Five Ways Technology Affects Young Women’s Mental Health
The importance of technology in our lives cannot be disputed. Millennials have a distinct perspective on social media. In contrast, adults might only experience a slight sense of shame for checking their phones during dinner or spending many hours on the platform. Given that iPhones are a fixture in most people’s hands, it is imperative that we examine the ways in which technology affects our lives.
Younger women (those born approximately between 1981 and 1991) are impacted differently than older generations by societal expectations and peer pressure related to technology. This essay will address the advantages and disadvantages of technology use in relation to the health of adolescent females.
1. Possibilities to Feel
Many people believe that social media has a particularly harmful impact on young women’s lives. Social networking sites have been connected to depression, eating problems, and bullying. But it’s not all horrible, despite its reputation. Research involving over 1,500 teenagers and young adults found that social media can be beneficial in areas such as emotional support, feeling of community, and self-expression.
In one survey, the teenagers who took part gave YouTube the highest ratings. Major points were awarded to the video-streaming service for bringing attention to individual health experiences and for being a trustworthy source of health information. YouTube demonstrates how social media can provide you with a way to connect with individuals you would never meet in person.
2. Demands for Perfection
While YouTube did well in the survey, all other major social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook—scored poorly. Young women claimed that every platform had a detrimental impact on both their body image and the quality of their sleep. The group also discussed how bullying was common on all social media platforms.
A significant portion of how people identify themselves, particularly young females, has to do with how they believe they fit into the world. Friends may feel as if they have nothing to give or that their lives are dull and pointless if they only share pictures of their exciting events and successes on social media. This creates the possibility of declining self-esteem.
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3. Greater Access to Resources for Mental Health
Young people are getting access to mental health resources through an increasing number of applications that they may not otherwise use. Many teenagers find treatment unappealing, but when you include technology, mental health options become much more widely available and socially acceptable.
4. A Rise in Indirect Correspondence
Even while it’s common knowledge that young adults communicate in their own “unique” and “indecipherable” ways, social media’s indirect nature may skew conversations about tone and meaning in almost every situation. This might cause anxiety and misunderstanding among teenagers about the nature of direct and honest communication.
It’s simpler to say things you would never say face-to-face while staring at a screen instead of a person. The capacity of young women to communicate effectively enough to establish long-lasting connections with their peers might be threatened by indirect communication, which takes away important components of body language.
5. Possibilities to Interact
According to one study, texting in particular is linked to decreased levels of anxiety and despair on the same day.
While there are undoubtedly negative aspects to social media and other technologies, there are also many wonderful chances for constructive peer contact. Due to the fact that young people who are vulnerable to mental health illnesses are more inclined to isolate themselves, social media may be a tool for connection rather than merely bullying and perpetuating myths about its detrimental effects on health.
Affective health care is taking into account the interconnectedness of a person’s whole lifestyle, including their use of technology. Young women’s mental health can improve with the use of social media as a tool.
