It’s hard to be in any part of the world without people not staring at the phone screens constantly. Whether one is on the road or with friends and family, one just has to spend a significant amount of time scrolling through social media. That’s because platforms like Facebook and Instagram have become like this bhandaar of social validation which most youngsters dig for. It’s often said that our generation lives more in the virtual world than the real physical world, and we don’t seem to mind!
A new study claims that spending a significant amount of time on social media can make a person happy and improve their mental health! Researchers from Michigan State University have found that using social media on a regular basis can actually help curb depression and anxiety in adults.
“Facebook may be helping older Americans stay upbeat by making it easier for them to stay in touch with loved ones and access health information”, said Keith Hampton, a professor at MSU.
I know what you’re thinking. All this while various studies have claimed that social media addiction tends to have a negative effect on one’s mental health. However, this study comes with a justification to that query.
“Facebook and similar social media platforms have received such a negative reputation regarding mental health because most studies have focused on their effects on children and adolescents, not adults”, says the report.
According to the study, adult social media users (over 29 years of age) are 63% less likely to experience mental health issues. Even better if their extended family on their ‘friend-list’.
Most of us have grown up hearing our parents bickering about how social media is going to be our doom. Guess who’s going to get a comeback now? 😉