Here's how social media is causing depression among users

It’s a boon and a bane of our generation, and the reach of social media keeps soaring higher than ever. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has engulfed many in its trap of keeping up appearances, seeking reassurance and constantly making comparisons of one’s life with others. Read on to know more...

The study

According to new research, around 20 per cent (around 6.9 million) of social media users in Britain are left depressed due to the pressure of keeping up appearances and comparing their lives with others. This has affected one in five people who use Facebook and Twitter. 

Privilege Home Insurance’s survey found that 18 per cent of people on social networks will only post a photo if they think they look attractive in it. Also, more than one in three people felt pressured to like content posted by their friends, while 22 per cent feel obligated accept friend requests from people at work. In addition to this, over one in five (23 per cent) of users between the ages of 18-34 have indulged in verbal altercations online. 

Looking at the results, Nick Harrop, a campaigns manager at YoungMinds (UK’s leading charity committed to improving mental health of children and young people), said, “Social media puts enormous pressure on young people to live their lives in the public domain, to present a personal ‘brand’ from a young age, and to seek reassurance in the form of likes and shares.” Nia Charpentier, a spokesperson at Rethink Mental Illness, commented, “We have heard from our supporters about how social media and the ‘Instagram lifestyle’, where everyone else’s life can seem perfect compared to yours, can evoke feelings of worthlessness or even panic.”

Case in point

Sahil Singh (name changed) aged 25, developed psychosis with Obsession Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as he was not able to click a perfect selfie for his display picture (DP). He might be disposed to this disorder genetically as well as other factors, but this compulsion of taking a picture and not getting enough likes for his DP triggered the psychosis and it began to affect his everyday functioning of life, recounts psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Dr Anjali Chhabria. She adds that in India, comparatively, the youth is not that liberated, having their independence constantly questioned by our culture. So there are fewer chances that they get carried away. Sure there can be drawbacks of today’s technology and its fast paced connect, but in our country it’s going to take a while to cross past the actual real socialising.

Varkha Chulani, a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Lilavati Hospital opines, “Luckily for India, internet connectivity hasn’t penetrated the interiors enough for people to be hooked on as much in tier two towns as compared to the metros and tier one towns. So does it affect people in the metros? Yes, surely. No data to support and say how many but I would guesstimate 2 out of 10, if not more. And yes, the influence is more tilting towards the unhealthy than the healthy.” 

“We are increasingly seeing cases of depression and anxiety, which is triggered by the social media platforms. The increase in these cases are seen from 2012 till now. The problem is very rampant and worrisome as people are getting more and more irrational and are unable to challenge their negative and distorted thoughts,” informs clinical psychologist and author, Seema Hingorrany.

Depression and more

Negative effects does not only include depression but anxiety, relationship conflicts and, in the worst cases, distortion in personality and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, says Hingorrany recounting, “Mostly, I see young teens getting affected by this form of depression and we call it Virtual Depression. They come with complaints of feeling low, having social media phobia, self-obsession and very high need to prove or seek approval from others on social media. Also, another co-related problem that I see is co-dependency on others for their emotions, narcissistic attitude towards life. The age group is 12 to 25 and more and present in both boys and girls.” She also sees many homemakers getting addicted to these networking sites, their depression then gets triggered by constantly comparing themselves with others, compulsive need to go for holidays and put photos on FB and Instagram or constantly stalk others and exes.

Social media and daily life

The distinct features of these social media, which attracts people to use it and make it a part of their everyday lives, that has become an aspect of its drawbacks if misused, says Dr Chhabria adding. For instance, Facebook was an invention of its kind to allow people to display their lives through photographs across the world, and it is obvious when these pictures are uploaded they are the best ones and the happiest kinds, she adds. Twitter encourages people to be verbally generous in their opinion. It gives a sense of high self-worth in expressing oneself to the world. It has become competitive and the freedom of speech literally. Snapchat too creates a pressure on having that sort of colourful life so that one can constantly click interesting pictures of self and post it.