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5 Social Media Health and Fitness Tips
It’s here! We are in the new yr. Even however the finish of the 12 months was possible stressful and hectic, fast paced mothers need to have to just take time to treatment for themselves as well. The start of the new calendar year has likely remaining you inundated with strategies, strategies, tips, and challenges to commence or keep on residing a healthier life-style. The reality is, if it’s not sustainable, it won’t final.

Take it from an individual who has previously recognized this. So that is why I’m sharing some fun well being and fitness guidelines I’ve really found benefits from. If you use social media at all, you know the algorithms are following you. You watch a single movie of someone baking an apple pie and the future factor you know you have included all the materials you’ll require to do it by yourself to your Amazon cart. This is just what took place to me right after I started out doing work out regularly and searching for inspiration.

I’m on the overall health and fitness facet of social media!

And even though a good deal of it does not implement to me, these are the best 5 social media health and fitness and health trends I attempted to apply, and I observed some effects!

Protein Shake in Espresso

Observe me on this one for the reason that I know that early morning coffee is sacred to most of us. A thing that I’ve acquired about intentional physique movement (especially power instruction) is that you have to properly fuel your system in buy to see effects. I was not acquiring ample protein in my food plan, and I was struggling since of it. Introducing fifty percent a protein shake (about 15g of protein) to my coffee and then having a protein-rich breakfast immediately after working out in the early morning gave me precisely what I needed to get the most out of my day. A reward also is that it left me fuller for for a longer period which is good due to the fact who has time to make a snack? Ha!

12/3/30 Treadmill Exercise routine

This exercise routine went viral on social media and it works for a cause! I will not lie at 1st these precise figures had been tricky for me. You set your treadmill to 12 incline, 3 velocity, and do that for 30 minutes. Converse about the wrestle! When I initial begun I performed about with the numbers and attempted to make it demanding but continue to doable. Now that I have been undertaking it for a couple months I set on a good exercise routine playlist and get it done. I also consider the treadmill is a excellent workout for mamas due to the fact you can catch up on a exhibit or podcast in silence.

Lemon Juice in Drinking water

When I was a lot younger I was addicted to soda, and rightfully so. I could consume as substantially as I desired without having numerous repercussions, but as I aged that all came crashing down pretty promptly. Our family made the changeover to sparkling water a couple years in the past and very significantly have not appeared back again. But you know how sometimes the bubbles from the La Croix are just not what you’re attempting to get into at the moment? Enter lemon drinking water! I know it appears basic and perhaps even a very little played out, but coming from a person who struggled to drink h2o my full existence, it’s certainly lifestyle-modifying. I will say I think the first transition to sparkling water aided in the softening of my palate for lemon water. It is just a little a little something further. I include a splash of lemon juice to prime off my 32-ounce bottle of iced water that I fill up 2 times a day.

Operating Sneakers

Managing is undoubtedly 1 of my treatment retailers. I loved functioning track in higher school and that rolled more than into my early grownup years. Everyday living caught up with me and I stopped operating for a prolonged time. Honestly, until finally the pandemic began I don’t feel I experienced been on a run considering that my children were being born. So, of training course, I was injured quite rapidly and really generally. A close friend of mine instructed that I spend in some functioning footwear, and she informed me which footwear she used. Tiny did I know how my eyes would be opened when I searched for operating sneakers on Instagram. There are the classics of training course, but actually every single other month there is a new managing shoe which is the “best”. I went to a nearby running retail store and they measured my ft to get me the perfect in good shape. If you have a brand name you want to check out I counsel finding that examination performed beforehand and then looking at if you can purchase what you want from the store. Also what I have observed is that some brand names just work greater for particular types of feet.

Pounds Lifting (Energy Instruction)

Yep, I begun lifting weights and having on the uncomfortable assignment of finding out how to use all of people baffling devices at the gymnasium. If you are any where on the health and fitness facet of social media then you know, cardio is out and power coaching is in. Honestly, I’m not a health and fitness skilled so I just can’t reliably reveal how or why it performs. In limited, muscle mass burns fat so if you are attempting to burn extra fat you need to have to make muscle mass. On top of that, you can have a standard method of lifting weights and toughness coaching with no owning the system of a bodybuilder. I’ve seen significant effects mixing my common cardio regimen with some strength teaching in the combine.

That’s it! These items have actually remodeled my attitude. Specifically simply because a lot of them generate non-scale victories, which I come to feel all moms require.

So, how will you take treatment of by yourself? How will you build a sustainable regime to constantly fill the cup that you pour from? I hope some of these recommendations motivated you! Probably you will even find on your own on the “health and fitness” aspect of social media and come across some inspiration to consider a little something new.

The wellbeing and conditioning ideas higher than are supplied for academic reasons only and do not substitute for specialist professional medical advice. Remember to seek advice from a healthcare expert or healthcare service provider if you’re trying to find clinical assistance, diagnoses, or remedy.
Former reportWays to Allow Your Young ones Assistance with Chores

Jasmin is a little one juggling mama of 4 kiddos! With a six-year-previous and 3 below 2 (sure that signifies TWINS!) there is in no way a boring second in her comprehensive spouse and children lifestyle. A Ga native, Jasmin, and her husband moved to Atlanta from middle Georgia in 2015 after they observed out they ended up expecting their to start with little one. They have lived in a couple destinations around the metro but finally fell in appreciate with the North GA place. They devote their weekends volunteering and expending time outside when they can.
February 28, 2023
How social media is feeding our children quack health tips, toxic masculinity and soft porn

Professor David Strain, chair of the British Health care Affiliation Board of Science, reported that such content is “utter nonsense” but the “real issue is the mental impact”.

“It’s unlikely that having a complete lot of papaya will do you damage, but if you go by means of existence imagining the germs you are dependent on will do you harm, it can result in psychological destruction,” he advised The Telegraph.

Video clips have been posted on TikTok which purported to diagnose significant health care ailments such as hyperthyroidism and autism. Promotions for “anxiety-depleting supplements” ended up also widespread.

All the Telegraph’s accounts were being also bombarded with prior to-and-after entire body comparison video clips, workout regimes and diet program recommendations with headlines such as “the anti most cancers diet”.

TikTok’s “You may possibly like” segment then proposed tendencies like “how to shed 5kg in a week”.

In a pattern that will worry a lot of dad and mom in the wake of the Andrew Tate scandal, teenager boys on both equally platforms have been fed macho content material together with ahead of-and-after shots of intense muscle mass obtain.

On Instagram both equally faux male buyers had been inspired to struggle to “become a man”.

Scenes of criminal offense, accidents and violence on the 13-year-aged boy’s TikTok ended up prolific, which includes murder investigations and knife assaults. A video clip exhibiting a deadly knuckle duster with knives connected was also created accessible (see image).

One online video by an account, termed “masculine uprising”, was promoted quite a few periods to the 13-yr-outdated boy on TikTok.

When clicking through to this account, we uncovered films conversing about how women allegedly “manipulate” males, a single in which a gentleman stated ladies should be banned from carrying lipstick as it’s a type of “sexual arousal”.

The teenager boys accounts ended up also qualified with “testosterone-boosting” supplements and jokes about taking steroids.

“Habits that ruin your testosterone – anxiety, liquor, substantial body body fat,” read one particular submit on Instagram. The alternative: “Supplements that will enhance your testosterone by extra than 100 per cent.”

“There is no purpose at all why a teenage boy should really be taking into consideration their testosterone concentrations,” reported Prof Strain.

Self hurt

In the closing phase of the investigation, the Telegraph actively sought out intense material – such as self damage material – from the sites’ research features.

Instagram was profitable at blocking most search terms and information, but on TikTok the Telegraph was capable to obtain distressing movies in minutes.

A single video on TikTok, which actively praised feeding on problems, read through: “You’re just jealous due to the fact I acquired skinny / due to the fact I have what you want / simply because I didn’t fail my ed [eating disorder].”

Suicide content material was also available on TikTok, with one movie demonstrating tools which can be employed to self-damage.

Dr Lucy Biddle, an associate professor in qualitative psychological health and fitness investigate, who experiments social media and suicide, instructed the Telegraph that this sort of written content is obtainable “without even really trying”.

January 15, 2023
Social media: Top setting tips to promote positive boundaries, mental health for young people
From limiting direct messages from strangers and modifying comment settings to managing mentions, sights, likes, and a great deal a lot more, professionals at C.S. Mott Children’s Medical center established this stage-by-action movie for dad and mom, guardians and young people and youngsters them selves to aid set own boundaries and strengthen mental health and fitness close to several kinds of social media platform use. Credit score: Michigan Medication

When young persons frequently use social media to hook up and interact with friends, many also understand probably unhealthy implications that might come with its use.

A poll of a nationwide sample of youth aged 14-24 identified that many people typically altered social media options or habits to minimize damaging impacts on their self-esteem, temper, associations, psychological wellness and basic safety.

These methods claimed by youth, which ranged from environment time boundaries and unfollowing or blocking certain content to deleting apps altogether, can be harnessed, expanded and mirrored back by wellness suppliers, industry experts say.

“We observed that many younger men and women ended up compelled to self-monitor their social media use due to the fact of their own psychological experiences with it,” claimed Jane Harness, D.O., a little one and adolescent psychiatrist at College of Michigan Well being C.S. Mott Children’s Clinic. “Often this meant switching options to limit publicity to content that evoked destructive thoughts or other self-enforced boundaries.”

But specialists identify that not everyone may possibly be acquainted with approaches to consider edge of social media options.

“Those who are technologically savvy might previously be making use of advanced strategies to modulate use, but others may be less conscious of all the solutions readily available to them,” explained Tammy Chang, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., an adolescent health and fitness health practitioner and well being care researcher at Michigan Medication. “Health companies can choose a extra energetic purpose to teach young people and their family members about approaches to lower dangers of possessing unhealthy experiences tied to social media.”

SEE ALSO: Many young people realize adverse impact of social media and have regarded as deleting accounts

But the social media place can be challenging to navigate, with each system providing unique configurations, and some alternatives are additional effectively-acknowledged than other individuals.

Mother and father of younger young children may perhaps also not be knowledgeable of settings that can assist avert small children from staying uncovered to inappropriate content fed as a result of channels, claims Jenny Radesky, M.D., a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Mott who co-qualified prospects the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new Centre of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Psychological Wellbeing.

“Kids are employing social media at young ages and it is crucial to know the plusses and minuses of distinct platforms — to know which ones to stay away from altogether, which types to co-use with youngsters, and in which to give young ones more independence,” Radesky said. “The goal is to aid youngsters have wholesome associations with this technologies, not come to feel reeled in or creeped out by it.”

Authorities share some of their top setting modifications for well-known web-sites Instagram and TikTok that can aid tutorial young people, caregivers, family members and health vendors.

Major social media setting guidelines for young ones and teenagers

Instagram:
- Underneath the “Privacy” tab in options, there are the possibilities to make the account a personal account, limit unwelcome interactions and block reviews.
- To report a publish, click on on the a few dots in the upper suitable-hand corner of a write-up and then pick to report it. You could select from a record of causes, like spam, nudity or sexual activity, loathe speech, bullying or harassment, false information and facts, violence, fraud, suicide or self-injury, having conditions amid other individuals.
Limiting information exposure and time spent on the application
- End users can hide “like” and “view” counts below the “privacy” tab in the settings, in the “posts” tab.
- There are also options to pick which notifications are turned on and restrict time. This can be completed underneath the “your activity” tab, in the “time spent” tab where by there is an choice to “set reminder to take breaks” and “set day by day time limit.”
- To stay clear of unwanted material, people can go to the “explore” website page, click on on the publish they really don’t want to see, click on on the a few dots in the upper right-hand corner and click “not fascinated.” This will help the algorithm understand to cut down exposure to equivalent articles.
- There are also solutions to unfollow or mute accounts.
TikTok:

Cutting down protection risks
- Tik Tok guidelines point out that they take away content material, like online video, audio, livestream, illustrations or photos, comments and text that violate their group suggestions and accounts concerned in severe or repeated violations. Under specific conditions, particularly when there are basic safety issues, accounts may also be documented to relevant legal authorities.
- To report Tik Tok content, go to the precise movie, push and keep on the online video, find “report” and comply with the instructions. There is also an choice to use an on the internet sort to report videos, comments, direct messages, a sound, a hashtag or particular person.
- By default, accounts for folks underneath age 16 are set to personal (you can approve or deny follower requests and only people you have authorised can see your content.)
- For ages 13-15, direct messaging is not accessible and no one can duet/sew with youthful teens’ videos. For this age team, only “friends” can remark on movies, but there is an alternative to turn off the comments as nicely.
November 18, 2022
7 fitness tips Rebel Wilson’s PT wants you to ignore on social media

According to a 2019 survey, 55{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of ladies aged 25-49 have taken particular well being or conditioning action dependent on what they’ve found on social media. There are big execs, but some even more substantial drawbacks to this. On the one hand, a 2019 examine by the Journal of Psychology uncovered that the far more time gals spend on social media, the additional drive they have to exercise, and your lady is aware how difficult it can be to muster up a little bit of enthusiasm.

On the other, social media (Instagram, TikTok, the ton) is an solely unrestricted sphere. Anybody can upload any articles they want, no matter if they’re certified to be selling said topic or not. This describes why, in accordance to investigation by money.co.united kingdom, a single in 4 influencer exercise session movies give the mistaken assistance, and routines taken from these clips are incorrectly executed up to 80{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the time. Not the a person.

Instagram

So, in the interest of setting the report straight, we termed upon Jono Castano, a PT who has worked with several celebs including Rebel Wilson. Here’s every thing he wants you to flick previous and ignore, no make any difference how convincing they may possibly feel.

1.Ballistic stretching

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For the uninitiated, ballistic stretching is a variety of stretching that will involve fast and sudden actions, in a bid to maximise overall flexibility. Consider a forward fold. Fairly than executing a static stretch reaching towards your toes, a ballistic version would contain bouncing and jerking in the direction of your ft. It’s about pushing your muscle mass past their normal array of movement, and is generally utilised by athletes.

Castano is adamant this is some thing you need to keep away from without the advice of a coach. ‘Without properly warming up the muscles, the jerky movements can lead to sprain or a tear in the tendons or connective tissue that joins the muscle mass,’ he describes. ‘Ballistic stretching, in my view, must be utilised only as soon as the overall body is totally warm or even after a workout. Normally begin with dynamic stretching to heat up.’

Dynamic stretching, FYI, is equivalent to ballistic stretching in that it requires motion, but rather than jerking and forcing your physique into positions, it’s slower and much more normal – no forcing concerned.

2. The ‘no hands’ Stairmaster ‘ab trick’

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Phrase on the TikTok avenue is that not holding on to the rails of a Stairmaster, will give you ‘abs’. Newsflash: it is not going to.

‘The Stairmaster is a cardio equipment that has handrails that are meant to be utilised to cease you from falling, or in situation of a opportunity trip,’ Castano tells us. He suggests there are plenty far more successful, safer core moves to assistance you establish stomach strength: ‘There are several other physical exercises that I like to use with purchasers to create core power, like hanging knee raises, planks and ab roll outs.’

3. At the rear of-the-neck lat pulldowns

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In at range 1 of Castano’s routines to endeavor without the need of a trainer by your side is the powering-the-neck lat pulldown. It’s specifically what you are imagining – instead than pulling the bar down in entrance of you, you pull it at the rear of your neck. Why? It is stated that carrying out the at the rear of-the-neck variation activates your shoulder muscle tissues as effectively as the muscle groups in your back again that a common pulldown does, but it is not as easy (or worthy) as it appears.

‘If you pull the bar down with your arms too far behind your head, it could overstretch your rotator cuff muscles in your shoulder, which are crucial to help your shoulders,’ Castano claims. ‘Without the assist of the rotator cuffs, you are significantly a lot more probably to injure your shoulders.’

A review in the Journal of Power of Conditioning Exploration concurs. Immediately after evaluating the benefits of the front lat pulldown to a at the rear of-the-neck lat pulldown, they discovered that at the rear of-the-neck versions experienced no bearing on the activation of additional muscle groups, and need to thus be avoided.

Castano wagers that you’ll experience the identical benefits from shoulder presses. ‘They’re quite comparable when done with dumbbells, but a lot less risky since the bodyweight is held a little bit in entrance of you.’

4. Barbell soar squats

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If you are something like us, soar squats on your own are no mean feat, so introducing in a barbell appears powerful, but plenty of influencers have been carrying out it. Castano’s firmly in the do not-consider-this-at-residence camp.

‘If you can bounce and land without any soreness, you’re very good to bounce squat. But including weight to this implies an amplified chance of damage. Learning the proper strategy to bounce squats can be extra helpful and utilise additional muscle mass, than adding any volume of excess weight.’

Observed.

5. Rebound box jumps

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Anybody who follows any CrossFitters will have come across rebound box jumps. The CrossFit local community swear by them for velocity and effectiveness, due to the fact they include leaping back again up to the box the next your toes contact the floor. No stepping back again, and no breaks concerning jumps. Some discover that landing on the extremely edge of the box, alternatively than the top, also will make it less difficult, but Castano’s not a lover.

‘Due to the affect on the knees and in an untrained point out, you can really injure oneself, and most likely tear an Achilles tendon,’ he claims. ‘With any work out, it’s best to have the strategy down prior to including to the peak and rate of the jumps.’

6. The ‘one knee’ equilibrium obstacle

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The latest TikTok pattern to do the rounds is the ‘one knee stand up’ problem, which is thought to take a look at your harmony. It will involve having down on a single knee, standing up, then getting back again down on the exact knee with your arms crossed above your chest. Then take the back again foot into your hand and consider to get again up once again, with no permitting go of your foot. Bewildering, we know. Ideally that’s adequate to put you off trying.

‘This pattern to me would seem very effortless to damage on your own and result in personal injury,’ Castano states. ‘It normally takes really a great deal of core strength to do a thing like this and even some of the most innovative athletes would possibly struggle.’

7. Chlorophyll water

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Food items and drink fads occur and fade for a reason, and Castano states the chlorophyll drinking water craze isn’t set to adhere about. Folks assert consuming it every day is genius for lowering swelling in the human body, but Castano suggests there are extra trustworthy factors you can be carrying out.

‘One of them is doing the job out, adopted by stretching and recovery,’ he describes. ‘Getting a fantastic sweat on, rehydrating with (regular – no chlorophyll) water, stretching the system and utilizing much healthier full foodstuff into your diet program is adequate to lessen any inflammation in your overall body. Don’t obtain into fads like drinking chlorophyll h2o.’

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May 8, 2022
Fitness Tips: Martial Arts – What’s Up? Media

There are reasons that martial arts have caught all around for hundreds—and in some circumstances, 1000’s—of yrs. Whether or not they are finding out karate, taekwondo, kung fu, ninjitsu, or any of the other a lot of disciplines, martial artists discover the observe will make them stronger, much more coordinated, additional self-certain, extra concentrated, less pressured, and an in general extra well balanced human being. Hey, what’s not to really like about that?

And no make a difference what age you are, you could learn anything from a martial arts class—it’s a sport that is common with small children, grownups, and even seniors.

Potent, Flexible, and Balanced

What tends to make martial arts so terrific? When you go as a result of a martial arts plan, you uncover that the moves need your total body, operating every single key muscle team. Whilst you aren’t using weights or resistance bands, you nevertheless build toughness from the recurring arm actions like punching and leg movements like kicking. You’ll also work your main since of all the rotations and twisting that the moves call for. On major of that, completing a schedule at an intensive pace will raise your heartrate and give you a calorie-torching aerobic exercise routine.

Working towards martial arts moves will even increase your flexibility and your equilibrium, both of which are crucial for preventing injuries as you grow older. As an impact activity, it’s great for strong bones as properly, consequently reducing danger of disorders like osteoporosis.

Increase Aim and Boost Reaction Time

A martial arts mentor (often called a master or grandmaster) will convey to you the activity is just as terrific for your mind as it is for your physique. Doing the moves calls for precision and concentration to do them effectively. The want to dodge and block assaults while countering them with moves of your have will make improvements to your reflexes and maximize your skill to respond under strain. In actuality, according to a 2018 examine released by the peer-review journal Frontiers in Psychology, men and women who do martial arts love improved stages of alertness that intensifies the extended they have been training.

But these mental gains may provide prolonged-time period pros as effectively. Mastering complex martial arts moves aids your brain form new neuronal connections the very same way studying a new language would, indicating learners are a lot less very likely to acquire problems of degenerative mind function, this kind of as Alzheimer’s.

Sparring, Not Combating

Some folks could have reservations about martial arts simply because they understand it to be about fighting—but that’s not the situation when you’re coaching. When martial arts college students confront off versus each individual other, they are sparring, which means their match is controlled by precise policies. The plan is for pupils to use their tactics whilst demonstrating self-discipline and have confidence in. In the close, the idea is not about successful but in its place about creating both learners much better.

Striving Out Martial Arts

Right before you look for out a martial arts course, give some of the moves a test by incorporating them into your standard exercise session schedule. Right here are 3 that will operate your big muscle mass teams, problem your equilibrium, and get your coronary heart racing:

Chair Kicks

1. Place a uncomplicated chair or bench in entrance of you and stand struggling with it with your feet shoulder width aside. 2. Elevate your knee so your leg is at a 90-degree angle, then extend your leg so you are kicking around the seat of the chair. This is referred to as a mae-geri, or front kick. 3. Retract your leg and return to your standing posture. 4. Repeat the kick with the other leg. 5. Remain sluggish at first so you can preserve good sort by way of the total movement. As you start out to be far more comfortable with a correct front kick, you can decide on up your speed.

Wall Punches

1. Stand at an arm’s length absent from the wall with your legs distribute a little bit farther than shoulder width. Bend your knees a little bit so you are resting your fat on your quads and glutes. 2. Bend your elbows and raise your fists to upper body height, trying to keep your arms as shut to your sides as attainable. 3. Extend your right arm as if you are punching the wall. Come as shut as you can to the wall without having truly touching it. This aids training your self-command as you avoid in fact touching the wall. 4. Provide your arm back again in and repeat with the other arm.

Knee Kicks

1. Start in a kneeling situation with just one knee on the ground and the other leg out in front of you, foot flat on the flooring and knee at a 90-diploma angle. 2. In one rapid motion, rise up and set your bodyweight on your ahead leg. Kick your leg from the floor in front of you, extending a punch with the opposite arm. 3. Finish by dropping back again down into your starting posture. Retain your actions managed so you never land tricky on your knee.

March 25, 2022
The role of social media
Worldwide, statistics suggest mental health has declined since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Is social media partly to blame?

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What are the links between mental health status and social media use during the pandemic? We investigate. Image credit: Koukichi Takahashi/EyeEm/Getty Images

On a global scale, social media can be a way for people to gather information, share ideas, and reach out to others facing similar challenges. It can also be an effective platform to relay information quickly during a national or worldwide crisis, Real Estate.

This global reach is what has made social media a critical communication platform during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As government health organizations used it to relay recent findings on prevention and treatment, social media became more than a place to post the latest vacation photos — it became a hub of pandemic-related information.

Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.

But has the use of social media during the pandemic negatively impacted mental health and well-being? Or has it had the opposite effect?

In this Special Feature, Medical News Today looks at what research says about social media use and the COVID-19 pandemic to reveal how it has affected mental health. We also spoke with two experts about this complex topic.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health conditions are on the rise. Data show that around 20{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of children and adolescents worldwide live with a mental health condition.

Moreover, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15–29-year-olds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that of the adults surveyed in the United States:

Further research suggests that pandemic-related mental health challenges have impacted people differently, with some racial and ethnic groups disproportionately affected by pandemic stress.

In particular, Hispanic adults reported experiencing the highest level of psychosocial stress in relation to food shortages and insecure housing at the start of the pandemic.

A research report published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that there is an association between pandemic threats and extensive anxiety and concern among the public.

Scientists explain that some anxiety about personal safety and health during a widespread disease outbreak can help promote healthy behavior, including hand-washing and social distancing.

However, in some people, anxiety can become overwhelming and cause harm.

Social media use has been on the rise since its debut in 1995. As it has grown, more people have started using it as a news source. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between August 31 and September 7, 2020, about 53{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of adults in the U.S. get their news from social media.

Research indicates that social media can help effectively communicate health information to a global audience during a public health crisis. However, the information shared on these platforms can sometimes be inaccurate or misleading.

For example, one research review published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research looked at social media posts before March 2019 and found that Twitter contained the most health misinformation — mostly about smoking products and drugs.

This health misinformation may lead to an increase in fear, anxiety, and poor health choices.

According to one study, attempts to reduce the spread of misinformation by fact-checking and flagging posts with inaccuracies may help reduce the influence of false information for some people.

Still, there is ongoing debate on whether social media content regulation may increase mistrust and promote more social media posts reflecting inaccurate information.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic emerged recently, scientists are only beginning to understand the role of social media on users’ mental health.

For instance, using questionnaires, researchers in China interviewed 512 college students from March 24 to April 1, 2020, to determine whether social media harmed mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results indicate a link between higher use of social media and an increased risk of depression. Furthermore, the authors suggest that exposure to negative reports and posts may contribute to the risk of depression in some people.

Additionally, according to a study that appears in the journal Globalization and Health, there is increasing evidence that endless news feeds reporting SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and COVID-19 death rates could influence the mental health of some individuals.

MNT spoke with Lee Chambers, M.Sc., M.B.Ps.S., founder of Essentialise, about the impact of social media on mental health during the pandemic.

Chambers said:

“While we are all impacted in differing ways by social media consumption, the continual flow of negative and misinformation during the past 18 months have spread fear; the highlighting of social and political issues has reduced optimism; and edited photos and toxically positive content leave no space to feel secure or express negative emotions healthily. Alongside the increased desire for metrics such as likes and comments in these challenging times, it’s likely that social media has exacerbated mental health challenges.”

He also explained that social media keeps people connected to friends and family, especially during social distancing with limited physical interactions. Yet, this increased use may have amplified social anxiety and challenges with perfectionism and comparison for some people.

Prof. Steven C. Hayes, Foundation Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, who developed the Relational Frame Theory and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, told MNT: “We know that there are toxic processes that produce particular challenges for people: exposure to physical and psychological pain; a comparison with others and judgment; entanglement with self-judgment.”

He further explained that “[t]hose predict pathological outcomes if you’re not able to step back to notice the process of feeling and thinking, to orient to what’s present and what is really important to you and line up your behavior behind that.”

“And social media,” he added, “because of its exposure to pain comparison and judgment, enormously challenges us all in ways that are orders of magnitude more severe than ever in the history of humanity. Those processes have been toxic from the beginning, but exposure to those processes as a daily diet is new. [However], there are features inside social media that have expanded human consciousness. And it gives us great opportunities.”

As Prof. Hayes mentioned, these opportunities may include a heightened awareness of mental health and reduced stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

Research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research suggests that psychosocial expressions have significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This means that more people are expressing their emotions, both positive and negative, and garnering support from others. As a result, the stigma surrounding mental health conditions may be decreasing.

Prof. Hayes noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exploded the idea that mental health conditions only affect certain individuals.

“Everybody realizes that mental strength and mental flexibility — that is, mental and behavioral health and social wellness — applies to all of us. It’s not a one-out-of-five issue; it’s a five-out-of-five issue, and that is the permanent result of this year and a half of [COVID-19].”

– Prof. Steven C. Hayes
With emerging research suggesting social media may impact the mental health of some users, some platforms have begun to initiate positive changes.

For example, on September 14, 2021, the social media platform TikTok announced new features for its users to help provide resources for suicide prevention.

But can they do more?

According to Chambers: “Social media platforms have a key role to play in how their products impact on the mental health and well-being of their users. There are many aspects where this can be achieved. However, the challenge is that [using] most of these will decrease addictiveness, engagement, and time spent. This often goes against the aims of the platform itself.”

He suggests that social media platforms could consider improvements to build in mental well-being protection, including:

limiting news feed length

changing the way notifications are triggered

labeling altered images

introducing stronger regulation and monitoring of content designed to harm

implementing suggestions that users take a break

signposting to evidence-based resources and support on posts that may be triggering

ensuring clearer guidelines and more ability for users to easily control sensitive content
According to Chambers, “when it comes to [using] social media, both moderation of time and content consumed and intentionality play a significant part in garnering the benefits and reducing the downsides.”

He suggests that having a “digital sunset” before retiring for the night can help ensure anxiety will not impact sleep. In addition, having a social media-free day can positively affect mental well-being.

“The ultimate intention is for us to become the masters of social media, rather than social media become the masters of us.”

– Lee Chambers

Prof. Hayes noted that although mental health impacts everyone to some degree, that does not mean all people should be in therapy.

Instead, he suggested that “[w]e all need to learn how to be responsible for our mental and behavioral strength and flexibility. And to seek out the resources, just as we do with strengthening our physical health and flexibility.”

“That will empower us to face a changing world that, yes, will include regular exposure to pain, comparison, and judgment,” he added.

He noted that this exposure will also include the overwhelming reality of worldwide events as they are happening.

“We need to step up to that. And I see very hopeful signs that by using social media and technology and accessing the best that behavioral mental science can bring to us, we can speed up the natural process that happens of acquiring wisdom. That will allow you to be more open to your thoughts and feelings, more centered consciously in the present moment and connected to others, and more focused on your deepest human values. [It will also allow you] to create habits around those instead of creating habits around fear and judgment and comparison.”

– Prof. Steven C. Hayes

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October 10, 2021