Oversharing Online

Welcome or welcome back to Desktop Chats!

    This week I want to dive into the questions of do different networking sites offer unique benefits and drawbacks and do these sites have an obligation or duty to promote mental health to its users?

    Social media is a large part of everyday life now, whether you use it recreationally or professionally the reason is to connect and share. We must stay aware though, with the ability to share our entire lives at our fingertips there are pros and cons that come with this that should be considered. Factors like loneliness and alienation can occur and this could cause a disconnect with real world relationships (Adler, R. 2023).  On the other hand, social media can connect us with people who live too far from ourselves to visit in person, it even educates us (I've learned a lot through social media). Seeing photos of friends and family could help us feel closer even if we were not, how you use social media sites can really make or break your perception of the world. I personally choose to view the photos or videos of others with a sense of happiness, even if I am not there enjoying the moment with them I know they were having a blast and that makes me see the joy around me.

   There is a strong connection between social media and mental health, one that should never be ignored and that means these sites should promote mental health. With consequences like cyberbullying, FOMO, or comparison culture, there is an almost desperate need for social media sites to advertise mental health resources. Resources to mental health professionals and coping strategies could benefit all. I think with proper promotion of these resources, companies can prevent more incidents from happening. You would think with the amount of times an ad is promoted to us based off of what we say near our phones that the algorithm would present intervention resources if necessary. 

    Honestly, social media is complex and the reactions it pulls from people vary. Given the power and influence it has on the world, people should use social media sites with caution. It can be a great way to keep in touch with long distance friends and families or to learn random facts and recipes but keep in mind that the internet is not an entirely safe place. Make sure to check in with people, remember that things on the web are not always what they appear, and stepping away from the screen can do you wonders.

    Sorry, that was a lot I know I apologize. To end on a happy note, here is an instagram page dedicated to cute animals :)

If I didn't scare you away, I will see you all next time!

-Azzilee

Sources: 

Adler, R. B., & Proctor, R. F. II. (2023). Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication (16th ed.). Oxford University Press.