Digital Nutrition: How Social Media Consumption Affects Our Mental Diet
The concept of “Digital Nutrition” was introduced by Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist based in Sydney. It aims to elucidate the impact of social media habits on mental well-being and offers guidance on cultivating healthy digital habits to enhance overall digital well-being.
“Digtal Nutrition” serves as a guilt-free philosophy, encouraging intentional and intelligent use of digital platforms, as well as mindful consumption of digital content.
Research exploring the relationship between social media use and mental well-being yields diverse findings. While some studies explicitly outline potential adverse health effects of digital platforms, others emphasize their positive impacts.
The mental health outcomes of social media usage hinge largely on the nature of content and the time spent on various platforms. Exposure to cyberbullying or content featuring violence, sexuality, and hate can have severe negative effects on mental health, especially among children, adolescents, and young adults. Conversely, online platforms can foster social and emotional connections, potentially improving the mental health of minority communities facing health disparities and chronic conditions.
Increasing evidence suggests that individuals comparing themselves to digitally-altered images or measuring their social media popularity against others are more susceptible to negative mental health consequences, such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, social media use has been linked to body image concerns and an increased risk of serious psychiatric disorders like eating disorders.
On a positive note, positive social media experiences, such as engaging in online conversations during lonely hours or building healthy social networks, are associated with happiness, meaning, purpose, physical and mental health, character development, close relationships, and financial stability.
Concerning time spent on social media, evidence suggests that daily exposure of 1-2 hours could benefit children and adolescents. However, negative effects are more likely when social media usage overshadows activities promoting well-being, such as physical exercise, sleep, and offline social interactions. Therefore, providing clear scientific information about both positive and negative consequences of social media usage is crucial for the safer use of these platforms, particularly for children and their families.
Doomscrolling, a relatively recent focus in mental health research, characterizes the habit of incessantly scrolling through social media in search of depressing and negative information. A surge in doomscrolling has been observed during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, possibly driven by the uncertainty surrounding the disease, prompting people to seek information online, primarily negative news.
Persistently exposing the brain to negative news through endless scrolling significantly increases the risk of anxiety, fear, stress, and depression. This habit can disrupt sleep patterns, drain energy, and physiologically, lead to a constant release of stress hormones like cortisol. Sustained high levels of stress hormones can exhaust the brain and body, contributing to physical and mental health issues.