THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON OUR RELATIONSHIPS

By: Sydney Flatt

Human beings yearn for connection and belonging

After food and shelter, our need to belong and feel positively connected to others is arguably the number one predictor of well-being, happiness, health, and longevity (4)

PERCEIVED LONELINESS

Does not focus on the frequency of contacts with others

Rather, the importance is drawn to our own perception of the QUALITY of our social relationships (3)

The most toxic mental and physical

health effects are associated with PERCEIVED loneliness (3)

These effects include:● Depression● Anxiety● Decreased self-esteem● Lower life expectancy

WHERE DOES SOCIAL MEDIA COME IN?

Teens on social media more than 2 hrs/day report poor mental health, psychological distress, suicidal ideation or an unmet need for mental health support. (8)

Online friendships lack the ability to provide us with opportunities for deep and lasting emotional closeness, leading to lower quality social relationships and a feeling of isolation (5)

IN THEORY, SOCIAL MEDIA IS MEANT TO CONNECT US

BUT IN REALITY IT ACTS AS A BARRIER

LOSING THE MOMENT

“Instead of deriving pleasure from your experiences and the people

around you, you seek it - along with validation -

from your phone”(4)

INFORMATION ABUNDANCEThe online wealth of information creates a poverty of our attention (9)

→ This causes individuals to connect at a much more superficial level, which can be damaging

IT’S ADDICTIVE AND SELF

ABSORBING

Americans spend

1/3 of their day, or

4.7 hrs/day checking their social media (10)

~Time that could be spent with

friends in person

Studies show that people

also tend to mask themselves, and put their best foot forward

on social media - concealing displays of emotional weakness, insecurity, or conflict (5)

More than 75% of people

admit to making their lives seem MORE

EXCITING on social media (6)

Three quarters of people

JUDGE their peers based

on their Facebook

profile (6)

“Social media allows us to hide behind screens, allowing

others to judge us for the lives we want them to think we

have - the lives we portray online” (2)

THE PROBLEM:

57% of teens have met friends online - but they aren’t truly getting

to know each other, only the best

version of themselves

(7)

Consequently, if these friendships are being formed on social media, where we tailor our profiles to fit what society wants

Are these friendships real?

&

Will they last… or leave us feeling empty inside?

This can lead to a negative self image, as a result of the difference between one's actual self, and ideal (online) self

Research shows that “the larger the perceived discrepancy between the actual and the ideal self,

the more prone the individual is to negative emotions, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and

even self-contempt.” (1)

Many studies have also acknowledged a correlation between Facebook use and dissatisfaction with one’s life, mentioning ENVY as the most prevalent emotion (1)

ENVY does not allow for positive relationships to flourish

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT ?Put your phones down every once in awhile, and focus on the REAL things in your life...

… that lie just above your phone screen

Works CitedGeneral Sources:

(2) Alwahaidi, Keena. "Two-Faced: How Social Media Is Turning Us Into A Fake Generation." Elite Daily. N.p., 30 July 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.

(3) Cacioppo, Stephanie, John T. Cacioppo, and John P. Capitanio. "Toward a Neurology of Loneliness." Thesis. University of Chicago, 2014.American Psychological Association 140 (2014): 1464-504. Web.

(1) Carmichael, Valera. "The Psychology Of Social Media: How Our Online Lives Are Harming Real-Life Happiness." Collective Evolution. N.p., 10 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.

(10) Chang, Lulu. "Americans Spend an Alarming Amount of Time Checking Social Media on Their Phones." Digital Trends. N.p., 13 June 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/informate-report-social-media-smartphone-use/>.

(5) Galasso Bonanno, Shelley. "Social Media’s Impact on Relationships." Psych Central. N.p., 17 July 2016. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://psychcentral.com/lib/social-medias-impact-on-relationships/>.

(4) Seppälä, Emma, Dr. "3 Ways Social Media Is Ruining Your Real-Life Relationships." Web log post. Mindbodygreen. N.p., 06 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-24023/3-ways-social-media-is-ruining-your-real-life-relationships.html>

(6) Zolfagharifard, Ellie. "Welcome to Fakebook: More than 75% of People Admit to Making Their Lives Seem More Exciting on Social Media." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 01 Feb. 2016. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3274749/Welcome-Fakebook-75-people-admit-making-lives-exciting-social-media.html>.Sources form Course:

(7) Lenhart, Amanda. Teens, Technology and Friendships. Rep. Pew Research Center, 06 Aug. 2015. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/06/teens-technology-and-friendships/>.

(9) Matrix, Sidneyeve. "Module 01 Lecture 02 - Media Effects." Film 240 Media and Culture. Queen's University. Lecture.(8) Payne, Elizabeth. "Teens' Poor Mental Health Linked to Social Media Use."ProQuest. The Ottawa Citizen, 8 Aug. 2015.

Web. <http://search.proquest.com/docview/1702249271?accountid=6180>.

Images

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