2

Introduction

In the previous chapter, we mentioned how we can help reduce our sense of isolation by staying connected through digital means of communication. However, in this chapter we will discuss the unique challenges and issues that this approach brings. During stressful and uncertain times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, we often resort to social media platforms to stay connected and informed on what is going on in the world. While social media does allow us to stay connected to our friends and family in a COVID-friendly way, we tend not to realize how it can negatively impact our mental health as well. In this chapter, we will learn about how social media usage during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of college students in the United States during a period where mental health has been more important than ever.

Connection to STS Theory

The Modernization Theory has to do with the process of scientific and technological advancements within societies. Societies today are largely impacted by science and technology. When science and technology are modernized, societies experience a great impact as well. An example of this is social media in society. Social media was nonexistent until technology allowed for its modern existence, and once social media really took full form it led to a monumental societal impact. Part of this large impact includes the negative effects on mental health as a direct result of social media. In today’s society we have access to so much more information in a much faster and easier way than we ever did before. Without the Modernization Theory, technology would not have been improved this much to allow us to have access to such things.

Social Media Usage During the Pandemic

Social media usage during the pandemic in the United States has increased and there are many resulting effects. In an article, the results of a study done on college students showed that a higher level of social media usage was significantly associated with worse mental health (Zhao & Zhou, 2020). In other articles, social media was demonstrated to have a negative impact through the surge of numerous rumors, hoaxes, and widespread misinformation regarding the disease (Garfin, et al. 2020) and (Tasnim, et al. 2020). Spread of this misinformation about COVID-19 included false or misleading information about the etiology, outcomes, prevention, and potential cures of the disease. Furthermore, aspects  such as repeated media exposure to false information can lead to increased anxiety, heightened stress responses, and misplaced health-protective and health-seeking behaviors. Reading misinformation is masking healthy behaviors and promoting inaccurate practices that actually increase the spread of the virus. False information in the media was a problem even before the pandemic. Reading and believing false information during times like this is much worse. There has been an increased use of social media throughout the pandemic and there are numerous proven negative effects on people because of it.

Mental Health During the Pandemic

Mental health has been impacted in many negative ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some articles, studies and evidence have analyzed the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and risk of anxiety and depression symptoms (Wang, et al. 2020) and (Torales, et al. 2020). The outbreak is leading to additional health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, denial, anger, and fear on a global scale. Anxiety is defined as “apprehensive
uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill” (Merriam Webster). During this pandemic there have been many unknowns and many young peoples have preferred to rely on social media to get essentially all of the answers. When relying on social media, though, not all of the information we read is correct. Intertwined misinformation increases our anxiety of the unknown. Another article talks about how the negative effects on mental health will only continue throughout and after the pandemic, so data should be obtained to learn about it and to later be applied to treating mental illnesses (Tandon, R. 2020). Our mental health has been impacted in many negative ways during the pandemic, for many different reasons, and we should find new ways to learn and apply our knowledge to it to reduce these risks.

COVID-19 Impact on College Students

College students in the United States have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. In two articles, studies were performed on college students (Gao, et al. 2020) and (Wang, 2020). These studies assessed mental health based on social media exposure and the association between the pandemic and mental health symptoms. These studies proved that social media exposure has affected mental health in many negative ways. Through an online study, the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms were 7.7% and 12.2% respectively. In another online study resulting in increased anxiety and depression symptoms, more than 80% of the participants reported frequent exposure to social media. College students are put under a lot of pressure and now they must attend college and learn online while isolated in their dorms all day. There is an enormous lack of social interaction while isolated at college and students resort to social media, which ends up making things worse. Many college students have never had such little interaction with their friends and family, and therefore have suffered large tolls to their mental health. 

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many negative effects on humans. Not only are people worrying about their physical health, but the stress of these uncertain times is negatively affecting mental health and wellbeing. The isolation has lead to an increase in the use of popular social media platforms, which in turn is negatively affecting mental health without the consumer even realizing it. The negative effects of social media are especially evident in the mental toll experienced by college students in the United States. Society needs to be aware of these effects and use our knowledge to minimize the damage it can cause so that society can benefit from the positive aspects of social media. The modernized science and technology in society may seem appealing, but like all tools, it must be carefully observed to ensure it does not cause more harm than good.

References

Gao J, Zheng P, Jia Y, Chen H, Mao Y, Chen S, Wang Y, Fu H, Dai J.    Mental health problems and social media exposure during COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 16;15(4):e0231924. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0231924

Garfin, D. R., Silver, R. C., & Holman, E. A. (2020). The novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) outbreak: Amplification of public health consequences by media exposure. Health Psychology, 39(5), 355-357. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7735659/

Tandon, R. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: Preserving humanity, maintaining sanity, and promoting health. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102256. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7305748/ 

Tasnim, S., Hossain, M., & Mazumder, H. (2020, March 29). Impact of rumors or misinformation on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in social media. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/uf3zn

Torales, J., O’Higgins, M., Castaldelli-Maia, J.M., & Ventriglio, A. (2020). The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(4), 317-320. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020915212

Wang, Z.-H., Yang, H.-L., Yang, Y.-Q., Liu, D., Li, Z.-H., Zhang, X.-R., Zhang, Y.-J., Shen, D., Chen, P.-L., Song, W.-Q., Wang, X.-M., Wu, X.-B., Yang, X.-F., & Mao, C. (2020). Prevalence of anxiety and depression symptom, and the demands for psychological knowledge and interventions in college students during COVID-19 epidemic: A large cross-sectional study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 188-193. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0165032720323922?token=3FABC93196E37D05D9F4775B18A1DD8288E3022C82E860C8EBE3EF3C7DEC49EF5991F4A32A1D690E825B1A1EB094AB87&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20220107182844

Zhao, N., & Zhou, G. (2020). Social Media Use and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderator and Role of Disaster Stressor and Mediator Role of Negative Affect. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7536964/ 

Images

Image 1: “Covid-19 mental health impact in the United States July 2020”    by Statista / Huffington Post is
licensed under CC BY 4.0

Image 2: “Person Holding Iphone Showing Social Networks Folder” by Tracy Le Blanc / Pexels is licensed
under CC0