Do you ever compare yourself to others on social media? Do you ever wonder why the more you are on social media, the more insecure you are? In fact, in the world of new media, we are all connected, with that, it is crucial. People utilize it for many things, such as sharing pictures and videos, chatting and calling with their peers and family, generating an online business, and entertaining themselves. On the other hand, the new media is starting to dominate our lives. There are many people who are suffering from the new media, which results in depression. So, here I am going to clarify both depression and new media. Is there a link between them? Let’s find the answer, then.

What is depression 

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression can cause the people to feel bad, sad, and isolated. Also, it can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems which can distract and annoy our ability to function effectively.

 

Why am I like this? Why can’t I do this? Why, why, why?

“ Depression often feels like a powerful force sapping me of not only my hope and energy, but my motivation too. Whether it’s a creative project, plans with a friend, a blog post, or a prescription waiting for me at the store, I ruminate on how I actually can’t do the task ahead. Like a leech, my depression begins to pull any sense of confidence and ability I have out of my body until I am left feeling empty, alone, and incapable. 

Suddenly, a task becomes a giant, insurmountable feat that requires too much of me. I can’t focus. I can’t get out of bed. I can’t put my shoes on and get in my car and just do the thing. Starting is the hardest part, and depression knows this. It makes me sincerely believe that every item on my to-do list, every chore, and every project, is not in my realm of possibility. And so, I lay in my bed and wallow in the feelings”. 

There are many symptoms that can lead to depression; people should always be aware of themselves all the time because depression can occur at any age, especially in teenagers, adults, and the elderly. If you’ve read it and have one of the symptoms listed below. Be sure to make an appointment to see a psychiatrist immediately!

The symptoms:

• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

The new media is one of the main factors caused the depression today.

Is this true or not?

What is the new media

The new media is a new version of communications; it is enhanced by the technology which are more comfortable and faster than the traditional media. Also, anyone can excess to it anywhere and anytime. The new media is also considered as multimedia and digital form of communication through a mobile phones, computer, laptop, and other devices. The new media includes online platforms, websites, email, blogs, and social platforms. 

There are many advantages of the new media. Here are some of them:

Stay up to date.

You can stay in touch with news and information anytime by following up on social media. Also, you can follow our favorite artists, brands, or any services that we are interested in.

Get connected to people,family, and community anytime.

You can use social media to share pictures and stories with family and the community. In the context of community, it is essential to cultivate a sense of connection to the community as well as to meet new people who have the same goals and interests. Then, in terms of family and friends, you can use it to maintain relationships by chatting with them and sharing your most recent stories.

Learning new things

There is plenty of knowledge on the Internet. Social media allows you to learn whatever you want and know whatever you want to know. With that, there are a lot of people who use social media; thus, you can also perceive, understand, and learn some cultures, languages, and their way of life. So you can learn new skills to help you adapt to your new surroundings. 

However, social media isn’t all positive. It has its risks, including the potential to increase mental health symptoms because of overuse which will lead to depression sooner or later. 

Evidence suggests a link between social media and depression, particularly among users who spend a significant amount of time on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, are at a higher risk than those who spend less time on these platforms.  

“One reason the correlation seems more than coincidental is that an increase in depression occurred in the rise of mobile phone use”.

Why social media can contribute to depression

The social media may not be the main reason that cause depression. However, depression occur from an emotions and activities. People or users do not do anything, but scrolling a mobile phone all day which result in lack of physical movement or activity, this may be one of the factors that activate depressive symptoms. 

Does social media cause depression?

  

“What we found overall is that if you use less social media, you are actually less depressed and less lonely, meaning that the decreased social media use is what causes that qualitative shift in your well-being,” said Jordyn Young, a co-author of the paper and a senior at the University of Pennsylvania.

Social media promotes a culture of comparison. In the world of social media, the users tend to show their lives flawlessly as well as pretend that they have a good life or work without any problems. On the other hand, our lives are not perfect as the same as the people on the social media and you may begin to believe that everyone else is leading a more interesting and fulfilling life than you. This can be one of the factors that trigger feeing of inadequacy and depression. “A large study found that the people who use the most social media were up to three times more likely to develop depression over the next 6 months compared with those who used the least”.

Moreover, spending a lot of time on social media can separate you from face-to-face conversation and contact, causing you to feel lonely or reserved.

Social media can impact our mental health, and it can also worsen our ability to do activities and works. Thus, avoiding and preventing situations and behaviors that could end up with bad mental health would be the best way to reduce the chance of depression.

How to handle and avoid the social media

Turn off notifications. 

Try to mute all notification for all applications such as email, Line, and messages. Without these all notification or reminders, you can reduce and limit your time that spend on the social media. 

Focus on balance

Always make sure that you can balance times on social media and social interaction offline. Also, activities that can help you build confidence and happiness.

No phones before bedtime

Force or obligate yourself to limit your mobile phone before bedtime. Use an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you up instead. 

Keep Busy!!

There are many things to do in life. In everyday life, you can plan any activities or events that prevent you from using social media. Staying busy can help you focus on the important and prior tasks listed in your routines systematically.

 

Depression is more dangerous than you think…

If you find or detect any depressive symptoms, you should immediately meet with a psychologist because depression can even cause your life death. If you are not yet sure about how you feel or still cannot figure out whether it is depression or not, so if you’re struggling with depression caused by new media, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. click here  to check yourself. Furthermore, if you require a therapist to help you, this website can help you click here. 

Summery 

As the world becomes more and more connected, there’s no doubt that new media has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information. With that, we’re becoming increasingly vulnerable to depression. New technologies like social media can be a major source of depression. Being aware of yourself can help you prevent depression. Do not let social media control or dominate your life. Moreover, depression is a severe mental illness; it can harm your life. If you are struggling with depression, don’t wait or hesitate to talk to a doctor or therapist.