According to a magazine that I read yesterday, social media can make people feel lonely and depressed

The comparison aspect is one part, but the part that is less talked about is that it takes the place of social interaction, even when people are with each other in person. I recently listened to a podcast with a psychiatrist who is currently head of the longest running human study ever (84 years) following the same friends and family from one neighborhood throughout their lives. He (among many others) emphasized the importance of human connection. Those who were happiest in old age had really good relationships with their friends and family.

People think they're getting the same (or similar) relationships from social media, but it's obviously not the same. It's not just social media either, it's all of technology that is at one's fingertips instead of being in the moment and focusing on people.

Indeed, the problem is that people post only good things on social networks, that is, all problems remain out of the picture. I think it will not be superfluous for all of us to put screen time on social networks and spend more time on real life. Communication with family, friends, colleagues and so on.

Quote from HwaGoose

So, I guess that if people are feeling lonely and depressed, they should be spending less time on social media?

But I guess the reason why some people feel lonely or depressed is because some of them might scroll through social media and see other people having a life that seems better than theirs.

E.g. a person could be seeing photos of a former classmate being married and having two children, having fun with friends and maybe also showing pictures of themself in the gym exercising and looking all healthy and stuff. And then you end up comparing yourself to that person, and you maybe have never even dated, don't have many friends and also live a bit unhealthy life, and feel like you suck in comparison to that person.

But social media is also pretty much people showing a "glamourized" (or what adjective to use) version of themselves.

Even though I don't think I post a lot on social media.

Display More

I think its more bc of the fact that scrolling on your phone 24/7 leaves no time to go outside, so you lay in your bed all day and isolate yourself

I found out that one of the states in my metro area is one of the top 3 loneliest states in America! Some parts are more remote than others, but I think is important to “reverse connect” with people offline and to never compare yourself to others because everybody’s journey is different.