Helen Altieri
UNV 303
David Steimle
Take a Stand Essay
6/7/15

“Social Media’s Catalytic Effects on Mental Distress”

In today’s world, one must avoid social media to avoid a heightened risk of mental stress and disorders. Today’s Internet is no longer a necessity to land connections with potential clients or employers. It is no longer just the key to heightened understanding of earthly functions; not just the door to enhancing quality of life and life’s overall level of convenience. Today, the Internet is key to keeping interpersonal relationships alive. The visibility of personal life activity is more than one wants to see; the Internet is now the racetrack on which humans today practice natural selection and evolve: Natural selection entails surviving mental distress, now due to dawn of digital, non face to face communication. Avoiding social media is necessary for optimum mental health because humans crave face-to-face interaction. Today’s information age includes technologies that make real time, distanced communication possible, diminishing the need for face-to-face communication and thus diminishing individual satisfaction of relationships. “Psychological Aspects of Social Media and Mental Well-Being” identifies the correlation between time used on social media and negative effects on cognitive function. “Individuals who spent more time on social media sites were likely to have lower self-esteem who did not believe their friendships were of great quality or value on social media sites were also found to be at much greater risk for the development of depressive symptoms.” (Baruth, 86). Therefore, less time on social media minimizes the risk of developing said mental disorders. “Facebook Use and Adolescents’ emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress” also provides solutions for youth to steer clear of