If you're someone who can't picture life without social media, you might be under the strong influence these platforms have on people. Chances are, you've felt some of the not-so-good effects that social media can bring into our lives.

Regrettably, many of us have faced the real downsides of social media. Let's delve into the actual impacts it has on individuals, so you can recognize these signs and seek help if necessary.

The Downsides of Social Media

Surprisingly, the negative effects of social media can affect both your physical and mental well-being. They have the power to alter how you see the world and yourself. Although social media has its positive side and some uplifting stories, there's also a significant list of drawbacks.

Doubtful? Keep reading for a rundown of the adverse effects of social media. If you identify any of these issues in your own life, it might be time to cut back on your usage or consider stepping away from social media altogether.

Depression and Anxiety

Do you spend a lot of time scrolling through social media? If you do, it might be affecting your mood negatively. People who use social media a lot are more likely to feel mentally unwell, experiencing symptoms like anxiety and depression.

The reason behind this isn't too hard to grasp. Social media shows you the best parts of everyone's lives, carefully chosen and shared. You then compare this to the not-so-great parts of your own life, which only you see. Comparing yourself to others in this way often leads to anxiety and unhappiness, and social media makes it easy to fall into this trap.

So, how can you use social media without messing with your mental well-being? According to research and just plain common sense, it's recommended to spend around thirty minutes per day on social networks. As with many things in life, moderation is key.

If you find yourself feeling down after using social media, think about the platforms you use and the people you follow. Reading political arguments and gloomy news is more likely to make you anxious than enjoying updates from your favorite musicians or pictures of your friend's pets.

Cyberbullying

Before social media, bullying mostly happened face-to-face. Nowadays, it can happen online, with or without anonymity. Everyone knows about cyberbullying, and many have witnessed the harm it can cause.

While social media helps you connect with new people and make friends, it also allows mean-spirited individuals to attack others easily. Bullies can use the anonymity some social networks offer to gain trust and then torment their victims in front of others. For example, they might create a fake profile, act friendly to a classmate, and later betray and embarrass them online.

These online attacks can cause serious mental scars and sometimes push people to harm themselves or even take their own lives. Surprisingly, cyberbullying doesn't only affect kids; adults can also become victims of online abuse. Since screens hide our faces, it's possible to behave badly on social media and other websites without realizing it.

If you're facing this issue, learn how to make your Instagram profile more private and apply the same advice to other social networks.

The Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO, is a feeling that became noticeable when social media gained popularity. It's one of the most common negative impacts of social media on our lives.

Simply put, FOMO is the anxiety you feel when you worry about missing out on a good experience that someone else is having. For instance, you might keep checking your messages to see if someone invited you out or spend the day on Instagram to make sure you're not missing anything exciting. You might also feel left out when you see pictures of your friends doing something fun that you couldn't join because of other responsibilities.

This fear gets stronger from what you see on social media. The more you use social networks, the more likely you are to see someone having more fun than you. That's what triggers FOMO. If you tend to feel this way, learn how to avoid it while using social media, or consider using it less.

Unrealistic Expectations

Most people know that social media creates unrealistic expectations about life and friendships.

Many social media platforms lack authenticity. People use Snapchat to share their adventures, express love on Facebook, and fill Instagram with carefully staged photos.

However, in reality, you can't be sure if all of this is genuine. Despite the appealing facade, that person might be in debt, having issues with their partner, or seeking validation through Instagram likes.

A simple solution to this issue would be for everyone to be honest on social media. But in the age of Instagram influencers and YouTubers making millions by not being authentic, that change isn't happening anytime soon. Keep in mind this important saying: don't compare your everyday life to the best moments of someone else's.

Negative Thoughts about Bodies

Talking about famous folks on Instagram, if you check out their accounts, you'll see incredibly good-looking people wearing fancy clothes on their perfectly shaped bodies.

As expected, this has made many people feel bad about how they look. Seeing so many folks who are supposed to be perfect according to society's standards every day makes you notice how different you look from those pictures. Unfortunately, not everyone comes to good conclusions when faced with this situation.

Remember, everyone is human. No one wakes up looking like a supermodel every day, and not everyone who looks fit has gone to great lengths to train their bodies. Some people, chasing social media fame, have taken unhealthy paths to appear more attractive.

Stick with people who love you for who you are, and you won't have to worry about fake Instagram beauty.

Unhealthy Sleep Habits

Besides causing more cases of anxiety and depression, another downside of social media is that spending too much time on it can mess up your sleep. Several studies have proven that using social media leads to worse sleep.

If you notice your sleep becoming irregular and your productivity dropping, try to cut down the time you spend on social media.

This is especially true when using your phone in bed at night. It's too easy to think you'll spend just five minutes checking your Facebook notifications, only to realize an hour later that you've been mindlessly scrolling through random stuff on Twitter that you don't even care about.

Don't let social media algorithms, designed to keep your attention as long as possible, steal your precious sleep too. Less sleep, especially if it's not good quality, is a harmful, unhealthy mix.

General Addiction

Social media can be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. Many people find themselves constantly checking it without realizing how hooked they are.

If you're unsure whether you're hooked on social networks, think about the last time you went a whole day without checking any. Do you feel bad if someone unfollows you? And if your favorite social networks disappeared tomorrow, would you feel empty and sad?

Ultimately, social media sites want to keep you scrolling for as long as possible to show you more ads and make more money. Due to the attention economy, these sites need your eyes on them as much as they can. Apps like TikTok flood you with quick videos that can mess up your attention span over time.

Just because you've been going too far on social media doesn't mean you have to delete all your accounts. But if quitting seems like the best idea for you, it's not a bad one. Check out our guide to quitting social media if you need help.

How to Deal with the Bad Effects of Social Media

Like everything else, social media has good and bad sides. We've talked about the negative impacts it can have, but you need to decide if it's more helpful or harmful for you.

If you see that social media is hurting your life, stop using it. But if you choose to stay, there are ways to spend less time on it and keep a healthier relationship with it.