Mental Health in the Digital Age: Dealing with Social Pressure on Social Media

Social media plays a very big role in everyday life in this digital era. Supported by platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook, it is very possible for us to expand relationships easily and share activities and lives quickly with many people. In addition to having benefits, social media also has negative impacts that have the potential to disrupt mental health, especially due to social pressure.

There are many benefits generated by social media. This platform makes it easy for users to communicate long distance, becomes a source of fast information from various issues that occur around and even around the world, and a means to be more courageous in expressing oneself. And also, social media can open up business opportunities with high creativity, help someone build a wider network of friends and provide emotional support through online communities.

However, social media can also have negative impacts, such as social pressure due to comparing oneself with other people's lives. Posts about success, physical appearance, or lifestyle often make someone feel unconfident. And again, cyberbullying exposed on social media often makes social media users feel depressed, especially now that social media can be accessed by anyone without age restrictions, including minors. Also, using social media excessively can cause addiction, stress, and sleep disorders.

Although social media has many positive impacts such as facilitating communication, expanding networks and opening opportunities. But social media also has many negative impacts that are very detrimental to oneself, such as social pressure and mental disorders. Therefore, social media users must be wise in applying social media.

Social media is a digital platform that is very much needed in this digital era with many positive and negative sides. By using it wisely, such as limiting access time and focusing on positive content, we can avoid social pressure that is detrimental to mental health, because maintaining mental health is important.