Social media is a ubiquitous and influential phenomenon in today’s digitally connected world. Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, shaping the way we interact and engage with each other. As a form of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content, it must be an interesting question to pose as to when social media was invented. Was it invented, or did the technology evolve? Social media’s origins can be traced back to the traditional forms of written communication, such as hand-delivered letters, after which the telegraph service took over. Two important discoveries—the telephone and the radio—enabled people to communicate across great distances almost instantly. All these developments took place before the 1900s.
In the early decades of the 20th century, the invention of the first supercomputers allowed scientists and engineers to develop networks between those computers, which later led to the birth of the Internet and the World Wide Web. With inventions and innovations over the decades, the 1980s saw the growing commonality of personal computers, which eventually led to the more sophisticated growth of social media. Before the end of the century, social media, as we know it today, began to take shape. The first social media platform, Six Degrees, was launched in 1997. It enabled users to upload a profile and make friends with other users; this concept quickly grew in popularity. A host of competitors, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, rushed to join the fray, leading to rapid growth. These sites remain some of the most popular social media sites today.
At present, with affordable smartphones and cheap internet connections, the usage of social media by people around the globe has grown rapidly. The availability of smartphones and other digital communication means meant that social media platforms were in the palms of users’ hands at any time and practically anywhere. This creates an environment where users can reach a maximum number of people by avoiding face-to-face interactions. This fast-paced development, however, has done considerable damage to the present-day social environment and has undoubtedly affected the mental health of many. Multiple studies have shown a strong link between heavy social media usage and an increased risk of depression and anxiety.
In today’s world, many of us rely on social media sites such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Messenger to connect and create bonds with others. Human beings, being social creatures, strive for connections and companionship to grow in life. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, boost self-worth, and provide comfort and joy. However, it is important to emphasise that social media can never be a replacement for real-world human connections. And ironically enough, a technology that is designed to bring people together, if not used wisely, can have a negative impact on the mental health of the individual, resulting in feelings of loneliness and exacerbated mental health problems such as depression.
There’s a shred of growing evidence to suggest that some individuals can develop a dependency on social media that’s like an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Although there are no clinical diagnostic criteria for social media addiction, if an individual excessively or compulsively uses social media platforms to improve their mood, that’s a key symptom of addiction, which may suggest dependency. For some social media users, engaging with platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram can trigger a release of dopamine in the brain when receiving likes, retweets, or notifications. Although this might feel wonderful, it can also reinforce the need to constantly seek these rewards and potentially lead to issues such as ignoring real-life relationships and jeopardising one’s physical health. Additionally, using social networking sites as a coping mechanism to alleviate stress, loneliness, or depression could be a cause for concern.
The human need to belong is an innate drive that dictates much of our behaviour. The fear of missing out (FoMO) is positively associated with social media intensity but negatively associated with social connection. Though FOMO, in some cases, might be a good thing, leading to enhanced social connection, Recent studies have shown that FOMO can lead to individuals becoming extremely dissatisfied with their lives, which is associated with feelings of loneliness, inferiority, and depression.
Cyberbullying can take place on social media, messaging platforms, gaming platforms, and mobile phones. Spreading lies about or posting embarrassing photos and videos of someone on social media, impersonating someone, sending abusive threats, etc. fall under the purview of cyberbullying. The IT Act of 2000 (in India) is an effort to stop cyberbullying and online scams.
Social media can expose users to hundreds or even thousands of images of people, celebrities, and influencers, most of which are heavily edited. This exposure to the edited version of the images by people, especially teenagers, leads to an internalisation of beauty ideals that are unattainable for almost everyone, resulting in greater dissatisfaction with body weight and shape, which in turn leads to eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
There is no doubt that social media is beneficial if used wisely. It has advantages as well as disadvantages. Additionally, it has a tremendous impact on our focus. And focus is what is needed when it comes to time management. So it is very important to use social media carefully and find balance in our lives. Rather than jumping from one platform to another, we must become aware of the purpose of the platform for which we’re there. Scheduling a time to be active on those platforms without hindering day-to-day activities is how a healthy boundary can be set between online and offline life.
Verifying information before sharing or acting on it is another responsibility that comes with the handling of a social media account. In the present time, the humongous amount of fake news that keeps circulating across social media platforms is ridiculous. It is very important to create a positive online presence and positive communities. Social media is truly a boon if used properly.