College Students Develop Anxiety, Lack of Sleep, and Fomo Due to Social Media Use
Excessive social media use leads to anxiety, poor sleep, and worsened self-esteem for students.
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College life is not without social media. While it connects students, entertains them, and allows them to express themselves, there are dark areas that lurk beneath the surface of social media apps.
Students are constantly exposed to curated content, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy when measuring against the influential lives depicted online.
State News shared that according to Lauren Enty, mental health coordinator at Michigan State University, "Even when students know social media shows an idealized version of life, it's hard not to compare.
Read more: College Students Struggle With Insomnia Due to Loneliness and Excessive Screen Time, Study Finds
Social Media Negatively Impacts College Life
Social media use can negatively affect self-esteem because polished images and highlights appear on websites. Further research at UC Davis Health reported that negative self-image has a direct correlation with social media usage, especially when comparing one's self to influencers or friends.
As seen through examples with Madison Totty, students mentioned that their insecurities worsened when perfect skin or beauty trends came up online. Beyond low self-image, excessive use of social media is related to an increase in college students reporting having anxiety, depression, or feelings of loneliness.
At the same time, social media can also be associated with a fear of missing out (FOMO), causing students to be constantly checking their phones. This behavior can bring about feelings of exclusion and dependency, as noted by UCDH. The longer this dependency lasts, it can prevent students from eventually developing confidence in real-life social interactions, which is an isolation and anxiety trigger.
Another major impact of social media addiction is sleep disturbance. According to the Sleep Foundation, students with FOMO often check their social media right before bed or even wake up in the middle of the night to check notifications. This exposes them to blue light, which suppresses melatonin production, thus leading to sleep deprivation. Poor sleep is highly associated with deteriorating anxiety, depression, and mental health.
Mental health professionals recommend that students be aware of their social media usage. Some strategies include limiting the amount of screen time prior to sleep and remembering that social media is not reality.
