time and living better lives. It’s accompanied by jealousy and envy, as well as affects the person’s self-esteem.

General addiction. Like cigarettes or alcohol, social media is very addictive. Many social media users check their accounts infinite times a day, without even realizing it. The apps are also designed to be addictive. The endless scroll, ever-changing content, and notifications instantly draw us in.  

Cyberbullying. According to helpguide.org, about 10% of teens report being bullied on social media, and many other users are subjected to offensive comments. And we could only guess how many instances of cyberbullying go unreported.  

READ MORE: 5 ways to nix cyber bullies

What can be done?

How can we make social media less damaging and more fun? Chad Hammond, cybersecurity expert at NordPass shares his top tips:

1. Stay mindful. Remember that social media doesn’t necessarily lie to you, but it doesn't give you the whole truth.

2. You can create a better experience for yourself online. You are completely in charge of who you follow. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable and insecure, unfollow them or hide them from your feed.

3. Get rid of instant notifications. Go to Instagram or Facebook every few hours if you need to, but don’t have the notifications popping up on your screen.

4. If you choose to stay on social media, don’t forget cybersecurity. Losing a password or falling victim to a data breach can be immensely stressful. 

ABOUT NORDPASS

NordPass is a password manager powered by the latest technology for the utmost security. Developed with affordability, simplicity, and ease-of-use in mind, NordPass allows users to access passwords securely on desktop, mobile, and browsers. All passwords are encrypted on the device, so only the user can access them. NordPass was created by the experts behind NordVPN — the advanced security and privacy app trusted by more than 14 million customers worldwide. For more information: nordpass.com.




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