IndexSocial media and mental health essay outlineIntroductionSocial media addictionImpact on self-esteemDepression and social mediaConclusionSample essay on social media and mental healthIntroductionThe prevalence of technology and social media in modern societyThe potential harm of social media on mental healthSocial media addictionStatistics on social media use among young adultsOperant conditioning theory and its relationship to social media addictionFacebook Addiction Scale and its resultsImpact on self-esteemThe role of self-esteem in defining self-esteemResearch for validation through social media and receiving "likes"Comparisons and harmful effects on self-esteemDepression and social mediaAssociation between social media use and depressionThe perception of others' lives on social media and its impact on mental healthStudies on the relationship between social media and depressionConclusionThe need for awareness of the potential negative effects of excessive use of social mediaA call to take preventative measures for the well-being of individuals and societySample Essay on Social Media and Mental HealthFront Range Community College Technology has come a long way in just the last ten years , we use it for almost everything. Including an obvious communication. As of 2018, more than 90% of people aged 18 to 24 have social media accounts including Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter. Almost 80% of them visit these sites every day. This is all harmless, right? It seems like this, but it isn't. There are many studies that report that social media can be harmful to mental health. Mental health refers to our cognitive, behavioral and emotional well-being. There are many harmful effects of social media use, including addiction, self-esteem, and depression. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay We have entered the world of technology where we carry computers in our pockets and on our fingertips. Most young adults have at least one social media account; today we call it “staying connected”. Data from the Pew Research Center, a database of numbers, facts and trends about the Internet and technology, reports that in 2018, more than 80% of young adults use social media daily, not to mention multiple times a day. Excessive use of social media is becoming a problem, just like anything else is considered addiction. Social media addiction has not only provided research topics for many psychologists, but also caused great concern among older generations, including friends and family. This dependence is the result of operant conditioning. This theory was introduced by BF Skinner and is defined as a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. This can be directly related to the positive feedback and reactions provided through social media. We are able to connect with and follow friends, role models, and people we admire, which in turn leads to constant use of social media. In 2012, Cecilie Andreassen designed the Facebook Addiction Scale to determine the rate of Facebook addiction in young adults. Andreassen, as well as several other authors from the University of Bergen, created a questionnaire that included this dependency scale, tendency scales, and an online sociability scale. The aspects consist of assessing changes in mood, tolerance, importance, withdrawal, relapse and conflict. This questionnaire was administered to 423 young adult students. The results verified the addiction to social media in the population.