How does technology affect our mental health?

The great impact that technology has on our day to day is completely undeniable.. Regardless of your age or profession, it has become our right hand by offering faster and more practical solutions. However, although it is true that it has brought positive effects, we cannot forget the avalanche of harmful effects that it has, especially on our mental health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”. Therefore, just as importance is given to physical health and it is not difficult for us to go to the doctor when something hurts, we must begin to highlight the value of a correct state of mental health and go to a professional in the face of psychological discomfort. I highlight this since mental health at a European level has worsened in recent times and new technologies play an important role when it comes to taking care of our mental health.

How does technology affect mental health? Does it affect everyone equally? Is there any group that is more vulnerable to this?

Is there an age where technologies can cause more damage to mental health? If you are interested in the answer to these and many other questions, you have come to the right place. In today's article, based on scientific evidence, we will see the different effects that this new world full of screens has on the mental health of the population.

• We recommend you read: "Addiction to social networks: the abuse of the virtual"

Anxiety and depression in the world of social networks.

If you sit one day on the park bench closest to your house and simply spend half an hour watching the behavior of the people who pass by, you will realize that we are completely immersed in the new technologies. Almost everyone has a mobile phone, constantly full of notifications, which requires us to be in a state of alert without interruption. Many are the people who feel chained to the mobile, and even when leaving home without this device, they feel naked, as if they were missing something. These feelings have generated an increase in anxious and depressive symptoms that we will analyze in more detail.

1. anxious symptomatology

According to the WHO, in 2019, 301 million people suffered from an anxiety disorder, including 58 million children and adolescents.. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this number has increased remarkably. The numbers are alarming, but what is most worrying is that anxiety appears earlier each time, reaching the point where 50% of anxious symptoms begin before the age of 14. Bearing in mind that today's teenagers are those who have grown up surrounded by screens, It is not surprising that they are one of the groups most vulnerable to the influence of the new technologies.

In order to understand the high number of cases of anxiety, we must talk about social networks. Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, WhatsApp, among others, have changed the way we communicate and, in general, the way we see the world. The quick and easy exchange that is generated by liking on different platforms or by sending a message, anxiety about body image, seeking acceptance from others, and feelings of loneliness.

Going a step further, the incorrect use of social networks creates a state of control, which in turn generates anxiety. On many of the famous platforms, we know if someone is online, when was the last time they he connected, if he has read a message, if he has ignored us, if he is with another person, among many others things. All this generates obsessive ideas and a lot of anxiety, where it makes us think about why a person does not answer us., we begin to say negative things about others and of course, it can damage interpersonal relationships.

2. depressive symptoms

As with anxiety, depressive symptoms are increased due to the use of electronic devices. In fact, various investigations link the increase in hours spent on phones with an increased risk of developing depression. In particular, young people today spend much more time connected with their peers through mobile phones than in real life. This is where many professionals emphasize that the social isolation suffered by a large part of the adolescents is due to this lack of satisfaction that is felt when communicating with someone in person

Another theory that experts support about the increase in depression is the low self-esteem that is generated by comparing yourself with other users on social networks. Many young people sin by comparing their lives, their bodies, their intelligence, their creativity, their friends, family, among others, with people who at first glance appear to be more beautiful, popular, and successful.. But this does not stop here. Many consumers spend hours thinking about which photo to post to make others believe that they have a perfect body and life. This fear of being rejected by creating too high expectations on social networks generates feelings of sadness and depression among the youngest.

Cases of eating disorders (TCA)

Today, social networks have become a showcase for perfect bodies and successful lives, where many young people they use as a mirror to compare their own lives with those completely unreal that permeate the different platforms. Due to this, social networks have become a direct springboard towards eating disorders.

Based on the fact that adolescence is a complicated time, where you are in a pure process of self-knowledge, of breaking with the established norms, to seek your own identity, where what others say weighs heavily and concerns are taken to extremes, the inappropriate use of social networks can be a time bomb and a risk factor for developing an eating disorder.

A person suffering from an eating disorder creates a hypersensitivity to stimuli around you, where friends, family, and the content you consume weigh far more than you realize. should. To this is added the use of said platforms to seek the approval and acceptance of others, leaving aside your own ideals and trying to achieve that perfection that society demands: thin, pretty, with many friends, with a partner, successful, popular, etc

Within eating disorders, the use of technology and social networks has increased significantly, one in particular called orthorexia. It is characterized by obsessive behavior towards foods classified as "good" and "bad" by some profiles that are supposedly experts in nutrition and training. The obsessive behavior of this disorder reaches such a point that just hearing or reading negative things about a breath, without based on scientific evidence or considering the source of information, causes people who suffer from it to eliminate it completely from their diet.

When there is a true professional behind it, the risk of developing this disorder is much lower. With the use of technologies, an easy door is opened to all kinds of information from any source or person. The consequences of putting yourself in the hands of one or the other are immense, and currently, more and more young people are putting themselves in the hands of people who upload a 20-second video on what to eat and what not to eat to lose 5 kilos in a week.

Orthorexia leads people to withdraw from their close circle, being unable to participate in activities related to food, and become intolerant of hearing other people's opinions related to nutrition and health. training. This implies a deterioration in the quality of life, with a significant impact on work, studies, friends, family or partner, and of course, a lot of psychological suffering and little stability emotional.

It is of great importance that parents, tutors, coaches, teachers, serve as references and pillars essential to provide young people with the necessary tools to warn about the misuse of social networks. With this, it is possible to protect children and adolescents from the different eating disorders and, ultimately, it is possible to improve their quality of life and mental health. Education and information about the functioning of our body, the nutritional properties of food, the importance of physical exercise for mental health, the importance of self-esteem and loving oneself are some of the best ways to prevent this type of behaviors.