Risk and Protective Factors

Some risk factors for social media decreasing mental health include:

• Comparison Culture

  • the tendency to measure one's worth, success, or happiness against others, often fueled by social media, societal expectations, and peer pressure. It can lead to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and anxiety, as people constantly compare their achievements, appearances, and lifestyles to curated online images

• Seeking Validation

  • • the act of looking for approval or reassurance from others to feel worthy or confident. It often stems from insecurity, societal pressures, or the need for acceptance.

• Emotional Maturity

  • • the ability to manage emotions, communicate effectively, and handle challenges with self-awareness and resilience

Although some risk factors for mental health struggles may be uncontrollable, such as genetic predisposition, others—like social media exposure—can be influenced through awareness and mindful use. We chose to focus on social media’s impact because it is a prevalent issue within our community. Platforms often contribute to stress, comparison, and unrealistic expectations, which can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and emotional distress. Since social media plays a significant role in our daily lives, we wanted to highlight its risks so our peers can recognize its effects on their mental well-being. After all, awareness is the first step to making healthier choices.

Some protective factors for social media's effects on mental health are:

• Promoting support systems

  • • Encouraging strong relationships and a reliable network for emotional support

• Promoting self-worth

  • • Building confidence and a positive self-image to reduce anxiety

• Increasing media literacy

  • • Teaching critical thinking about online content to lessen negative mental health effects

All of the previously mentioned factors, while not being entirely within an individual's control, can be influenced by personal efforts. Maintaining a limit or less exposure to social media can help fuel positive change towards placing self-care as a priority. We picked the previously mentioned protective factors because they are all very positive influences that can be implemented within various ways in our community. This can be done by setting up positive community support systems, which is the entire point of all the Acts of Kindness events we do. We wanted to address them and give reasons as to why they are major protective factors for social media effecting one's mental health.