Chapter 13 Searcher : Social Media & Stress

The readings for this week were mostly about stress, its effect on health and how social interactions can cause it. In relation to this week’s topic, I found three articles that show how humanity’s newest social interaction, social media, can affect people’s amounts of stress.

http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/cyber-bullying.aspx

The above hyperlink demonstrates how our connections through the internet can aid in the copulation of harmful stress. Children on the internet can be subjected to bullying behavior that can cause stress-related adverse effects, such as anxiety and depression.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/can-too-much-social-media-exposure-cause-stress-in-women/

Another interesting link to check out is the above link, which is about how women’s relationships with social media can stress them out differently than men’s relationships with social media. Though much of the stressors have roots in general societal problems, the internet magnifies various stress-inducers. Specifically, the over-sexualization of women is attributed to deeper societal problems, but the internet magnifies this problem, causing much more oppression for women online through cyber bullying, directly relating to increased stress.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/internet-based-stress-management-programs_n_3187080.html

As opposed to social media causing harmful stress, the above hyperlink shows that the web can be used to relieve harmful stress. The article shown above discusses a research study that tries to link an online stress-relief program with lower levels of stress. The study concludes that professional internet stress-relief programs, such as guided meditation or relaxation can help in reducing harmful stress.

In conclusion, the various links shown above offer insights on how social media has created a new way for people to become more stressed, though social media also can act as a way for people to de-stress.