social media – BYTE OF EMOTION

Earlier this year, Little mix member Jesy Nelson, released a documentary called ‘Odd One Out‘ sharing her personal experience and the impact social media, body shaming and trolling had on her mental health. Nelson became part of one of the biggest British girl groups, but she became consumed with trolling and abuse on social media which led to depression, an eating disorder and she also attempted suicide because of the severe impact this all had on her mental health.

A troll is internet slang that categorises users who post inflammatory messages on the internet to provoke emotional responses out of someone. Trolling is a type of cyber-harassment which can occur anywhere on social media, where people post negative thoughts and opinions on someone else. Nelson wanted to raise awareness about the impact of trolling, as it tends to be taken lightly, or is seen as ‘banter’, but trolling can impose serious mental health issues on victims who are constantly being humiliated and targeted by trolls online. Victims usually experience low self-esteem, helplessness, anxiety, depression and it can lead to suicide.

“I was very naive,” says Nelson. “I thought it would be people giving their opinion on our performance. But nearly every comment was about the way I looked: ‘She’s a fat ugly rat’; ‘How has she got in this girl group?’; ‘How is the fat one in this?’
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/08/little-mixs-jesy-nelson-on-
surviving-the-trolls-people-were-saying-horrific-things

In her documentary, Nelson explained how she started to believe everything that people posted about her, she became pre-occupied with her weight and self-image. This eventually escalated and all Nelson longed for was for peoples approval and acceptance. She went on to explain how she felt heartbroken and devastated every single day after she became depressed because of the situation.

When posting our opinions or thoughts online about someone, we have to consider their feelings and the impact one simple comment can have on that person. It is unacceptable to be spiteful or vindictive to another human being, no one likes to be trolled. Stop spreading hate!

Everyday social media is becoming more and more integrated in our day to day lives, but are we monitoring the effect it has on our mental health?

Studies are constantly telling us that there is in fact a relationship between social media and our mental health. It can be both positive and negative, and it ultimately depends on how the individual uses the social media platforms. To make sure the experience is mostly positive, we must find a balance and develop heathy habits when using social media.

TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE A HEALTH RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA:

Make time to switch on and switch off: Set aside a time when you can scroll through social media and a time to switch it off. Switch off at times when you’re with family and friends and before you go to sleep. Going through social media just before bed has proven to have some nasty effects!
Log into social media with a purpose, and stick to it: Be thoughtful about why you are logging in and make sure you sign out when you finish. This will help you control your use on social media the way you want.
Do not compare yourself to others, rather, use their posts as inspiration: It is so easy to get sucked into a cycle of comparing yourself to other people on social media, but try and remember, that moments posted on social media aren’t representative of their real lives! Look at posts as inspiration to work toward your goals. Also, be selective of who you follow!
Think before posting: consider if you’re posting is positive – avoid trolls or online arguments. Make your feed an encouraging place, with a community of support and love!
Put your mental health first: If you feel that you are getting stressed or anxious by something online, it might be a good idea to take a break. Delete apps or disable notifications, leave your phone at home and go outdoors, every little thing could help! Most importantly, do not be afraid to speak about what you are feeling with a loved one or a professional. Your mental health matters.

Being on social media can help enhance your life, but it can also easily become an additional stressor, and potentially bring on symptoms of anxiety or depression. Using some of these tips can help you create healthy social media habits that create balance in your life, protect your mental health, and make your social media use a positive force rather than a negative one.

Cited from MindWise.