That’s the Number of People Around the World who Use Social Media Platforms—5,169,999,998 and Counting!
Regardless of the time we spend or the platforms we use, social media has become a natural part of our lives and thus affects us in a way or another. Therefore, it’s only logical to get some exposure about how the general public uses social media and in what forms it affects us. In this post, we’ll discuss social media usage patterns and its effects both on mental health and sleep patterns. Hopefully, by the end of this, we’ll get a general sense of what we as individuals can do to prevent the associated side effects.
To understand social media usage, its impact on mental health, and sleep patterns among Lebanese young adults, we conducted a survey titled How Does Social Media Affect Your Mental Health and Sleep? The survey collects information about Demographics, Media Consumption Habits, Mental Health, and Sleep Patterns. Through these categories, the study aims to shed light on the potential correlations between social media habits and well-being, especially during this period of heightened uncertainty.
Did You Know? You Might Spend Over 3 Years of Your Life on Social Media
A shocking statistic indicates that a considerable amount of respondents spend 6-10 hours a day on social media. Over a lifetime, this adds up to 15 years spent on screens—assuming someone starts at age 15 and lives to 75. That’s a significant chunk of life devoted to scrolling! Such prolonged usage often goes unnoticed, but its cumulative effects can impact mental health, productivity, and even personal relationships.
Most social media users tend to spend their time online during the evening and late at night, which reflects a shift toward using social media as a means of unwinding after a busy day, but it also raises concerns about how late-night scrolling could affect sleep patterns, we’ll observe that at a later stage.
When it comes to content, political and local news dominate the types of information consumed, followed by global events, entertainment, and health updates, this indicates that the majority of respondents are constantly concerned of the current events throughout their day. And while staying informed is valuable, the overwhelming focus on political and local issues can cause stress. As users, we must be mindful of the information we consume and how it affects our emotional well-being. Social media can be a powerful tool for learning and connection, but only if we balance its usage.
Overwhelmed by the News? How Negative Headlines Are Taking a Toll on Your Wellbeing
The majority of respondents admit to taking breaks from consuming news due to its negative impact on their mood, indicating that they are overwhelmed by what they’re experiencing, we are interested to know more details about the feelings associated with this. It turns out that the feelings of stress, sadness, and impaired concentration— reported as the most common emotional responses to social media— are one of the causes of such discomfort, which when coupled with the widely consumed form of news (political and local news) gives a clear evidence on the existence of a feedback loop where consuming stressing news creates negative emotions, which in turn diminishes our ability to concentrate and process information effectively.
In addition, users perceive news as burdensome, unsafe, and addictive, which underscores how many users feel trapped in a cycle of negative content. The fact that “relaxing” ranked the lowest among descriptors reveals news consumed are affecting users’ wellbeing. Social media’s focus emotional stories is causing this perception, which leaves users drained rather than relaxed or entertained. This begs for an action we must take: rather than passively consuming whatever is presented, we should actively seek balanced, credible sources, and most importantly, to avoid mindlessly checking the news throughout the day, but to assign specific times to do so, for example, in the afternoon or a brief amount of time. This way, we can reduce feelings of helplessness and focus on news that inform us, while going about our daily lives in a healthy manner.
Social Media and Stressful News Are Disrupting Your Sleep
The first visualization shows a clear trend: as screen time on social media increases, the likelihood of users reporting a negative impact on their sleep quality increases as well. This is especially apparent for people who spend 30 minutes or more using social media. This underscores the role of prolonged screen exposure in disturbing natural sleep cycles, likely due to overstimulation and the mental strain caused by engaging with stressing or conflict related content. For those seeking better sleep, cutting down on screen time—especially before bedtime—may the solution to get better sleep, hence improving life aspects such as productivity and mood.
The second visualization links frequent sleep disturbances with a negative perception of news consumption. Users who frequently experience disrupted sleep are more likely to report that consuming news has a negative effect on their mood and mental state. This suggests that poor sleep can heighten emotional sensitivity, making the consumption of stressful or burdensome news even more overwhelming.
Recommendations
Although social media provides benefits, it’s proving to having a toll on mental health and sleep, especially in such times of war. Poor sleep, linked to excessive screen time and negative news consumption, further compounds these issues, leaving individuals emotionally drained. In a country already facing immense pressures, mindful media consumption and digital boundaries are essential steps toward preserving mental and physical well-being. As social media users, we can prevent the symptoms we’ve mentioned by:
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Limit social media use, especially before bed.
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Assign specific times for checking updates to avoid overstimulation.
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Follow credible, balanced sources and avoid doom-scrolling or consuming emotionally charged content excessively.
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Take regular breaks, practice mindfulness, and engage in activities that promote relaxation and emotional recovery.
Please tell us about your plans through this form: https://forms.gle/ej1afPQ6W5tBQET98
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