IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

1.Context:

Dozens of US states have sued Instagram and Facebook’s parent company Meta, accusing the tech giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis through the addictive nature of its social media platforms.

PC: Searchenginejournal

2.Case study:

• One cannot deny that Social media has become a daily habit, especially among youth.
• Individuals across different age groups use social media platforms for communication & networking.
• There is a growing dependency on social media.
• Constant use of social media leads to many problems like-
• Changes in behavioural pattern
• Exposure to risky content
• Cyber-bullying
• Inferiority complex, resulting in grave mental health challenges & illness.

3.Issue:

Impact of social media on youth. It is imperative to address the current challenges to regulating social media use, especially among the young generation.

There can be many problems which can be highlighted, but let us focus on three of them-

• According to UNICEF, 1 in 7 Indians aged 15-24 years feel depressed.
• Depression is linked to lack of self-esteem, poor concentration & other maladaptive symptoms and can lead to difficulties in communication, failure to work or study productively, amplified risk of substance use & abuse, as well as suicidal thoughts.
• One of the key risk factors for this depression is social media.

• As social beings, humans inherently need social acceptance & social media often becomes a tool for validation.
• The number of likes one’s posts or images garners becomes a quantitative measure for many, about their looks, and intelligence and even extends to their worth as a person.
• Individuals strive to maintain an “internet persona” which paints a rosy picture of one’s life, using filters to hide parts considered” not enough good”.
• Body Dysmorphia- It is common among young people & increased over the past few years.
• Use of algorithms on these platforms forces people to only watch similar content.

Excessive social media use takes time away from doing other things that may benefit our mental health like connecting with others in person, spending time in nature and taking care of ourselves.

4.Solutions

• Action must be taken on mental health seriously & monitor the incidence of psychiatric disorders like depression, and anxiety and identify the factors of risk & resilience.
• Need to focus on socialization in familiar places & professional spaces along with physical exercises and meditation. Getting closer to nature and natural things is necessary.
• Need of creating awareness & dialogue that would help in de-stigmatizing the issue, to allow autonomy for the individual to share feelings in a safe space.
• To address the structural challenges, there is a need to reimagine the workspace & educational framework. Social media dependence in such spaces can be reduced to an extent that it doesn’t become addictive.
• Support systems like family & peers, need to be equipped with understanding the factors related to the issue & initiate supportive steps.
• Family and teachers are seen as role models. Restricting them from social media will inspire youth.
• Pragmatic government policies based on empirical evidence, strong political will, social inclusion, mental health literacy, vibrant media and a responsive corporate sector coupled with innovative technologies & crowdsourcing could mitigate this apathy.

5.Mental Health Issue

• Mental illness is an amalgamation of biological, social, psychological, hereditary and environmental stressors.
• The WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being, where an individual realizes their capabilities, can cope with the normal stress of life, work productively and can contribute to their community.
• According to recent research, there is an estimated increase of about 35% in the prevalence of anxiety & depression in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As per the National Mental Survey, 2016, the prevalence of mental disorders in the age group 13-17 years was 7.3%. The most common prevalent problems were Depressive Episodes & Recurrent Depressive Disorder(2.6%), Agoraphobia(2.3%), Intellectual Disability(1.7%), Autism Spectrum Disorder(1.6%), phobic anxiety disorder(1.3%) and Psychotic disorder(1.3%).
• As per WHO, for 1lakh population India has 0.3 psychiatrists, 0.12 nurses & 0.007 psychologists & 0.007 health workers. These reflect an alarming shortage of Human Resources & a dire need to scale up investments to address the issue.
• Though Mental Health Act 2017 granted patients the legal right to live with dignity without discrimination, coercion, or harassment, the endeavour in this segment is too scattered & lacks focus & coordination.
• It should be noted that this act envisages the establishment of the Central Mental Health Authority & State Mental Health Authority.
• The Union Budget 2022-23, took the consideration the issue of mental health & announced the National Tele-Mental Health Program in India.
• An efficient & robust community-integrated model will have the ability to build a response system of cadres of community volunteers & leaders to create ‘safe spaces. They would build upon locally established peer support networks like Self-help Groups(SHGs), activity-based groups and civil society organizations to provide care.
• It is important that any community-based mental health program provides access to institutional social care benefits by building strategic partnerships with local governments, panchayats, educational institutions & other stakeholders to enable referrals & access to existing social benefit schemes.
• Prioritizing availability of essential psychotropic drugs at all levels of healthcare.
• The theme of World Mental Health Day 2022, 10^th October is ‘Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority.
• In 1982, the Indian government launched the National Mental Health Program(NMHP) to improve the status of mental health in India. It has three components treatment of the mentally ill, rehabilitation, prevention & promotion of positive mental health.
• WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Action Plan 2013-2020 was adopted by the 66^th World Health Assembly. The Mental Health Atlas was launched by WHO in 2017.
• The Sustainable Development Goals target 3.4 & 3.5 talks about reducing mental illness.
• The Supreme Court held healthcare to be a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Source: indianexpress