Social media inescapable, detrimental to mental health

Social media is an integral part of modern life. With its ubiquity come both pros and cons. On one hand, it has the ability to connect family and friends from different corners of the world. On the other, it creates the incessant exposure to information, both good and bad. This constant barrage of information, especially negative or contrary to one’s world view, can lead to negative consequences.

Speaking at the 10^th Malaysian Hybrid Conference on Healthy Ageing, Professor Dr Philip George, consultant psychiatrist and addiction specialist, discussed the various ways social media is impacting mental health at present. Philip noted that with controlled use, social media can be a great tool for communication, serve as a platform for news, and may help businesses grow. Conversely, excessive or problematic use of social media will affect individuals during their childhood and adolescence. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017 (NHMS 2017) reported that two in seven children are addicted to the Internet. 

Excessive social media use is linked to various negative outcomes, including depression, memory deficits, and reduction in neural plasticity. Frequent social media users are also likely to be drawn into an environment where they draw comparisons with online personalities, leading to an unhealthy and unrealistic expectation of body, wealth, and achievements—ultimately leading to low self-esteem and social anxiety disorder.  

Among youths, cyberbullying is a worrying trend. In Malaysia, 62 percent of youths experienced cyberbullying in the form of being sent rude, offensive, or pornographic material. Some were given hurtful nicknames, mocked or had malicious rumours spread about them. Another form of bullying comes from ignoring or boycotting a member in a chat group. Victims of cyberbullying are at a higher risk of suicide, depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness. They may resort to substance abuse, aggression or develop risky sexual behaviour.
 
How do I know if social media is affecting my mental health?
Philip listed some tell-tale signs of mental health issues related to social media use. These include distraction from work, using it to escape from “bad” emotions; being trolled or cyberbullied; spending more time online than with friends and family; and increased feeling of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

While the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) does not include addictions related to social media, Philip said it was proposed that social media anxiety disorder be included as a form of mental disorder. Characteristics of those with this disorder include stopping to check social media in the middle of a conversation, spending more than 6 hours a day using social media, lying about the time spent on social media, neglecting or losing interest in school, work and favourite activities; experiencing severe nervousness, anxiety or withdrawal symptoms when unable to check social media, and having an overwhelming desire to share on social media feeds. 

Fake news is detrimental to health
Philip also touched upon the topic of fake news and its proliferation. He said the widespread nature of fake news has direct consequences for public health as it fuels panic among people and discredits the scientific community in the eyes of the public opinion. Some recent fake news that led to dire consequences include one that said consumption of pure alcohol, methanol in particular, could eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body, and led to almost 800 deaths in Iran. [Alcohol 2020;87:25–27]

In the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, the younger population (16–29 years old) were better at distilling news from social media than those above 60, who could not reliably determine the trustworthiness of online news and were prone to “viral” it. Current research shows that individuals above 65 shared up to seven times more unverified (or fake) information compared to other age groups, to feel useful, active, and connected.

The negative effects of social media manifest in the form of fatigue, anguish, and psychological distress. Furthermore, affected persons are more likely to develop anxiety-related symptoms. On a more realistic front, misinformation fueled by fake news can lead to physical harassment and violent attacks against healthcare professionals, and in the case of COVID-19, attacks against people of Asian origin.

Cyber999 is a national 24-hour hotline for reporting Internet-related abuse. They can be contacted at 1-300-88-2999 or 019-266 5850 or through the Cyber999 app. Scan the QR code to access the Cyber999 website.