Weak Genes and Passiveness in Social Media Accounts for Anxiety and Depression
It’s time for a change the way you use social media
Curiosity raised in the Sociology class, when the Professor raised the query: — “What is it, to which most adults of your age are addicted to?”… Before the minds could process, most of the students had already typed it on the internet. A few uttered “se*” while others, their answers. The question was obvious, but the reaction itself was the answer.
According to Ryan Wichtowski (2017), approximately 2.34 billion people used digital devices in 2016; mostly for information, social interaction, and entertainment. The number is expected to rise by 2.95 billion in 2020.
Enthusiasts believe that users develop both technical and social skills with their use. They believe that the mass learns to accept the technology and use it to learn about all the things happening around the world. It use is accepted as a part of everyday life.
However, high dependency and noxious attention on digital devices have many adverse effects on the mind. Dependency, in other words, is addiction. Diversity in activities, thoughts, and interactions favors our brain, not addictions.
Matthew A. Lapierre from the University of Arizona highlighted, “smartphone dependency at the present, directly predicts depressive symptoms later” in his published article “Short-Term Longitudinal Relationships Between Smartphone Use/Dependency and Psychological Well-Being Among Late Adolescents” in 2019.
Adding further to it, Jie Zhang, lead author of “Digital media and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents: A cross-sectional study” states that digital media have detrimental outcomes — distraction in studies, false information, and reduced real-life interactions, all of which may lead to anxiety, depression, and suicidality. The result is based on Chinese adolescents who spent more time on-screen activities. Gender wise, they found girls over boys more susceptible to mental illness and depressive syndrome. This result was supported by a separate US-based study where female college students spent at least 10 hours daily with their cellphones.
Meanwhile, data from Brigham Young University pointed out that the overall time spent on social media is not directly related to teen anxiety and depression. The research led by Prof. Sarah Coyne, entitled “Does time spent using social media impact mental health?: An eight-year longitudinal study” was published by Elsevier. It emphasized mental health as a multi-process syndrome and not just a single stressor is responsible for depression and anxiety among teens.
One stressor, as we know, is the genetic factor.
The Genetic Factor
Prof. Masakado Kawata from Tohoku University, Japan focused on a genetic bleach. He pointed out some functional changes in VMAT1 (Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 1) gene had an association with higher depression symptoms among the modern age adults.
In his paper “Human-specific mutations in VMAT1 confer functional changes and multi-directional evolution in the regulation of monoamine circuits” Masakado states that the VMAT1 protein showed changes at two locations during evolution that reduced its ability to uptake the neurotransmitters such as — serotonin, dopamine, and epinephrine. Human ancestors with the original functionality of VMAT1 could withstand a higher level of anxiety and depression.
This vulnerability is further fueled by social media and virtual interactions.
Psychologist Melissa G Hunt, the author of “No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression” concluded — decreasing the use of social media actually makes you feel less lonely. The substantial social comparison in social media is the culprit. “Seeing the lives of others, you easily conclude that everyone else’s life is better than your own.” — Hunt explains. Once the time spent on social media is reduced, more time can be allocated to things that make you feel better.
Our goal is to look for the methods or change in habits so that the digital media is optimally used alongside reducing the risks to ourselves.
What should you do?
The intertwined relation between digital devices and human beings is virtually inseparable and by no means can we stay untouched of it. But we can implement more healthy habits. They don’t resolve all the problems at once, but the risks are lowered.
Experts suggest more engagement, proper rest and freshening the mind for better mental health. (Quick Reference: Prof. Sarah Coyne)
Be an active user
Interact more on social platforms and become an active user. Passiveness in the social platform not just isolates you, but you stay inexpressive and idle. Eventually, it brings higher risks associated with depression and anxiety. Instead of constantly ruminating, experts suggest that you express opinions and engage with more people.
Sleep Better
Experts suggest limiting the use of social media, at least an hour before sleep. Sound sleep and rest to the mind are the protective factors to better mental health. Adequate sleep maintains the biochemicals and neural signals in the brain to normal levels which contribute to better health.
Get closer to real people
People opt-out going for healthy approaches to cope with life problems due to high digital dependency. They expect everything to come out of Firefox. Talking to a close friend and people can relieve you of the unexpressed thoughts and life issues. If possible, meet a new person each day, talk to them and share views. Accumulation of emotions over a long time hampers the thinking ability and cognition. Save yourself becoming the frog in the well.
Physical activity
Exercise, yoga or other forms of meditation are of great benefit when it comes to mental health. Not only it increases the blood circulation in the mind and body, but it also helps to get rid of the stress left behind.
Be Intentional
It’s a good idea to look for specific people or information on social media. When you are intentional about what you are looking for, you don’t linger around it for long. You revert once the job is done. Brooding into the screen just because you are bored, or want to relax playing games, adds more stress factors to the brain. Eventually, it becomes the worst habit.
