How the Fast-Paced Digital World is Affecting Our Mental Health

By Your Health Magazine

Many claim we’ve been using digital devices much more than before COVID-19. In truth, the pandemic might have sped up the advent of digital devices in our lives — but it did not cause it. Since the mid-2000s, we’ve been on a non-stop social media diet. Once smartphones caught up to computers in ease of use and availability in the 2010s, we practically haven’t looked back. Today, the digital world is a natural extension of the physical one. We rarely spend more than a few waking hours without coming into contact with digital content. Naturally, the omnipresence of the Internet has brought us plenty of benefits. Unfortunately, there are also negative ways in which the digital world is affecting our mental health. This article will examine some of the not-so-great ways the digital landscape has changed us. Along the way, we’ll also consider some ways to lead a healthier life.

Is Screen Usage Bad For Us?

These days, most people who participate in the global economy spend at least some time on a smartphone each day. In most developed countries, this amounts to hours daily. And that’s only phone screen time — we’re not counting all the time we spend on laptops, PCs, in front of the TV, etc.

Between all these devices, there’s a solid chance we’ll spend much of our lives online. And that’s especially probable if we leave our screen usage unchecked. Take Atlanta, for example. Studies from Emory University show that Atlanta’s youth, like those nationwide, face significant mental health challenges due to extensive social media use. Many teens feel loneliness, depression, and poor self-esteem. Over 40% of teens experience negative impacts on their mental well-being due to social media.

So, what happens when we access digital content without daily limits? Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of potential consequences. It is not surprising that the digital world is affecting our mental health.

Potential Depression From Overuse

Certain research has indicated that digital device overuse can cause depression. In fact, people of all ages who spend over 6 hours in front of a screen daily have a huge risk of developing depression.

On the other hand, moderating screen use can help you reduce the risk of depression. And that’s especially true if you’re already overusing them.

Now, the question is — why does excessive screen time correlate with depression? For one, people who spend too much time on their phones and laptops don’t socialize as much. Or, at least, they don’t socialize enough in the real world.

Isolation Leads to Depression

Getting some alone time can be great in the short term, helping to lower stress levels. However, for Generation Z, who are often seen as representatives of the digital age, long-term isolation due to excessive screen use poses significant risks. Spending most of their time in digital worlds rather than forming genuine, face-to-face connections can lead to feelings of loneliness. Over time, this disconnection can deepen, creating a sense of isolation that, if ignored, may develop into depression.

In general, the pressures of living in a fast-paced digital world can take a serious toll on mental health, and it’s important to seek support on time. As mentioned, teens are more susceptible to the negative consequences of social media overconsumption.

The pressures of living in a fast-paced digital world can take a serious toll on mental health, so look for support and professional help.

Sleep Deprivation

Many of us spend our free time living in the digital space. After all, there’s nothing like an hour-long session of Instagram Reels from a makeup influencer to wind us down after a hard work day.

However, if you spend too much time in front of your screen near bedtime — you will slowly disrupt your sleep patterns. Over time, you’ll realize you’re going to sleep later and later hours. Plus, it’s not just about how long you sleep. Your sleep quality may degrade as well.

At some point, you’ll feel tired after a full 8 hours of sleep — even though you would’ve been fine with 6 hours just a few years before.

What’s the culprit here? It’s your screen’s blue light. The specific wavelengths of light emitted by most modern screens are detrimental to our circadian rhythms. These are our body’s natural rhythms — and sleep is a major part of them.

The bottom line is — you need to moderate your screen time before bed. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in an increasingly sour mood. Plus, the more tired you are at work, the more you’ll feel like winding down with meaningless content once you’re home. It’s a vicious cycle; the only way to break it is to reduce screen time actively.

Unfortunately, sleep interruption is one of the most negative ways the digital world affects our mental health.

Low Self-Esteem

Social media has changed our world in many ways. One of them is the fact that everyone can see how everyone else is living — often up close. This has created an unhealthy atmosphere of competition, at least among chronically online users.

It’s easy to find peers that live more luxuriously and, at least superficially, better lives on Instagram. And it’s equally easy to start comparing yourself to them. Naturally, the result is consistently low self-esteem. After all, you can always find someone living better than you and compare yourself with them.

It’s even worse for people who are obsessed with celebrity personas online. These celebrities not only have obscene wealth, but their lives are usually carefully managed and staged. The goal is to seem picture-perfect, of course. Unfortunately, it also means countless ordinary people feeling low self-esteem because of their seemingly imperfect lives.

Less Exercise and Movement

Unfortunately, the more time we spend on our screens, the less time we spend working out. It’s simply a fact of life — people can rarely do both in their spare time. And if you spend over 6 hours a day on your phone and laptop, you probably don’t have the energy to have a meaningful workout daily.

Conclusion

Abundant learning opportunities and easier communication are great aspects of our digital-first society. However, there are plenty of negative ways in which the digital world is affecting our mental health. Among them, depression, sleep deprivation, less exercise, and low self-esteem are some of the most damaging ones.

To combat these negative effects, we must moderate our screen time and ensure we socialize and get enough exercise. After all, digital content is not bad for us when consumed in moderation.