Technology has become a major factor in every aspect of life. Mental health is not an exception. It is important to recognize both the benefits and risks associated with technology use when it comes to our mental wellbeing.
Benefits
One of the largest benefits of technology became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Due to safety concerns, many places stopped offering in-person services and instead relied on remote work and telehealth. Although this had already been a tool some therapists used, it became almost mandatory in a time of social distancing. Many therapists decided to continue offering telehealth appointments even after restrictions on in-person visits were lifted. This has led to increased access for those who may not have been able to attend office visits before due to physical disability, rural location, or lack of transportation. Additionally, telehealth services are often less expensive than traditional options easing the financial burden for clients.
It is not just professional support that technology grants us access to. Peer support groups are easier to find online – especially if you are looking for a specialized group. There are groups exclusively open to certain populations that create a safe space online to discuss community-specific issues. Having this connection be online is especially important for minority populations that may be physically isolated from others in their community or feel unsafe being out about their identity in public. These support systems can be found through organizational websites or informal social media groups.
The internet has granted practically unlimited access to information that was previously only available to experts. Access to information is incredibly important as it allows us to inform ourselves about the issues we may be facing and the services available to us. Being informed also helps us become better advocates for both ourselves and others. When we know more about our conditions, we can combat misinformation and provide better insight to what we believe will help us. Greater education on issues like mental illness, and platforms to discuss them, help reduce stigma and increase help-seeking behavior.
Risks
While having greater access to information is generally a good thing, not all of the information we receive is accurate. Misinformation around mental health has existed long before the formal field of psychology was even established. However, technology allows misinformation to spread faster. This can contribute to stigma or lead to dangerous conclusions, such as the misinformation around vaccines and autism. Sometimes, influencers also use disinformation in order to promote scam products or unhealthy advice that can cause more harm than good. This instills distrust in the community and has a wide range of impacts on those already managing serious conditions.
Gaslighting, narcissism, OCD, PTSD, trauma – these are just a few of the clinical labels you can find frequently on social media. These words are often misunderstood or inappropriately attributed to situations or people. This can dilute their impact, affecting those who truly have been diagnosed or deal with these concerns. Additionally, it has led to many people self-diagnosing. There are many reasons professional diagnoses are important. For one, licensed therapists are experts in these conditions and will provide you with proper treatments and will know about the misunderstandings around these labels. When you are diagnosing yourself, it is very possible to misdiagnose or mistake something that is completely normal as a sign of a disorder. The overuse and misuse of clinical labels can distort our understanding of these conditions and contribute to stereotypes.
Another major harm of social media is the way it distorts our perception of ourselves and others. Most people only post about the ups of their lives. Pictures are carefully curated or edited. Achievements are shared while failures are hidden. Those who do try to present a more balanced, realistic view of their life are often met with cyberbullying. When we see others being praised for perfection or shamed for their struggles, we begin to judge ourselves more harshly. Unrealistic standards become the goal and our mental health struggles when we cannot reach them.
When we are not on social media, we still can be impacted by the constant presence of technology. In a time of cell phones and instant messaging, it can seem impossible to get the down time we need. There is a sense of constant connection, whether that be with work, friends, or family. Sometimes we just need to be alone. Lacking that down time, it is easy to get burned out or become overwhelmed. If you do decide to turn off your phone for a while you may be met with frustration from others who feel entitled to that connection. And on the other hand, we can also feel unwanted or betrayed when we do not receive instant responses from others. Connection is good – constant connection is not.
Mitigating Harm
It is clear that while technology can be beneficial to mental health, it can also inflict harm. There are steps we can take to limit this harm.
One of the most important things we can do is limit our time online. It can be addicting to scroll on social media or go down a websearch rabbit hole. Doing this once in a while may not have a significant impact, but when it becomes a major part of our day-to-day life, we increase our chance of isolating ourselves from the people in our lives and exposing ourselves to negative content. Experts in youth mental health emphasize that limiting time online is especially important for children and teens as they tend to be more susceptible to influence and are still learning.
I removed myself from most of my social media entirely. In doing so, I rediscovered my passion for the arts, became more present in my interactions with others, and felt happier overall. This may not be the answer for everyone, but if you find yourself feeling distressed after social media interactions, this may be something to consider. Even if you do not decide to cut out social media entirely, setting boundaries is a very important step to better mental health. This may include a “tech free” hour each day or letting people know you won’t be responding to messages for a little bit.
Fact-checking with reliable sources can help prevent us from being influenced by misinformation. It can take practice to balance having an open mind with healthy skepticism. Remember that individual experts are people too and can make mistakes. This is why it is so important to cross-check claims with multiple sources to ensure you are getting the most accurate information.
Technology can be a valuable tool but it is important to remember it is just that – a tool. Overreliance can negatively harm our mental health. Take the time to recognize the ways technology impacts your mental health and don’t be afraid to set the boundaries you need.
As always, thank you for reading and stay safe out there.
If you would like to explore more about technology and mental health please read my previous article on the problems with AI therapists and see the following resources…
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