PSY 215 Module Two Milestone Template (3)

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PSY 215 Module Two Milestone Template To complete this milestone, review the Pew Research article “Social Media and the Cost of Caring,” linked in this assignment in your course. As you weigh the costs and benefits of frequent exposure to social media, respond to each of the rubric criteria with a minimum of 3 to 5 sentences. Support your position with credible sources when appropriate. Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.  According to the findings of the Pew Research study, there are several potential costs and benefits that result from frequent exposure to social media. o Describe one psychological benefit of frequent social media use. One benefit of social media use is the intimacy it provides. By being involved in others’ inner lives via photos, posts, and message exchanges, one develops more friends and by extension, a larger support network. (Hampton et al., 2015). This can especially become of value within specific social media communities. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, families and friends traded food recipes such as the sourdough starter in order to develop healthy coping mechanisms. These shared experiences helped people to stay connected and support each other in the face of worldwide suffering. o Describe one psychological cost of frequent social media use. Social media users are susceptible to the psychological stress of those they engage with. Scrolling through posts, one is sure to run across a death of a loved one, someone going through a major life transition, or a breakup. These events can affect the stress levels of those that engage. “Social media use is related to even higher levels of awareness of the stressful events that unfold in the lives of people they know.” (Hampton, et al. 2015, para. 17). In addition, social media is linked to compulsivity; it provides instant gratification to the brain, and one’s sense of identity may waver if that fails. (Edmonds, 2018). This false sense of gratification may also lead to unrealistic expectations about things such as relationships or body image, causing one to feel like who they are falls short of the societal standard. For example, following a fad diet promoted by an influencer to achieve the idealized body could be a form of compulsivity.  At the end of the study overview on page 3, the researchers discuss the notion of stress being contagious. o Describe what the research findings tell us about the link between our awareness of other people’s stressful life events on social media and increases in our own stress. 1

Having an awareness of the events occurring in others’ lives is the only factor that links psychological stress and social media use. (Hampton et al, 2015). These stress levels continue to increase when users are aware of the events happening to people they’re personally close to. The research findings also noted that women have higher stress levels and are more aware of the events happening in their peers’ lives. (Hampton et al, 2015). Essentially, the study suggests that caring for others via social media leads to a higher level of awareness for unwanted events in the lives of said users’ friends and families. This overall increase in awareness can take a toll on a person both physically and mentally. For example, having an awareness of a friend experiencing miscarriage can create feelings of panic and fear in someone attempting pregnancy.  We often refer to our involvement in social media groups as being a member of a community. o Describe how social media can promote the levels of education and awareness that help to enhance well-being. From a social justice perspective, being active on social media can lead to one becoming more educated about the challenges others are facing. When others share vulnerable posts voicing their struggles, others may feel compelled to take action in their defense. An example of this was when Black Lives Matter exploded on social media. The horrific misfortunes posted online prompted millions of social media users, such as myself, to learn about issues such as the school-to-prison-pipeline and the history of racial disparity in drug arrests. Social media can also be used to measure the stigma around mental disorders overall. When categorizing tweets around disorders that are trivialized versus ones that are stigmatized, it was found that schizophrenia was stigmatized the most, and OCD was trivialized the most (Robinson et al., 2019, para. 2). Gathering this information can create an accurate picture of what disorders we are more comfortable discussing as a society overall, and identify areas where we need to improve our dialogue.  Despite the positive intent of some social media influencers, their messages don’t always promote empathy, diversity, and inclusion. o If you were a social media influencer, describe how you would use social media to enhance compassion and empathy for all people who struggle with psychological disorders. A good social media influencer educates just as much as they engage. To promote compassion and empathy for those struggling with disorders, I would attempt to classify what makes up a particular disorder by reviewing criteria and a general day in the life of what someone may be going through. Understanding the significant stress a person may be subjected to can increase compassion on their behalf. If I share the undesired effects 2

of a disorder with my followers, they will have a larger awareness of how the disorder can affect the daily lives of those who struggle with it. The American Journal of Psychotherapy emphasized our tendency towards promoting healthy behaviors when met with someone facing hardships; this is also known as the righting reflex (Kaitz et al., 2022, para. 5). The article argues that “the desire or pressure to help can get in the way of true compassion” (Kaitz, et al., 2022, para. 10). To practice real empathy, it is imperative to let the person enduring hardship lead the way. Understanding this objectivity can help an influencer to recognize their own bias and encourage communities to do the same. References: Edmonds, R. (2018, September). ANXIETY, LONELINESS AND FEAR OF MISSING OUT: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUNG PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH. Centre for Mental Health. https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/anxiety-loneliness-and-fear-missing-out-impact-social- media-young-peoples-mental-health/ Hampton, K., Rainie, L., Lu, W., Shin, I., & Purcell, K. (2015, January 15). Social Media and the Cost of Caring . Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/01/15/social-media-and-stress/ Kaitz, J., Lebeck, K. D., & Catalfamo, C. (2022). Compassion is our Mantra. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 75(3), 145–146. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20210026 Robinson, P., Turk, D., Jilka, S., & Cella, M. (2019). Measuring attitudes towards mental health using social media: investigating stigma and trivialization. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 54(1), 51–58. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1007/s00127-018-1571-5 3

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