#cybercare? Can social media actually be good for your mental health?

In the sea of likes, shares, and retweets, can social media enhance our mental health? Can these social platforms actually be harnessed for good ? According to the Verywell Mind Blog, there are  4 Ways Social Media Can Actually Be Good for Your Mental Health. In the words of Dr. Cynthia Vinney, Ph.D., social networks are not at all detrimental to mental health, they have positive effects if used consciously such as fighting loneliness and increasing the sense of belonging.

In a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, those platforms provided individuals a way to feel connected and entertained when stress was high. Research by Zsila and Reyes (2023) confirms this, explaining that participation in positive online communities can help decrease anxiety through supportive spaces we may not be able to access offline. According to certified professional and transformational coach, Kamini Wood, social media gives users a space to feel supported and seen. Social media can "amplify your voice, allowing you to share your story, advocate for causes you care about, and make your voice heard.

How can social media be bad though?

Let’s be real, scrolling on a digital screen all day is not only bad for our eyes, but it's also not so great for your brain. There are serious negative mental side effects of social media that cannot be ignored. First, social media platforms are designed to be addictive. For example, notification features and infinite scrolling encourage prolonged use. Also, those thumbs and hearts we use to show "love" have not only gamified our interactions, but they've become measures of self-worth.

As a result, users in this cycle may compare their own lives to others' (often heavily edited ) posts, ultimately leading to low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy.  As users begin to rely on these online interactions as a form of validation, this can lead to higher levels of anxiety and depression (Zsila and Reyes, 2023). This dependence can result in social media addiction, where users seek social support from others on the platform. The constant pressure to keep up conversations and reply to updates can lead to overstimulation and fatigue.

While the platforms provide connections, they also induce stress due to information overload and social expectations. This can exacerbate self-esteem issues, as users compare themselves to what they see on sites like Instagram. The invasive news feed and the curated explore pages also affect our understanding of what the "standard" for beauty and lifestyle should be. The constant pressure to meet these set standards can impose serious psychological stress. The user is left to try and achieve a life that is not necessarily attainable, consequently, leading to a cycle of unrealistic expectations and perpetual dissatisfaction.

So, is social media good for your mental health?

The answer lies in balance. Experts like Dr. Vinney believe that it's possible to harness the benefits of social media and avoid the pitfalls by setting boundaries and being keen when using the sites. Using social media can be beneficial and manageable only if a person sets proper boundaries—like spending less time on social media and trying to curate their feeds with positive content.

With our attention spans decreasing through social media use, understanding how these interfaces should be used appropriately is crucial for our time. Everyone should make conscious decisions about the kind of content they create and with which they engage so the internet improves our psychological health instead of worsening it.

References

Zsila, Á., & Reyes, M. E. S. (2023). Pros & cons: Impacts of social media on mental health. BMC Psychology, 11(201). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01243-x

#socialmedia #mentalhealth

A quick tea- The algorithm is creating Barbies

Although I love analyzing internet culture, I also enjoy using it to explore my creative side online. A few months ago, I started a new Instagram profile to share images of my outfits, outings, and jewelry-making hobby. At first, I loved expressing myself in a way I was too shy to on my main page. I felt putting myself out there in this different way would feel too personal among friends on my main feed. I also wanted to keep my profile private for my family.

Starting a new profile can be lonely, especially when you have no followers or likes. I quickly realized that if I wanted engagement, I needed to align my content with other users. So I started using these creators' posts as templates. I figured this could help me attract more followers since it was the type of content they were already following. But soon, I noticed something common among these posts. Multiple women were dressed the same, with identical poses and accessories. The algorithm was creating a feedback loop that erased diversity from my feed. And not only that , but i had unknowlingly become a part of it again.

"Algorithms force creators to conform to platform-promoted standards to gain exposure within the app, as like-minded users are more likely to engage with content that aligns with these norms"

In an effort to connect and find my community , I had become a member of an explore page cult, stuck with other women I didn't know but somehow dressing in the same uniform as. Although Instagram's explore page, led me to discover move content, it trapped me down  Although Instagram's explore page led me to discover more content, it also trapped me down a path shaped by algorithmic selection.

Algorithms force creators to conform to platform-promoted standards to gain exposure within the app, as like-minded users are more likely to engage with content that aligns with these norms. This cycle of conformity boosts engagement, drawing more visibility and favor within the algorithm, while also reinforcing a particular aesthetic that becomes increasingly difficult to deviate from. Highfield and Leaver (2016) call it a 'digital echo chamber' where even hashtags like #BlackGirlMagic can homogenize a group. Instagram's Explore page increases echo chambers by promoting these similarities but consequently it can leave creators with no choice but to adapt to the platfroms process.

#socialmedia #digitalself #algorithms

References

Highfield, T., & Leaver, T. (2016). Instagrammatics and digital methods: Studying visual social media, from selfies and GIFs to memes and emoji. Communication Research and Practice, 2(1), 47-62.

Curated Code- The Work of Algorithms

Image : Vanessa Shepherd & @aestheticdstudio (Canva)

Over the last two years, many of my friends and family have become more concerned with the invasion of artificial intelligence in their lives due to the public’s sudden knowledge of software like OpenAI. OpenAI, is an artificial intelligence software that assists users with writing task or advice. The concern is that one day this technology will make all the decisions for us. Interestingly enough, this is already happening every single day.

Every click, search, and like that we make on the Internet or social media contributes to a larger curation of our time on the web. For example, digital algorithms are embedded into almost every digital application we use today. They are working continuously behind the screens, to make the time we spend online more personalised. Digitized algorithms are problem solvers; that determine and predict our needs.

For instance, let’s go through the best of algorithms and what they are curating for you:

 1. Theres no need to search too long. 75% of users never scroll past the first page of Google search results

2. Social media algorithms  keep you entertained. Meta’s algorithm (Facebook and Instagram) prioritizes posts that generate high engagement by likes comments and shares.  

3. Netflix algorithms recommend videos and even create content based for you 

However, even if we get all the information, we believe we need from Google, Facebook, or Netflix in 60 seconds, it’s not without its faults. We run the risk of having information that is biased to our own perspectives and placing us in an echo chamber of limited perspectives and reinforced ideals. Second, not all algorithms are created equal; they have their blind spots, often stemming from human prejudice.  Moreover, the content being pushed to us may be influenced by those who have a financial stake in the web-based service. Or the content being pushed can stem from the need for more profit and engagement.

According to Frances Haugen, a former product manager at Facebook’s algorithms often prioritize content that incites strong emotions to boost engagement and user retention; This be very detrimental if the content comes at the cost of exploiting people.

As algorithms are just one of many tools curating our experience on and offline, it is important we have more transparency on where and how they work. As you read this blog, you will come to learn how numerous digital tools are affecting our lives and changing our experiences in significant ways. And I encourage you to continue being vigilant of what your time online is doing to you.

#algorithms #curatedrealitea #machinelearning