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How Social Media Causes Depression and What to Do About It

Social media has its perks. For one, it allows us to stay connected with our friends and loved ones around the world. For this reason, more and more people are using social media to communicate with people. Unfortunately, this great technological advancement also has its downside. To be specific, excessive use of social media may lead to anxiety and depression. To give you a better view, here are some ways social media causes depression.

Ways Social Media Causes Depression

1. Decreased Physical Activity

As you know, regular exercise can improve your mental health, and it can increase your feelings of accomplishment and self-worth. Unfortunately, if you spend too much time on your social media accounts, you won’t have time for physical fitness. As a result, you won’t experience the various advantages of regular exercise for your physical and mental health.

2. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation is one of the most common ways social media causes depression. As you know, some people, especially teenagers, use their social media accounts for more than five hours a day, and most of them are online even late at night. This excessive use of social media can lead to sleep deprivation. Remember, good quality sleep is necessary to ensure that your brain is functioning properly. Unfortunately, gadgets emit a blue light that can interfere with melatonin production, affecting one’s sleep quality. Eventually, lack of sleep can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-worth.

3. Lack of Face-to-Face Contact

Keep in mind that human beings are social creatures. Even though social media has allowed us to connect with people around the world, we still need face-to-face contact. Remember, it is best to have physical interaction with your friends and loved ones. If you prioritize your social media accounts, you may develop mood disorders like depression and anxiety.

Tips to Reduce Social Media Addiction

1. Reduce the Time You Spend Online

One of the best ways to combat depression caused by excessive use of social media is to reduce the time spent online. This process is not as easy as it sounds. Still, you can do it gradually. To ensure that you don’t develop anxiety and depression, experts recommend that you only spend about 30 minutes on your social media accounts.

2. Spend More Time with Your Offline Friends

Aside from reducing the time you spend on your social media accounts, you can also spend more time with your offline or real-life friends. If your friends are busy, you can join a club or a dance fitness class. Through this, you’ll be able to interact with other people.

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