Something that I found pertaining to my life was the idea that social media can be a catalyst to multiple mental illnesses. As someone who already struggles with mental health, I agree with the arguments made by Pharnell and Gallucci in Social Media is Making Us Unsocial. I began forming an online presence when I was in middle school and I found it extremely easy for me to ignore my life stressors by getting online. There are high rates of depression and anxiety linked to high usage of social media- people are attributing more worth to their online friends than those directly in front of them, Parnell mentions (2019, 2:59-3:21). Why are people choosing to find empty support from those so called “friends” online, when they could turn to their best, physical friend for advice? Social media blocks us from expressing out authentic selves… the ones only real friends see. I also believe that in choosing social media over the people in you immediate circle can feel exciting- you’re making new connections but those connections are often superficial if they never turn into physical relationships. People often turn to social media to present only the perfect parts of life, neglecting to mention that they are going through some amount of high stress- just like most people, but nobody wants to talk about that. Not only is one’s online presence being perfectly formulated, people are also relating their own self worth to the like button on any social media platform (Gallucci, 2019, 4:30-4:51).Not only does social media distract someone from their own problems, it can be someone’s indicator of how “cool” they are. I find this to be very heartbreaking- someone attributing their worth to their Instagram likes.

Gallucci, Kristin (2019, November) Social Media is Making Us Unsocial [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66cD5En8Vfg (Links to an external site.) Pharnell, Bailey (2017, June) Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health? [Video]. Youtube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czg_9C7gw0o