UQ Wellness Magazine - MAY 26 - Flipbook - Page 21
While social media keeps us
connected, it can also fuel
anxiety. Constant exposure to
trends, from beauty 昀椀lters to
productivity hacks, often sets
unrealistic standards, leaving
many people feeling inadequate
or overwhelmed. It raises an
important question: are these
trends improving our wellbeing,
or encouraging unhealthy
comparison and performance?
Social media is 昀椀lled
with trends and fads
that claim to improve
mental health. They
are often presented as
quick 昀椀xes that suggest
following them will help
overcome personal
challenges. However, this
is not always the case.
While some content
can be bene昀椀cial, it is
often diluted by mental
health misinformation
and algorithms that
repeatedly reinforce
it. This leads us to
question whether health
content on social media
is genuinely helpful or
simply misleading.
on social media instead
of consulting an
accredited practitioner
can result in worsened
mental health outcomes.
themselves participating
without questioning
whether this behaviour
is affecting their
emotional wellbeing.
Not all content is harmful.
Relating to others’
experiences can reduce
feelings of isolation
and create a sense of
belonging. However,
the challenge lies in
distinguishing between
accurate information
and misinformation. This
becomes increasingly
dif昀椀cult when we feel
emotionally invested in
in昀氀uencer content and
lose objectivity.
Research suggests
that platforms such as
TikTok are associated
with reduced attention
span and, in some cases,
impaired cognitive
function. Algorithm
driven content
encourages repeated
consumption of short
form videos, increasing
reliance on social media
for stimulation.
According to a BMC
study, content creators
who share their mental
health journeys can
in昀氀uence viewers to
self-diagnose if they
experience similar
symptoms. The same
study found that seeking
non-professional advice
How Social Media
Trends Affect Mental
Health and Focus
Social media trends
often appear
unexpectedly, drawing
people in even when
they initially seem
pointless. Over time,
many people 昀椀nd
Research published
in Frontiers found
that user generated
health content is highly
addictive, particularly
for young people. The
repeated search for quick
dopamine hits can reduce
overall mental stimulation,
increasing dependence
on social media to 昀椀ll
moments of boredom.
