Social media has become our virtual life with most of the Generation Z spending more than two hours of their day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social networking sites.
Huffington Post reports that although people enjoy running through the feeds for hours, a new study reveals that excessive time spent online may cause psychological risks that will affect a young person's mental well-being.
Investigating 750 students from grades 7 to 12 on their use of social media, habits, and mental states, researchers for the Ottawa Public Health found out that heavy social media users reported having poor mental health with symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and unmet psychological needs.
25% of respondents told researchers they spend at least two hours on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
"The relationship between the use of social networking sites and mental health problems is complex," said lead author of the study, Dr. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga. "It could be that teens with mental health problems are seeking out interactions as they are feeling isolated and alone or they would like to satisfy unmet needs for face-to-face mental health support."
But the use of social media can also be a clever way to help young adults deal with mental problems.
"We see social networking sites, which may be a problem for some, also being a solution," said Dr. Brenda K. Wiederhold of the Interactive Media Institute in San Diego. "Since teens are on the sites, it is the perfect place for public health and service providers to reach out and connect with this vulnerable population and provide health promotion systems and supports."
Published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking on July 13, the Ottawa Public Health researchers suggest parents should be aware of this issue by checking on how their kids spend time on social networking sites.
