About this Research Topic

Background

Social media and technology have had both positive and negative impacts on mental health, especially as the world entered a new digital age as a result of the pandemic. The advent of social media and rapid advancements in technology have revolutionized the way individuals interact, communicate, and navigate their daily lives. While they have brought about numerous benefits, such as increased connectivity, access to information, and opportunities for self-expression, they have also presented several challenges and potential negative consequences.

It is important to note that these negative impacts are not experienced by everyone in the same way. Individual factors such as vulnerability, pre-existing mental health conditions, and patterns of use influence how social media affects each person's mental well-being. Promoting digital literacy, self-awareness, and mindful engagement with social media can help individuals mitigate these negative impacts and foster a healthier relationship with technology. In addition, addressing the impact of social media and technology on mental health is essential for raising awareness, promoting prevention and early intervention, prioritizing personal well-being, fostering digital literacy, providing support and resources, and driving policy changes. By taking these factors into account, a healthier and more balanced relationship with social media and technology can be created. Some themes of interest include.

1. The Effects of Social Media on Self-Esteem and Body Image (i.e., the relationship between social media usage and the development of negative body image perceptions and associated mental health challenges, and the perceived pressure to conform to societal beauty ideal);

2. Cyberbullying and Online Harassment (i.e., the impact of cyberbullying and online harassment on mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, online abuse, the psychological mechanisms involved, and potential intervention strategies to mitigate the negative effects);

3. Digital Detox and Technostress (i.e., impact of excessive technology use, digital overload, and the absence of digital boundaries on stress levels, psychological well-being, and work-life balance as well as mindful technology use, and the role of workplace policies);

4. Social Media and Loneliness (i.e., the association between social media usage and feelings of loneliness and social isolation);

5. Online Support Communities and Mental Health and their role in online support communities in promoting mental health and well-being (i.e., benefits and limitations of virtual peer support, the impact of anonymity on disclosure and engagement, and the potential of technology-driven interventions for mental health support).

6. Social media and Online Gaming communities (i.e., the complex interrelationship between social media and online gaming, including but not limited to gaming-specific social media such as Twitch and Discord, binging on online content related to gaming, branching out and keeping contact with gaming acquaintances via social media).

Keywords: social media, technology, mental health impact, digital detox, excessive technology use, online harassment, loneliness

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