Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health? | Bailey Parnell | TEDxRyersonU

TEDx Talks
22 Jun 201714:44
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRBailey Parnell explores the negative impacts of social media on mental health, highlighting common stressors like the Highlight Reel, Social Currency, F.O.M.O., and Online Harassment. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing these issues and suggests strategies for a healthier social media experience.

Takeaways
  • 📱 The script addresses the internal monologue of social media scrolling and its impact on mental health.
  • 🌄 Bailey Parnell shares her personal experience of going on a 'digital detox' vacation and the anxiety of disconnection.
  • 🧐 The speaker highlights the unintended consequences of social media on mental health, particularly among the younger demographic.
  • 🔄 Social media acts as a personal highlight reel, often leading to comparison and feelings of insecurity.
  • 👀 The concept of 'Social Currency' is introduced, where likes and shares equate to perceived value and self-worth.
  • 📉 The fear of missing out (FOMO) is identified as a social anxiety stemming from social media use.
  • 😡 Online harassment is a significant stressor, especially for marginalized groups, and contributes to mental health issues.
  • 💉 The script likens the addictive nature of social media to substance dependencies, with dopamine release linked to likes and engagement.
  • 📉 Studies show a correlation between high social media use and increased levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts among young people.
  • 🛠 The importance of recognizing the problem of social media's impact on mental health is emphasized as the first step to addressing it.
  • 🌐 The speaker advocates for 'safe social' practices, including auditing one's social media diet and curating a healthier online experience.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of Bailey Parnell's discussion?

    -Bailey Parnell discusses the unintended consequences of social media on mental health.

  • Why did Bailey Parnell take a no-work vacation to Jasper, Alberta?

    -Bailey Parnell took a no-work vacation to Jasper, Alberta, to disconnect from social media and email, experiencing a digital detox.

  • What is 'phantom vibration syndrome' as experienced by Bailey during her vacation?

    -'Phantom vibration syndrome' is a condition where someone feels their phone vibrating when it is not, often due to the habit of checking their phone frequently.

  • What was Bailey's realization about social media after her vacation?

    -Bailey realized that social media was causing her anxiety, stress, and withdrawals, leading her to question its impact on herself and her peers.

  • What is the demographic Bailey Parnell primarily works with in her career in social marketing?

    -Bailey Parnell primarily works with 18- to 24-year-olds, the most active demographic on social media.

  • What are the top three diagnoses found on University campuses according to the center for collegiate mental health?

    -The top three diagnoses found on University campuses are anxiety, depression, and stress.

  • How does Bailey describe the 'Highlight Reel' on social media?

    -The 'Highlight Reel' on social media is a collection of the best and brightest moments, where people post their wins or when they look great, leading to constant comparison with others.

  • What is 'Social Currency' in the context of social media?

    -'Social Currency' in social media refers to likes, comments, and shares that attribute value to a post or person, similar to how money attributes value to goods or services.

  • What is 'F.O.M.O.' and how does it relate to social media?

    -'F.O.M.O.' stands for 'fear of missing out', a social anxiety that arises from the fear of missing potential connections, events, or opportunities, which is a common stressor in social media use.

  • What is the impact of online harassment on social media users?

    -Online harassment can lead to severe mental health issues, affecting 40% of online adults and being more prevalent among women, LGBTQ individuals, people of color, and Muslims.

  • What are some strategies Bailey suggests for maintaining a healthier social media experience?

    -Bailey suggests recognizing the problem, auditing one's social media diet, creating a better online experience by unfollowing negative influences, and modeling good behavior online.

Outlines
00:00
📱 Social Media's Impact on Mental Health

Bailey Parnell introduces the concept of the internal monologue experienced while scrolling through social media and its potential negative impacts on mental health. The speaker shares a personal experience of going on a vacation without social media for the first time in years, highlighting the anxiety and withdrawal symptoms experienced during the disconnection. This leads to a discussion on the unintended consequences of social media, particularly among the most active demographic of 18- to 24-year-olds, and the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among university students. The talk emphasizes the need to critically engage with social media and its effects on mental well-being.

05:02
🤔 The Stressors of Social Media

This paragraph delves into four common stressors associated with social media use: the Highlight Reel, Social Currency, F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out), and Online Harassment. The Highlight Reel refers to the curated best moments people share, leading to comparisons and insecurities. Social Currency discusses how likes, comments, and shares are seen as a form of value, affecting self-worth. F.O.M.O. is identified as a social anxiety stemming from the fear of missing out on connections or events. Lastly, Online Harassment is highlighted as a significant issue, especially for vulnerable groups, and its potential long-term psychological effects. The speaker calls for recognition of these stressors and their impact on mental health.

10:03
🛡️ Safeguarding Mental Health in the Digital Age

The final paragraph focuses on the importance of 'safe social' practices to mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health. The speaker refutes the idea of completely abandoning social media, instead advocating for awareness and strategies to create a healthier online experience. This includes auditing one's social media diet, curating a more positive online environment by unfollowing negative influences, and modeling good behavior. The talk concludes with the message that social media does not have to harm mental health and can be a source of inspiration and laughter when used mindfully.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Highlight Reel
A highlight reel is a curated collection of the best moments or achievements. In the context of social media, it refers to people posting only their most positive or glamorous experiences, which can create unrealistic comparisons and contribute to feelings of inadequacy. The speaker mentions this to illustrate how social media often showcases an idealized version of life, causing users to compare their own mundane realities unfavorably.
💡Social Currency
Social currency refers to the value and influence a person gains through their presence on social media, measured in likes, comments, shares, and followers. This concept is crucial to understanding the speaker's point about how people tie their self-worth to the amount of attention and validation they receive online. This phenomenon can lead to anxiety and a distorted sense of identity.
💡F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out)
F.O.M.O. stands for the fear of missing out, a social anxiety stemming from the belief that others are having more rewarding experiences. The speaker discusses how this anxiety drives people to stay constantly connected to social media, even if it negatively impacts their mental health. This term highlights the pressure to always be in the loop and the stress that results from this constant connectivity.
💡Online Harassment
Online harassment encompasses abusive behaviors such as bullying, threats, and shaming that occur on digital platforms. The speaker points out that a significant number of people experience or witness online harassment, and it can have severe emotional and psychological effects. The mention of Tyler Clementi's case exemplifies the tragic consequences of unchecked online harassment.
💡Addiction
Addiction in this context refers to the compulsive need to engage with social media, often at the expense of one's well-being. The speaker compares social media addiction to substance dependencies, noting how the constant need for validation and the dopamine hits from likes and comments can lead to a cycle of dependency. This comparison underscores the seriousness of excessive social media use.
💡Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. In the context of the video, it refers to the chemical reaction in the brain triggered by social media interactions, such as receiving likes and comments. The speaker uses this to explain why social media can be so addictive, as the pursuit of these dopamine hits can lead to compulsive behavior.
💡Audit Your Social Media Diet
Auditing your social media diet involves critically evaluating the content you consume online and its impact on your mental health. The speaker suggests this as a step towards creating a healthier online experience, where users assess how their social media interactions make them feel and make changes to improve their mental well-being. This practice is akin to monitoring nutritional intake for physical health.
💡Social Media Wellness
Social media wellness refers to maintaining a healthy and balanced relationship with social media platforms. The speaker advocates for recognizing the negative effects of social media and implementing strategies to mitigate them. This concept involves being mindful of how social media use affects mental health and taking proactive steps to ensure a positive experience online.
💡Economy of Attention
The economy of attention is a concept where attention is treated as a valuable commodity that social media platforms compete for. The speaker explains that likes, comments, and shares are transactions in this economy, attributing value to content based on the attention it receives. This idea is crucial for understanding how social media platforms monetize user engagement and influence behavior.
💡Micro Moments
Micro moments refer to brief, everyday interactions on social media that may seem insignificant individually but can accumulate to have a significant impact over time. The speaker uses this term to explain how repeated small instances of online harassment or negative interactions can lead to substantial mental health issues. Recognizing these micro moments is essential for addressing the broader problem.
Highlights

The speaker, Bailey Parnell, discusses the unintended consequences of social media on mental health.

Parnell shares her personal experience of going on a no-work vacation and disconnecting from social media.

She describes the initial struggle of disconnecting, including phantom vibration syndrome and constant checking of her phone.

Parnell notes that by the fourth day of her vacation, she was finally comfortable without her phone.

She questions the impact of social media on herself and her peers, leading to her master's research on the subject.

Parnell has worked in social marketing, primarily in higher education, and is familiar with the most active demographic on social media.

She emphasizes the need to critically engage with social media, especially given its pervasive influence on young adults.

The Center for Collegiate Mental Health found that anxiety, depression, and stress are the top three diagnoses on University campuses.

High social media use is linked to increased levels of anxiety and depression, affecting a wide demographic.

Parnell identifies the Highlight Reel as the first stressor on social media, where people compare their behind-the-scenes with others' highlight reels.

Social Currency is the second stressor, where likes, comments, and shares become a form of value attribution.

F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out) is the third stressor, causing social anxiety and influencing decisions to stay connected.

Online Harassment is the fourth stressor, disproportionately affecting women, LGBTQ individuals, people of color, and Muslims.

Parnell discusses the everyday instances of online harassment and their cumulative negative effects.

She highlights the biological responses and addiction-like behaviors associated with social media use.

Parnell suggests that social media can be a tool for good, but it requires awareness and responsible use.

She recommends auditing one's social media diet and creating a better online experience by unfollowing negative influences.

Parnell concludes by encouraging a 'safe social' approach to using social media, focusing on inspiration, laughter, and motivation.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Social MediaMental HealthAnxietyDepressionStressOnline ExperienceSelf-WorthFOMOHarassmentWellness