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How does social media affect mental health?
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Social media makes us compare ourselves to others

The way social media portrays the lives of others as perfect means that it makes us compare ourselves to the people we see online.
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The Argument

Social media can have many negative effects on your mental health. It is easy for social media to induce anxiety. We can feel the fear of missing out on social media, by following accounts of friends and acquaintances that might make us feel left out when they post about something we are not invited to. It is also very easy to compare ourselves to ‘influencers' and people who make their life look perfect for a living, as well as friends and acquaintances who only share highlights and hide any negative moments. The culture of social media is not conducive to good mental health - it produces a culture of anxiety.

Counter arguments

We can feel more connected to others due to social media. Rather than leaving us out, social media has the power to bring people together, especially if they live far away.

Premises

[P1] Social media can provide us with negative messages, feelings of lack, and make us compare ourselves to others.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Social media can keep us connected to others, not left out.

References

This page was last edited on Monday, 20 Apr 2020 at 07:41 UTC

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