The Great Flood: Being washed away by the mindless consumption of social media

A single, typical rainstorm is unlikely to alter a region’s geology. But days of relentless storms can erode mountains, make rivers rage, and permanently and dramatically reshape the landscape.

The same can be said of social media’s impact on people’s beliefs, emotions and mental health. Fortunately, unlike the weather — and regardless of what some people in the younger generations may think — exposure to social media is a choice. Not tweeting or Instagramming, or failing to keep up with the latest manufactured “controversies” or meaningless celebrity news has never made anyone’s life worse.

As of March 2022, the daily social media use of the average American was 123 minutes, according to Statistica. That’s a steady stream of comments, memes, stories, gifs, tweets, posts, reels, articles and videos. Such repeated, consistent use is shaping how people perceive and interact with the world — and not necessarily for the better.

The power of social media is fostered almost solely by people’s eagerness — even compulsion — to engage in it. Aetna Medical Director Deborah Fernandez-Turner is a board-certified doctor in general psychiatry and adolescent psychiatry. She compares the overuse of social media to addiction.

“Engaging with social media is not that different from gambling or video games,” Fernandez-Turner says. “You can get whatever feedback you want, instantaneously. It’s an immediate endorphin rush and has people seeking more.”

Forces of Influence

Exactly how social media changes people may be a slippery concept, but tangible examples show up in their physical and mental wellness. If silly videos of cute kittens can elicit laughter, is it not reasonable to accept that comments or videos filled with vitriol and fear can produce negative emotions? Moreover, those negative emotions are the ones about which people obsess and remember, and which can contribute to depression and anxiety.

“You go through the whole day and there might be one thing that doesn’t go right,” Fernandez-Turner says. “That’s what you’ll remember. It’s in our nature. Negative space is where anxiety and negative self-perception resides.”

This negativity is not necessarily contained to one person. Tasha Holland-Kornegay, an author, motivational speaker and wellness expert for Nike, calls this “emotional contagion.” This is the tendency for one person’s emotional state to spread to others.

“Our environment has a strong effect on how we feel, so if we’re constantly filling our day with social media use that results in a negative mood and self-esteem issues, then it could very well influence us in the long run,” explains Holland-Kornegay, founder and owner of Our Treatment Center.

Being exposed to anything distressing for long periods of time can erode a person’s resilience and contribute to burnout. Holland-Kornegay, who works with health care professionals, says some surgeons become so burned out by the emotionally taxing aspects of their work that they have no emotions to spare, even for their own family.

“If you ever feel drained after scrolling through your Facebook feed, check to see just how many of those posts are negative,” Holland-Kornegay advises. “You might be ‘catching’ residual anxieties, fears and anger from your connections on social media.”

There is also the distorted sense of reality curated feeds present and propagate. Instagram reels offer a distorted portrayal of reality, but the fallout of scrolling through them can all too real.

“Kids scroll through social media and see a photoshopped body image over and over and over again,” Fernandez-Turner says. “It’s difficult to not compare those images to yourself. That is just one small example.”

Holland-Kornegay also addresses the role of being bombarded with an idealized version of the world.

“Seeing carefully curated profiles that show all the fun stuff in life and none of the boring stuff — like loafing on the couch and scrolling through pictures of people having a better time than you — can definitely have an effect,” she says. “It’s important to remember that we all have our downtime and private concerns.”

Social media holds sway over our emotions by negatively affecting our sleep hygiene. If a person finishes their day scrolling through posts or the 24-hour news cycle, they are at risk for finishing the day with heightened levels of negative, stressful feelings. Ruminating on these negative feelings can cause someone to lose sleep.

“When you don’t sleep well it’s difficult to make mindful choices, including about your social media consumption.” Fernandez-Turner says.

Social Media Remedy

Mindfulness is exactly what Fernandez-Turner and Holland-Kornegay think is the key to using social media to enhance wellness.

“People are on social media so frequently, it becomes a mindless process to use it,” Fernandez-Turner says. “It’s something that needs to be monitored and regulated so you don’t miss real-life experiences.”

Used responsibly and with thoughtfulness and moderation, social media can have a positive effect. Platforms provide people a means to socialize with like-minded individuals or bring together support groups over topics such as healthy lifestyles, a rare medical diagnosis or a group for grieving parents. They can also reconnect old friends or let you unwind for a bit. The key is not to let 30 minutes turn into three hours.

Fernandez-Turner advises being aware and deliberate when using social media. Being mindful can help a parent model healthier screen habits for their children.

“Before you go on, ask ‘what am I getting out of this?’” Fernandez-Turner says. “Then go for it. Avoid getting distracted. What you take into your brain really, really matters.”

Adds Holland-Kornegay:

“It isn’t all or nothing. Breaking habits and rebuilding a healthier relationship with social media is ideal. What matters is that you feel lighter, happier and more confident.”