We denote by social media all the platforms and applications that offer users social functions. The most important is the sharing of text, graphics, audio or video.
By virtue of their attractive and dynamic nature, this content arouses certain emotions in the audience, which is not innocent in terms of marketing. However, this particular property of social media can have some negative effects.
You might be surprised at the negative effects that can be brought about by social media. They are both physical and mental. They can change your perception of the world and of yourself.
Read on to see in detail what are the negative effects of social media.
1 # disappointed expectations compared to reality
Visual impact social media is very important, it is also one of the levers of Internet marketing.
An uninformed audience will tend to idealize what she sees and develop unrealistic expectations in relation to the information present in the content (images, videos or texts).
People use Snapchat to share their exciting adventures, post on Facebook how much they love their partner and load their Instagram page with very staged photos.
The publications, often unverifiable, do not reflect the reality of a person. While it may seem real at first glance, this person could be heavily in debt, at odds with their spouse, and looking to be validated by likes and shares.
A large number of users tend to want to appear what they are not : richer, happier, more educated. It is the putting into practice of the theory of attraction. On the other hand, disappointments can be harmful and lead to depression.
2 # sadness and anxiety
Spending time on social media can be a time consuming activity. On Instagram In particular, influencers spend several hours a day in the course of their activities. In general, we find many people who disconnect from reality.
Spending too much time on social media sites affects mood. In fact, chronic social users are more likely to report poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, due to being out of touch with the real world.
The phenomenon is accentuated by the tendency to compare his own life to those exhibited in pictures and in videos. Since the comparison is seldom favorable, it sometimes leads to a deep depression.
Comparing yourself to others is a sure path to anxiety and unhappiness, and social media has made this easy to do.
3 # A negative image of yourself and your body
Just like sadness and anxiety, comparison leads to negative self-image. Instagram is a perfect illustration of this, where a lot of influencers work in the field of well-being.
The bombardment of images of perfectly looking men and women can negatively influence complexed people, especially if they spend a lot of time on social media.
We have to be realistic, nobody wakes up everyday with the appearance of a model, and while many people have gone to great lengths to train their bodies, not everyone who looks fit.
Many people, in search of fame on social networks, have sought to become more attractive in disregard of themselves.
4 # Social media at the root of sleep disorders
Along with anxiety and depression, social media can be at the origin of a health problem likely to influence some important aspects of daily life.
Numerous studies have shown that increased use of social media has a negative effect on the quality of your sleep.
Irregular sleep cycles can lead to drowsiness and loss of productivity. This is all the more true with access from a mobile, the evening before sleeping.
Social networks absorb the relaxed user to the point of delaying falling asleep. This is measured in hours sometimes.
5 # Social media addiction, a reality
Social media can be more addicting than cigarettes and alcohol. This attraction affects many people who spend many hours checking out what's new, reactions to their posts, etc.
This phenomenon is known and often exploited by marketers looking for traffic, engagements and conversions.
The principle of endless scrolling causes the user to scroll the page, thereby accessing advertisements and announcements. Due to the attention economy, these sites need you to watch them for as long as possible.