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Carrie Pohlman
Introduction
In the previous chapter, we mentioned how we can help reduce our sense of isolation by staying connected through digital means of communication. However, in this chapter we will discuss the unique challenges and issues that this approach brings. During stressful and uncertain times, like the COVID-19 pandemic, we often resort to social media platforms to stay connected and informed on what is going on in the world. While social media does allow us to stay connected to our friends and family in a COVID-friendly way, we tend not to realize how it can negatively impact our mental health as well. In this chapter, we will learn about how social media usage during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of college students in the United States during a period where mental health has been more important than ever.
Connection to STS Theory
The Modernization Theory has to do with the process of scientific and technological advancements within societies. Societies today are largely impacted by science and technology. When science and technology are modernized, societies experience a great impact as well. An example of this is social media in society. Social media was nonexistent until technology allowed for its modern existence, and once social media really took full form it led to a monumental societal impact. Part of this large impact includes the negative effects on mental health as a direct result of social media. In today’s society we have access to so much more information in a much faster and easier way than we ever did before. Without the Modernization Theory, technology would not have been improved this much to allow us to have access to such things.
Social Media Usage During the Pandemic
Social media usage during the pandemic in the United States has increased and there are many resulting effects. In an article, the results of a study done on college students showed that a higher level of social media usage was significantly associated with worse mental health (Zhao & Zhou, 2020). In other articles, social media was demonstrated to have a negative impact through the surge of numerous rumors, hoaxes, and widespread misinformation regarding the disease (Garfin, et al. 2020) and (Tasnim, et al. 2020). Spread of this misinformation about COVID-19 included false or misleading information about the etiology, outcomes, prevention, and potential cures of the disease. Furthermore, aspects such as repeated media exposure to false information can lead to increased anxiety, heightened stress responses, and misplaced health-protective and health-seeking behaviors. Reading misinformation is masking healthy behaviors and promoting inaccurate practices that actually increase the spread of the virus. False information in the media was a problem even before the pandemic. There has been an increased use of social media throughout the pandemic and there are numerous proven negative effects on people because of i