Negative Impacts of Social Media on People’s Lives: Analysis of “Social Media is Attention Alcohol” by Derek Thompson
In his article, Derek metaphorically compares social media usage to alcohol consumption. He argues that social media is a product that is beneficial but addictive and naturally unwholesome in large doses. Derek writes that although many people use social media regularly, love it and are okay with it, many abuses it, and some develop unhealthy compulsions. Additionally, he proposes that thinking of social media as alcohol can guide reform efforts towards managing its use and impacts. Social media has serious negative effects on people lives; it creates feelings of inadequacy, affects mental health, enhances bullying, creates unrealistic expectations and creates addiction.
Social media creates feelings of inadequacy about life and appearance. Social media gives people a tool to compare themselves with others and to question their self-worth. The life and photographs people view on social media make them feel insecure about what is going on in their lives and how they look. Resulting in feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction with their real personal lives. Similarly, social media provides a platform for people to show their best looks, from classic clothes to body and facial appearance. This impacts self-esteem and triggers feelings of inadequacy in people who do not feel good enough. For instance, Derek documents that Facebook and Instagram make young women, especially teen girls, feel worse about their bodies.
Secondly, social media negatively affects the mental health of its users. Social media triggers comparison in people, which is a sure path to anxiety and depression. Social media users tend to post the best parts of their lives, which most people compare to the worst in their personal lives; comparing yourself to another person creates the idea of missing out and negatively impacts self-esteem resulting in depression and anxiety. Derek documents that Instagram and Facebook users, especially teen girls, admit that what they see on these sites negatively affects their mental health. Also, those who already struggle with mental health acknowledge that Facebook and Instagram usage makes it worse. Similarly, the growing use of social media is limiting face to face interactions. Human beings need face to face interactions to be mentally healthy. Therefore, the more people use social media over face-to-face interactions, the more they risk developing mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Additionally, social media encourages bullying. Cyberbullying is a constant and ever-present threat in society. Social media platforms provide avenues for people to spread hurtful rumours, abuse or lie about others anonymously or use their real names. Most people who use social media, especially teens, experience bullying from their peers or are subjected to offensive comments. Victims of cyberbullying remains with lasting emotional scars, and some end up harming themselves physically or committing suicide.
Furthermore, social media creates unrealistic expectations, promotes self-absorption and creates confusion between reality with online. Social media platforms form unrealistic expectations of friends and life in individuals minds nurturing a severe lack of authenticity and encouraging lying. For instance, people use social media platforms to showcase exciting adventures, their love for friends and significant other and different successfully aspects of their lives. Although this can be a façade, people always use them as a yardstick to what life should be, creating unrealistic expectations in their personal lives. Similarly, social media platforms provide an avenue to make friends; most people confuse this with actual communication, in-person interactions, and socialising. Most friends on social media networks are not friends and can even be strangers. Additionally, sharing endless information about personal life and innermost thoughts on social media creates unhealthy self-absorption and can affect people’s ability to develop real-life connections.
Besides, social media creates addiction. Social media like cigarettes and alcohol can be addictive. Social media has a powerful draw that keeps people checking all the time without thinking. It is difficult for people with social media accounts to go an entire day without checking updates, commenting or posting. For instance, when individuals post a picture or update on social media platforms, they keep on motoring the likes and comments and replying. These activities can take an entire day without an individual realising. Also, it can build the need and desire to do so the following day. Derick documents that young teenagers often feel addicted to social media sites and are unable to stop themselves. He also documents his personal experience, “sometimes the content is unfavourable, and I regret how I spend my time…only to open the applications again, several minutes later (Thompson, 2021)” This shows some level of addiction.
In conclusion, although social media has beneficial qualities, its dark sides negatively impact the lives of individuals in society, especially teenagers. It affects people’s self-worth, causes cyberbullying, negatively affects people’s mental health, and wastes time due to its addictive nature. Like Derek Thompson proposes in his article “Social Media is Attention Alcohol”, social media should be subjected to guidelines like alcohol consumption to limit its impacts on individuals, especially teens.
Bibliography
Thompson, D. (2021, September 17). Social media is attention alcohol. The Atlantic. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/social-media-attention-alcohol-booze-instagram-twitter/620101/.
