- According to a report released by Social Media Consumption in Kenya, most Kenyans aged 21-35 spend more than three hours on social media daily.
- Others also feel left out if they don’t go online since they are trying to keep up with the trends on the platforms.
Image: FILE
Social media platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook have a reinforcing nature and can push anybody into mental health problems.
They have been considered to be addictive and associated with anxiety, depression and even physical ailments.
Using them reportedly activates the brain’s reward centre by releasing dopamine, a “feel-good chemical” linked to pleasurable activities such as sex, food and social interaction.
According to a report released by Social Media Consumption in Kenya, most Kenyans aged 21-35 spend more than three hours on social media daily.
"This is a result of addiction. Most people are spending a lot of time on the various platforms and especially teenagers," the report reads.
Others also feel left out if they don’t go online since they are trying to keep up with the trends on the platforms.
Social media users also tend to get pressured by what they see online. However, in most cases, most of the posts displayed on social media may not be the actual reality on the ground.
The growing trend in social media use has increased due to cheaper smartphone devices and easily accessible Wi-Fi coverage.
Data released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) indicated that by December 2018, the total Internet subscription in Kenya stood at 45.7 million—with the majority accessing the internet via mobile phones.
The report by Social Media Consumption in Kenya revealed that WhatsApp is one of the most used social media platform ranking at 88.6 per cent, followed by Facebook at 88.5.
YouTube came third with 55.2 per cent followed by Google+(41.3 %), Instagram(39%) and Twitter (27.9%).
However, there are several guidelines a user can consider to prevent themselves from mental health problems associated with social media.
First, schedule your social media time in order to limit the time you use on screens.
Secondly, have a purpose for being on social media. This will enable you to know what to do at the right time. It will also allow you to allocate time to handle other activities.
People should also learn to use social media as an inspiration rather than a tool for comparison. This will lower cyberbullying and enhance relationships between family and friends.
Further, one should put the phones away at bedtime. This will refresh your mind from the day’s activities and allow you to get enough rest.