Wednesday, 28 June 2023 | Taranjot Kaur | DEHRADUN
In the ever-evolving landscape of popular culture, one can hardly overlook its immense influence of social media on the mental world of the younger generation. From music and movies to fashion trends, social media engagement has become an integral part of the lives of today’s youth.
Sharing her view on this matter, Tamanna Negi, a 21-year-old student from Graphic Era (Deemed to be) University, said that social media is a mighty platform that imparts knowledge to her. “Easily accessible, it not just helps us get knowledge of the world but it also entertains us. Having multiple platforms, it suggests new music for us to listen to and acquaints us with the new fashion trends shared by influencers on Instagram,” she said. But she said at the same time that this social media engagement has not swept her off her feet. “I love to cling to the culture that I have inherited from my family, from my parents. I do use multiple platforms of social media but I cannot let it become an obsession with me,” she added.
Vaishnavi Baloni, a 19-year-old nursing student at Swami Rama Himalayan University, said that social media exercises a major influence on her and people around her. “I like to follow the emerging trends on these platforms. I try new fashion trends. I like to have knowledge of different cuisines. But we should be wary so that we do not sacrifice the permanent for what is passing,” she said.
Neuropsychologist based in Dehradun Sona Kaushal Gupta shared that the fast-paced media has brought a significant transformation in the way young individuals interact. “What is consumed visually changes their mental conceptions. The youth of this generation is deeply drawn to social media, actively posting and using various filters in order to maintain an idealised image. However, on the flipside, this is becoming an obsession for them and it may affect their sense of reality, making it difficult for them to differentiate the reel from reality. So, we find instances of social media obsession affecting their mental health negatively. The release of dopamine in their brains creates hype for chimerical achievement. If they fail to achieve they easily fall prey to depression. Moreover, it also leads to shifting their focus from pursuing success in their career and academics to seeking a greater number of likes and followers on social media,” she said.
She suggested minimizing the use of these platforms. “Remaining engaged on social media when it is time to rest and sleep leads to lack of freshness in the morning. This begets inertia and dullness when it is time to study or to work energetically,” she said, adding that prioritizing virtual friends over real ones, giving precedence to the make-believe over the real might affect life negatively.
