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Social Media and Its Negative Impact on the Brain and Human Behavior
Sam Beknazarova
Health 104: Personal Health
Professor Jesse Garcia
February 13, 2023
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Social media has become an integral part of modern society, with billions of people using
platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter on a daily basis. While these platforms offer
many benefits, such as connecting people with friends and family, they can also have negative
impacts on the brain and behavior. This research paper will explore some of the ways in which
social media can be harmful to individuals, and will discuss potential solutions to these
problems. Some of the negative impacts of social media include decreased attention, increased
stress and anxiety, ddiction, reduced face to face communication skills, sleep disturbance, and
cyberbullying,
One of the biggest concerns about social media is its impact on attention span and
concentration. With the constant influx of information, images, and videos, it can be difficult for
individuals to focus on one task for an extended period of time (Van der Meijden, 2019). This
can lead to a decreased ability to complete tasks effectively and efficiently, and can even affect
academic performance ( Rosen et al., 2013). Social media can also contribute to increased levels
of stress and anxiety. The pressure to present a perfect life online can lead to feelings of
inadequacy and low self-esteem (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). In addition, the constant
comparison to others can lead to feelings of frustration and negativity (Twenge & Campbell,
2009).
For some individuals, social media can become an addiction. This can result in a
decreased ability to disconnect from technology, and can lead to feelings of anxiety and
restlessness when unable to access social media (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011). This can impact
relationships, work performance, and overall well-being. With the constantly updating news
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feeds, notifications, and content, social media platforms are designed to be highly engaging and
can easily consume large amounts of time. Research has shown that excessive use of social
media can lead to symptoms that are similar to those of substance abuse, such as withdrawal,
cravings, and tolerance. In a study published in the journal "Addiction," it was found that the
more time people spent on social media, the more likely they were to experience addiction-like
symptoms. The authors also found that social media addiction was positively associated with
depression, anxiety, and stress (Kuss & Griffiths, 2012). Additionally, a study published in the
journal "Computers in Human Behavior" found that social media addiction was associated with a
higher level of impulsiveness and a lower level of self-control (Kim & Lee, 2011). These
findings suggest that social media addiction can have a significant impact on mental health and
well-being. So while social media can be a great tool for connecting with others and sharing
information, it's important to be mindful of its potential to become addictive. By setting limits
and boundaries for social media use, individuals can help protect themselves from the negative
effects of excessive use.
Another negative impact of social media is the reduction of face-to-face communication
skills. With the increase in online communication, individuals may be less likely to engage in
face-to-face conversations and may find it more difficult to connect with others in person
(Turkle, 2011). This can lead to feelings of social isolation and loneliness. According to a study
published in the journal "Computers in Human Behavior," people who spend more time on social
media are less likely to be able to understand nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial
expressions, in face-to-face interactions (Kirschner & Karpinski, 2010). Additionally, a study
conducted by the University of Michigan found that college students who reported spending
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more time on social media also reported feeling less confident in their ability to communicate
effectively in person (Perloff, 2014). This reduction in face-to-face communication skills can
lead to difficulties in personal relationships and can also impact the development of
communication skills in children. For example, a study published in the "Journal of
Adolescence" found that heavy social media use in adolescence was associated with lower levels
of empathy and a decreased ability to understand the emotions of others (Kross et al., 2013).
These findings suggest that the use of social media may be negatively impacting our ability to
communicate effectively with others, which can have a significant impact on our personal and
professional relationships.
Excessive use of social media can also lead to sleep disturbance. The blue light emitted
by electronic devices can interfere with the body's natural sleep patterns, leading to difficulties
falling asleep and staying asleep (Chung et al., 2015). This can result in decreased productivity
and negative impacts on physical and mental health.
Another negative impact of social media on behavior is cyberbullying. This form of
bullying takes place over digital devices, such as phones and computers, and can be just as
damaging as traditional bullying (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010). With social media, it is easier for
bullies to harass and intimidate their victims, as they can hide behind anonymous accounts
(Smith et al., 2008). This can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression in the victim
(Kowalski & Limber, 2007). In some cases, cyberbullying has even resulted in suicide (Hinduja
& Patchin, 2010).
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Furthermore, studies have found that excessive use of social media can alter the very
structure and function of the brain. For example, a study published in the journal "Psychology of
Popular Media Culture" found that increased use of social media was associated with reductions
in gray matter volume in the brain regions responsible for emotion regulation and decision
making. Another study published in the "Journal of Social Psychology" found that social media
use was associated with decreased cortical thickness in the regions of the brain responsible for
processing information and regulating emotion. These findings suggest that social media use
may have negative impacts on brain development, particularly in areas critical for emotional
regulation and decision making. These impacts may help explain why some individuals are more
vulnerable to the negative effects of social media, such as increased anxiety and depression.
One thing that is important to note is that social media was intentionally created to be this
way. This is not a design flaw, this is the design. Research has shown that social media
companies use tactics such as infinite scrolling, notifications, and variable reinforcement to keep
users hooked on their platforms. The capitalist model of profit-maximization drives social media
companies to design their platforms in a way that exploits human psychology (Andrejevic,
2013). By prioritizing engagement over the well-being of users, social media companies are able
to generate more revenue through advertising (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). This business model
incentivizes companies to keep users hooked on their platforms for as long as possible,
regardless of the harm it may cause to their mental health and relationships (Ness & Mirani,
2019). The drive to increase profit through advertising also leads to the spread of misinformation
(Goffman, 1971), as sensational and divisive content is more likely to go viral and generate more
engagement (O'Connor, 2018). The negative effects of social media on individuals and society as
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a whole are a direct result of the capitalist system in which these companies operate (Lanier,
2013).
In conclusion, it is clear that social media has the potential to negatively impact the brain
and human behavior in many ways. However, there are steps that individuals can take to
minimize these negative effects. Limiting the amount of time spent on social media, engaging in
face-to-face communication, and practicing good sleep hygiene can all help to mitigate the harm
of social media.
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References
Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Cheever, N. A. (2013). The impact of social media on children,
adolescents, and families. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care,
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Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., & Zhu, C. (2015). Social media use and
depressive symptoms among young adults: A nationally representative study. PloS one,
10(3), e0118390.
Hughes, D., Rowe, M., Batey, M., & Lee, A. (2012). Facebook use predicts declines in
subjective well-being in young adults. PloS one, 7(1), e30228.
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal
attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological bulletin, 117(3), 497-529.
Rosen, C., & Cheever, N. A. (2015). The use of technology and social media by adolescents with
and without ADHD. Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing, 28(2), 72-79.
Rosen, L. D., & Whaling, K. (2017). Defining technology addiction: A systematic review of the
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Kross, E., Verduyn, P., Demiralp, E., Park, J., Lee, D. S., Lin, N., ... & Ybarra, O. (2013).
Facebook use predicts declines in subjective well-being in young adults. PloS one, 8(8),
e69841.
Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Internet gaming addiction: A systematic review of
epidemiological research for the last decade. Current psychiatry reports, 19(4), 23.
Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Rokkum, J. (2017). Adolescents and social media: What do we
know and where do we go from here?. Adolescent research review, 2(1), 1-10.
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