It’s rare to meet someone nowadays without at least one social media account.
Not too long ago, we communicated in person or via letters or phone calls. Now, we text and email, post on each other’s Facebook walls, tag friends on Instagram and send fleeting videos via Snapchat.
It’s a whole new, digitally powered world which is changing the face of communication.
According to the 2015 Sensis Social Media Report, 49 per cent of Australians use social media at least once a day, with those under 25 the most active.
These elevated numbers have raised concerns about the negative risks that social media poses on our health, with cyber-bullying, depression and sedentary behaviour all linked to its use.
While these issues are present and worthy of attention, it’s also important to acknowledge its positive – and often under-reported – health benefits.
Building community
The most widely recognised benefit of engaging in social media is its effective and efficient ability to create and nurture community.
On Facebook, an endless number of support networks are on offer. From groups uniting brain tumour sufferers, to quit-smoking groups, to region-specific parent support networks, the opportunities to connect seem limitless.
“I didn’t use Facebook at all until I had my daughter Charlotte,” Sydney mother Fran Windon says.
“Unlike most of my friends, I just never got into it.
“But my mothers´ group chose it as the way to communicate privately and arrange play dates. Before long, we were all posting baby photos and chatting on there about everything from car seat advice to child-friendly cafés and good doctors in the area.
“In those roller-coaster first few months after I got home from hospital, I looked forward to those updates and catch-ups.”
Mental health awareness
The issue of social media and mental health holds positives and negatives. A study sponsored by the US National Institute for Mental Health this year found a “strong and significant association between social media use and depression”. The more time users spent on such sites, the higher the incidence of depression, the study reported.
But when it comes to raising awareness of mental health, social media has made effective strides. Organisations such as beyondblue, Headspace and ReachOut are all harnessing the power of targeted digital campaigns to raise awareness of mental health issues, as well as to disseminate information about available support and health events.
With over 505,000 Facebook members, more than 121,000 Twitter followers and nearly 30,000 Instagram followers - and the first not-for-profit to use Snapchat and Tumblr in a campaign aimed at young people - beyondblue has built one of the country's most engaged online health communities.
“The constantly evolving online environment has changed the way everyone gets information, advice and news. beyondblue realises that this presents an opportunity for our messages and programs to reach more people than ever before,” said Dr Stephen Carbone, beyondblue's policy, research and evaluation leader.
“beyondblue uses social media to connect with people and provide useful information and support to those experiencing depression, anxiety or at risk of suicide, and their loved ones.”
Dr Carbone is also quick to point out the traps that social media can pose, such as spending too much time using it, trusting those you shouldn’t, and its ability to impact a person’s self-esteem.
“Social media plays a big role in the lives of young Australians and half of teenagers report that they worry about missing out if they take a break from being online. If you want to use social media mindfully, we encourage people to take breaks from being online, maintain perspective and make time for face-to-face catch-ups with your family and friends.”
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