In my first post I chose to write about effects of social media on mental health.
Now I would like to throw light on its equally important emotional aspect.
Every time we come across a quiet moment, we immediately dodge it by turning to our screens, seeking comfort in distraction.
I sometimes wonder if we are subconsciously trying to avoid confronting our inner-selves!
Though seemingly harmless from afar, these repeated escapes leave a deeper emotional impression. Let us see how:-
1.)emotional regulation
Media usage doesn’t just shift our mood momentarily, it gradually disrupts our emotional processing, which leads to emotional dysregulation. The result? Irritability, difficulty in connecting with others as well as ourselves.
2.) Emotional numbness
Constant overstimulation reduces sensitivity to our own emotional nuances. Eventually we lose touch with our feelings-our joy, our agony, our stress, our excitement, our confusion, our confidence.
And in the end we are left asking ourselves – “how do I actually feel?“or “what do I want?”
This disconnect leads to emotional numbness.
3.)Validation Loops: dependency on External Approval
Social media creates a validation loop: we post, we wait for likes, and our self-worth depends on the feedback we get. Continuously relying on external validation can turn into a vicious cycle of dependency where self-worth is determined by others’ opinions! This takes a toll on one’s emotional-resilience.
4.) Comparison becomes inevitable
Netizens inevitably feel a sense of comparison when they see someone else’s ‘virtually perfect life’ online.
Carefully fabricated with a million edits and gazillion filters, this ‘virtually perfect life’ leaves a feeling of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. The result? emotional frustration, and missing contentment!
Our emotions deserve time and space in our lives!
They are meant to be felt. It is the bridge that connects us with ourselves and the world around us.
Yes! social media is fundamental to modern life, but is it worth trading our emotional well-being with fleeting boosts of dopamine?
can we not consciously try to strike a balance?
It’s high time to burnish our priceless ornament and rekindle the sparkle!
Reference :
My Unsolicited Advice ~ Maria Syed 
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