The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

Annotated Bibliography
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Annotated Bibliography
1. Introduction
Social media is a new normal in our society. Although several research studies proved its harmful impact on mental health, some studies also validated its benefits for the development of mental health. It depends on the way social media is used. Studies also predicted its increasing damage to people's mental well-being in the coming future. However, this annotated bibliography provides different perspectives on the association between social media and mental health by analyzing several research studies and published data. The references used for this annotation include books, quantitative and qualitative studies from journals, contemporary periodicals such as newspapers and magazines, websites, speeches, and reports. They are useful for potential future research on the topic "The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health" because it provides different perspectives on the topic from diverse viewpoints. The annotation of various sources shows that social media has positive and negative effects on mental health. It is critical for the users to keep a strict check on the content they interact with, the amount of time they spend, and the people they connect with to avoid its adverse consequence taking a toll on mental health and well-being. Social media can be both beneficial and harmful for the mental health of its users, and it depends on the way people use it. In several cases, social media helped individuals improve their mental health, and various studies show it destroyed users' mental health, particularly adolescents, young adults, and teenagers.
2. Annotations
2.1.Source 1
Citation
Aboujaoude, E., & Starcevic, V. (2015). Mental health in the digital age. Oxford University Press.
Annotation
This book source provides insights into technological advancements and their benefits and drawbacks to human psychology. The book has two parts; the first part reflects the increasing dependence on digital technology and its consequences. It says that increased reliance on digital technology results in psychological problems. The growing use of internet games promoted through social media harms the human mind increasing anxiety and aggression and encouraging suicidal thoughts. The second part of the book focuses on the positive side of digital technology in dealing with mental health issues. The readings are helpful for mental health providers as they learn how digital technology can help treat psychiatric patients, such as developing therapy programs for psychology through social media platforms or apps and using electronic records to improve mental health. The source is useful as it provides an evidence-based perspective through case studies and offers a new view that links mental health issues to video games on social media.
2.2Source 2
Citation
Arntfield, M., & Swart, J. (2018). Social media and mental health. Cognella Academic Publishing.
Annotation
The author of this book source investigates the relationship between technology and the increasing psychological disorders among the population. Society has faced severe threats of mood disorders, criminal acts, and significant dysfunctional conduct in young adults, specifically in the U.S. The book is an incredible source for mental health providers, policymakers, judicial specialists, and educationalists to realize the adverse effects of social media, which causes several psychosocial disorders. Mental health providers can address addiction, abuse, bullying, suicidal behaviour, and depression caused by increased screen time. Some chapters explain the damaging impact on relationships because of idealism, fantasies, and hatred that prevail through social media, leading to psychological issues. The book is helpful for the mental health providers to understand the new inclinations of social media users toward entitlement, attention quest, and self-promotion that results in depression and psychological issues when unmet.
2.3Source 3
Citation
Berryman, C., Ferguson, C., & Negy, C. (2017). Social media use and mental health among young adults. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(2), 307-314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-017-9535-6
Annotation
This quantitative study focuses on increasing concerns over the future harmful effects of social media. Numerous studies suggest that social media can harm mental health and provoke suicidal thoughts. In contrast, studies show that social media prove to be encouraging for mental health development. This source mainly assesses the user's engagement in vaguebooking, i.e., the posts that do not have clear meaning but are posted for attention-seeking purposes. The research findings explain that social media directly does not contribute to mental health issues, but vaguebooking is the reason for psychological impairment. The term itself is prone to suicidal ideation, and it leads to several mental health concerns, including anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal predisposition. So a mental health provider may find it helpful as a study paper in clinical psychology for the diagnosis of new mental health issues.
2.4Source 4
Citation
Charles, S. (2019). However, teens, but not adults, suffer mental health disorders linked to social media. NBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2022, from /health/mental-health/social-media-linked-rise-mental-health-disorders-teens-survey-finds-n982526
Annotation
The website source discussed the increasing mental health issues among teenagers for a decade, which is attributed to the rise in the use of social media. American Psychological Association's research found increasing cases of psychological distress in the generation born after 1995. The teenagers reported more suicidal attempts since 2010, and their act is considered a generational change in mental disorders. Social isolation is the primary factor causing depression which cannot be overcome through electronic communication. The reported symptoms have been increasing with the rise of social media platforms. The article allows mental health providers to analyze the survey data to understand the link between mental health and social media app use.
2.5Source 5
Citation
Coyne, S., Rogers, A., Zurcher, J., Stockdale, L., & Booth, M. (2020). Does time spent using social media impact mental health?: An eight-year longitudinal study. Computers In Human Behavior, 104, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.106160
Annotation
The quantitative study is a cross-sectional study conducted over eight years. Five hundred participants aged between 13 and 20 were selected for the investigation who responded to questionnaires once a year. This study aimed to examine mental changes in people over time. The findings concluded no apparent connection between social media use and mental health disorders. Though the survey discovered that increase in time spent on social networking sites shows a moderate increase in depression and anxiety. The methodology used to collect information was questionnaires. The research result may shift the interests of mental health providers and researchers to the screen time, content, and context viewed by individuals. As a mental health provider, this study is useful in understanding the contribution of screen time to mental health issues.
2.6Source 6
Citation
Criddle, C. (2021). Social media damages teenagers' mental health, a report says. BBC News. Retrieved 10 April 2022, from /news/technology-55826238.
Annotation
The newspaper article posted by the BBC enlightens the research study, which found that excessive social media use damages teenagers' psychological condition. The analysis exhibits that every child has almost identical self-esteem and mental health level, which starts deteriorating at 14. Their well-being is subject to decline with age, making them conscious about their appearance, reducing their self-esteem, and increasing insecurity. The condition is linked to extra use of social media. The study also finds that girls are more prone to psychological problems than boys. The article provides a strong case for mental health providers to focus on the transition period from childhood to adolescence, crucial for individuals' mental and emotional well-being. The pandemic has made the situation even worse due to a decrease in physical and sports activities of children shifting interest towards social media platforms.
2.7Source 7
Citation
Grünewald, Z. (2019). Impact of social media and screen-use on young people's health (p. 1-83). Fourteenth Report of Session 2017–19, U.K.: Authority of the House of Commons. Retrieved from https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmsctech/822/822.pdf
Annotation
The parliament report by the House of Commons investigates the benefits and drawbacks of increasing the use of social media by children. The report emphasizes protecting children from the harmful effects of social media sites through legislation and regulations. It requires a code of practice to report inappropriate content for users below 18. The government should collaborate with technology firms, researchers, and authorities for information sharing. Social media offer exposure to violence, hate speech, cyberbullying, explicit images, pornography, terrorism content, body image, child abuse, and sexual exploitation, contributing to psychological problems. The report stresses the need to control the content on social media. The platform can be used for digital literacy, training, learning, and education resources for the children, parents, and teachers. Parental awareness and engagement are highly significant. Mental health providers can find the report very useful to identify the missing link that makes social media harmful to children's mental health.
2.8Source 8
Citation
Iwamoto, D., & Chun, H. (2020). The Emotional Impact of Social Media in Higher Education. International Journal of Higher Education, 9(2), 239. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v9n2p239
Annotation
This source provides a qualitative analysis of the research study, which focuses on identifying the emotional impacts of social media. Students' increasing use of social media has been witnessed today, significantly influencing their behaviour and lives. People seek social support on social media platforms, but it comes with costs. The author explains its negative influence on mental well-being. People pursue unrealistic expectations by following social media, increasing self-comparison. This behaviour results in reduced self-esteem and -self-confidence. The study is useful as it allows mental health providers to investigate the association between social media use and mental health issues, particularly among students. The research findings submit that people are socially connected through these social platforms, but their level of association is not mean that they can feel an emotional connection. The psychological issues arise because of social comparison theory and the absence of valuable associations.
2.9Source 9
Citation
Jantz, G. (2021). Social media and depression. Rose Publishing.
Annotation
The book presents a profound analysis of the social media dilemma in our society, which has psychologically affected the population. The author emphasizes self-assessment of oneself to learn about their vulnerabilities, which can impact their mental well-being. The book offers practical guidance for increasing awareness about the vigilant use of social media sites. It is concluded that social media takes a toll on mental health due to excessive or imbalance use. Self-evaluation test is helpful for a mental health provider to understand the negative consequences of social media excessive use and 20 different questions to assess if you have problematic behaviour. Mental health can be checked through 7 other signs, considered the warning. The strategies for the positive use of social media are enlisted, contributing to a mental health provider's therapy of psychological patients.
2.10Source 10
Citation
Johnson, J. (2022). Social media and mental health: Depression and psychological effects. Medicalnewstoday.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022, from /articles/social-media-and-mental-health#the-link/articles/social-media-and-mental-health#the-link.
Annotation
This source is a medical news magazine that identified a strong link between social media and psychological issues. The author state that the young population spends 9 hours on average per day on social media. The article explains that social media disrupts sleep, resulting in memory loss and depression. Mental health providers can find some new studies in this article useful for exploring the influence of social media on mental health in a distinct way. Social media also expose individuals to cyberbullying, negatively affecting their mental health. The spread of ru...