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Social Media and Mental Health: Finding Balance in a Digital World

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Welcome to "Wellness Spectrum", the podcast where we dive into all things health. I'm Marcus, your host, and today we're gonna talk about something that's pretty much a part of every young person's life these days — social media. Shall we?!

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[LOCUTOR]

Social media is such a big and delicate topic. So I'm pretty excited to share with you guys an insight on something very current: the state of our mental health in a world full of digital platforms. It's amazing how much social media has become a part of our daily lives. It's so convenient for everything; from finding a restaurant menu to getting product reviews or following tutorials. I open my favorite social media platforms every day to catch up with friends and see what they're up to. But if I'm not careful, I can easily lose myself for hours and hours just watching quick, viral videos. Social media has a way of drawing you in, sometimes for hours on end. It's like you can't put your phone down, and that's where the problems start. One thing I've noticed, and I'm sure you, my listener for today's podcast, have too, is how it can become almost like an addiction.

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And that's a big issue. I mean, it's designed to be addictive, right? The endless scrolling, the notifications — it's all programmed to keep us coming back for more. And before we know it, hours have passed. When it comes to kids and teens, this can really mess with their ability to focus on anything else, like schoolwork or even just enjoying some offline time. Constant exposure to rapidly changing videos can shorten attention spans, making it harder for people to concentrate on tasks that require focus for a longer time. This is why balance is essential. We can use our phones and computers for social media, but we also need to spend time reading a book, going to the movies or socializing in real life. Basically, doing other activities besides scrolling through our phone. There's a lot of good that comes from social media too. For one, it keeps us connected with our friends, even if we can't see each other in person that much. It's like our social lives exist, but online.

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It's amazing how we can stay in touch so easily. And besides just staying connected, I think social media can also be a great place for us to express ourselves. I have a cousin, who is only sixteen, who loves sharing her recipes on social media, and the feedback she gets really boosts her confidence. Another relative of mine, my nephew, who is fifteen, does the same with his drawings. Social media is a creative tool that's really empowering for them. They get to share what they love and connect with others who appreciate it.

It's not just about creativity — it can also be a source of support. That's one of the great things about social media — it can bring people together around shared experiences. But, of course, there's a downside to all of this too. As much as social media can be a positive influence on us, it can also cause a lot of anxiety, stress and even depression.

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Sometimes, teens can get caught up comparing themselves to the perfect lives portrayed on social media. People often share only their best moments, like vacations and dinners and parties. It can be difficult to see these "perfect" images and realize that everyone's lifes also includes homework, chores and less glamorous moments. People rarely post about stress or unhappiness, so it's easy to fall into a comparison trap and overlook everyday difficulties. Social media can create pressure to live up to unrealistic standards, which can be harmful to teenagers' self-esteem. The best solution for this is: bear in mind that social media life is different from real life. Understanding that the life portrayed in social media is different from the one we're actually living is core to being more aware of our surroundings, separating what we see online from what we may encounter in real life. And let's not forget how all this screen time can affect our sleep! All that information will stimulate your brain, making it more difficult to relax before bed. It can start messing with our schedule. It tends to fall into a terrible cycle. Lack of sleep can make us more anxious, and then we turn to social media for distraction, which just keeps us up even later. Social media has some real benefits, but also some serious risks. In my opinion, it's all about balance. It's important to enjoy the positives — staying connected, expressing ourselves, while being aware of the negatives. Encouraging open conversations with our family and friends about how social media makes us feel is also key. It's not about banning social media altogether, but about using it in a healthy way. We need to find the right balance so we can get the good without falling into the traps. When we reach this balance, we can navigate this digital world in a way that protects our mental health.

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[LOCUTOR]

And that's a wrap for today's episode of the "Wellness Spectrum". Thanks to everyone listening. Remember, balance is key. Take care of yourselves and your minds. We'll catch you next time! Bye!

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This production used audios from Envato Elements and Yan Maran. Voice by Leandro Teroel.