People in many countries suffer from anxiety and depression nowadays, and more so among the youth than in past years. The growth in digital technology and digital life sickened globally for very bad mental health. In some ways, the advent of the digital era has redefined communication, work, and entertainment, but it has also set in motion certain stress-inducing factors that add to anxiety and depression. Therefore, in this article, we are clarifying how digital technology impacts mental health, accompanying psychological and social consequences of digital technology in excess.
The Psychological Effects of the Digital Age
From a change in communication to a change in information processing, digital technology influences self-perception. Continuous connectivity causes stress, social isolation, and impaired concentration due to information morass.
The Impact of Social Media
In contemporary society, one cannot understate the power of social media platforms. Though these keep people connected, they create a space for comparison, bullying, and unrealistic expectations. Overuse of social media has resulted in increasing anxiety and depression among young adults and adolescents alike (Twenge et al. 2018).
A significant part of this problem is the highlight reel, where users post carefully curated representations of their lives, thereby making everyone see their own lives as somehow inferior. This will lead to low self-esteem and, consequently, aggravate their depressed condition. Furthermore, they are being constantly bombarded with filtered images that may even add to the development of body dissatisfaction, therefore increasing vulnerability for eating disorders and anxiety (Perloff, 2014).
Digital Overload and Mental Fatigue
Digital technology has its omnipresence and makes sure the individual is overwhelmed with information about anything and everything. Digital overload can cause cognitive fatigue, stress, and distractibility; excessive screen time has been linked to sleep disturbances, which may in turn lead to anxiety and depressive symptoms (Levenson et al., 2017).
Always-on culture in which continual instant notifications or 24/7 access to work emails creates a pressure to be available. This change of boundaries between work and life creates increased levels of burnout and stress (Derks et al., 2015). The prevalence of this inability to disconnect leads to mental exhaustion, making it hard for them to relax and recharge anymore.
Cyberbullying and Online Harassment
In the present world, cyberbullying is yet another significant catalyst for anxiety and depression. In contrast to school bullying which may take place face-to-face or through spoken words, cyber bullying has the element of permanence. Today, there seems to be no respite from it due to the inherently unbreakable bond of online connection. The effects of cyberbullying can make victims experience increased anxiety, depression, or even suicidal ideation (Kowalski et al, 2014).
Anonymity prevents the perpetrator from facing the consequences of their foul acts. Many times, the immense reach of online hate makes people, mostly teens, feel isolated and helpless, causing severe psychological agony.
The Role of Digital Detox and Mindfulness
The effects of digital media consumption come with mortal status; practises like digital detoxes and mindfulness techniques tend to go against the same. Digital detox prescribes self-limitations regarding screen time, including restricting the usage of social media and designating certain hours in the evening before sleep “tech-free.” Such short-duration interventions, exercising limited screen time, are said to lift mood and relieve anxiety and depressive symptoms (Przybylski & Weinstein, 2017).
Mindfulness is the present awareness- neither to focus on our obsessive engagement so as to actively counter digital stresses. Meditation, deep breathing, and journaling may help in alleviating the anxiety and developing a healthy relationship with their digital devices.
Building a Healthier Digital Culture
For there to be good digital well-being channeling itself into a means, the decisive collective effort must prevail. This must include schools, workplaces, and policymakers setting up schemes that facilitate good digital habits, starting from the promotion of digital literacy to imposing screen time restrictions and raising awareness about the negative mental health consequences stemming from digital over-consumption.
Conclusion
The rise of anxiety and depression in the digital age is a complex issue influenced by social media, digital overload, and cyberbullying. Although technology has offered great benefits, its detrimental effects on mental health must be acknowledged and acted upon. Through the functioning of digital wellness with mindfulness and responsible use of technology, the individual balance can be regained, to a level, and the negative influences of digital consumption can be minimized. The future research and policy agendas should turn to the formation of digital environments compatible to an increased degree with mental well-being given that the world becomes more interconnected.
References
- Derks, D., Bakker, A. B., Peters, P., & van Wingerden, P. (2015). Work-related smartphone use, work-family conflict, and well-being: The role of segmentation preference. Human Relations, 68(8), 1205-1228. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726714558938
- Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. (2014). Bullying in the digital age: A critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin, 140(4), 1073-1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035618
- Levenson, J. C., Shensa, A., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B., & Primack, B. A. (2017). The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults. Preventive Medicine, 85, 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.11.013
- Perloff, R. M. (2014). Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns: Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. Sex Roles, 71(11-12), 363-377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-014-0384-6
- Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2017). Digital screen time limits and young children’s psychological well-being: Evidence from a population-based study. Child Development, 89(2), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13007
- Twenge, J. M., Joiner, T. E., Rogers, M. L., & Martin, G. N. (2018). Increases in depressive symptoms, suicide-related outcomes, and suicide rates among U.S. adolescents after 2010 and links to increased social media use. Clinical Psychological Science, 6(1), 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702617723376
