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Oversharing Online

Social media has become part of our everyday lives, yet most of us don’t stop to think about how it affects our mental health. Whether posting about your life or looking at others, it has more of an effect than many realize. Common networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X) allow us to connect with others. While there are mental health benefits, there are also drawbacks.

Social media is a great way to share your life and stay connected with friends and family. You can know a bit about someone’s life and stay involved, even if not in person. It also provides emotional support through sharing feelings, offering encouragement, and providing understanding for those struggling. On the contrary, sharing lives can lead to social comparison. When someone posts highlights of their life, it can create pressure to present a perfect image. In a study, participants were told not to use social media for seven days. Some failed, but those who didn’t reported that, “…their interactions with close relational partners improved and they stopped feeling the pressures of online social comparison” (Adler & Proctor, 2023, p. 38). This shows that while interconnectedness can be great, the pressure to be perfect may be damaging.

The effects of social media depend on how it is used. Passive scrolling or obsessing over others increases negative feelings. However, actively interacting and using it for lifestyle tips can boost self-esteem and overall outlook. According to Adler and Proctor (2023), social networking sites can connect people but also cause low self-esteem when used in certain ways.


These platforms hold a huge responsibility because of their influence. Encouraging breaks and providing healthy resources can benefit a platform more than just increasing engagement. Social media’s impact is tremendous, and whether it helps or harms depends on what individuals prioritize in their lives, stagnancy or growth. 



Bibliography: 


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

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