There is plenty of documentation that aims to build awareness of the negative long-term effects of social media use; however, sometimes, the benefits get under-discussed, despite the obvious positive impact that it has on the world. This article will cover some of the main reasons why social media can be an amazing tool for your mental health rather than one that is harmful to it.
Contents
1. Social Media Can Help You Meet New People
If you look back just two decades ago or so, you can probably agree that meeting people, for any purpose, was much more challenging than it is today.
Nowadays, there are forums that exist for just about any interest you can think of; online dating has connected people who may not have otherwise encountered each other, platforms that can help people organize events, games that encourage socializing and teamwork, as well as support groups to help people overcome a particular issue, just to name a few examples.
No matter how it is done, the connections that people build with others online are very real, and these relationships can last a lifetime, and this can be extremely rewarding and satisfying for millions of people.
2. Social Media Can Keep You Connected
As mentioned before, the friendships that are made through social media are ones that can potentially be there with you forever, and this is mainly due to its ability to help you stay connected to others at any time, no matter where they are located.
Obviously, this isn’t exclusive to the people that you meet online, though. Of course, social media can help you stay in touch with anyone.
Perhaps you have family members who live on the other side of the country, and you don’t get to see them very much, or you have friends from high school or university who have since moved away – social media allows you to send instant messages, share pictures, and even video chat, and this can help maintain these valuable relationships, which in turn, benefits mental health.
3. Social Media Helps Spread Awareness
One of the most profound benefits of social media on mental health is that it can spread important messages to a large number of people, and it can help them get connected to resources that can assist them.
Mental health treatment is more accessible than ever through applications and therapy services such as BetterHelp, and social media can get the word out there that people are not alone in their struggles and there are practical and effective solutions to what they’re dealing with, such as troubles in their relationships, mental health concerns, and making life changes.
It also aids in the de-stigmatization of mental health issues, and more and more people around the world are getting the help they need and deserve.
Conclusion
While too much of anything can be problematic, including social media usage, there are some clear benefits that it has pertaining to mental health. Because social media is a part of our everyday lives, sometimes we can take the positive aspects of social media for granted, but hopefully, this article has shed some light or given you a reminder of how it can be a powerful tool to help you achieve improved health and wellbeing.
