Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health?

"90% of 18- to 29-year-olds are on social media. We spend on average two hours a day there" (TEDx Talks, 2017).

In researching articles and videos that explicitly speak about technology and how it has changed the work of communicators and influenced the training they need, I stumbled across this TED Talk video by social media expert Bailey Parnell. While this video does not focus solely on the evolution of the work a communicator has to do as a result of technology, it took a look at a different point of view. It highlights ways professional communicators and society as a whole can prevent mass media such as social media from deeply impacting our mental health.

I am guilty of scrolling obsessively and opening and closing the app checking to see if I have any new likes or comments. I am also guilty of taking down my posts if they did not receive the number of likes I was expecting. However, these are "the unintended consequences social media is having on our mental health" (TEDx Talks, 2017). This is how technology has influenced society, and so as professional communicators, it is our job not to make matters worse. I thought it was interesting that Parnell included four common stressors that she has studied and seen on social media over the span of her career. 

Those 4 Common Stressors on Social Media include:

1. The Highlight Reel
2. Social Currency
3. Fear of Missing Out
4. Online Harassment

All of which, if left unchecked can result in serious mental health issues. As professional communicators, it is important to be mindful of what we are posting online on sharing onto our organization's social media pages. Parnell believes that we all can help prevent social media from hurting our mental health if we practice 'safe social.' "Social media is neither good nor bad. It's just the most recent tool we use to do what we have always done: tell stories and communicate with each other" (TEDx Talks, 2017).

References

TEDx Talks. (2017, June 22). Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health? [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Czg_9C7gw0o