A major disadvantage of excessive use of social media has come to light

Excessive use of social media affects the mental health of young people. This was revealed in a study conducted in Singapore.

A study by the Institute of Mental Health revealed that teenagers who spend more than 3 hours a day using social media apps are at increased risk of problems such as depression, anxiety and stress.

According to research, exposure to online derogatory behavior and concern about body image also increase the risk of disorders such as depression and anxiety.

The study found that one in three people aged 15 to 35 in Singapore reported severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress.

In 2022, a study called the National Youth Mental Health Study began in Singapore, involving people aged 15 to 35.

The research included 2600 people and interviewed them during October 2022 to June 2023.

The results showed that anxiety was the most common mental disorder among young adults, with 24 percent reporting severe symptoms.

Some common symptoms include increased heart rate, shortness of breath, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

One in seven people reported serious symptoms of depression. Likewise, 12.9 percent reported severe stress symptoms.

The study found that 27 percent of young adults use social media apps a lot, which increases the risk of serious symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress by 1.3, 1.5, and 1.6 times, respectively.

Individuals who have concerns about their body composition have a 4.3-fold, 4.9-fold, and 4.5-fold increased risk of anxiety, depression, and stress, respectively.

Today’s youth face more unique challenges than past generations, the researchers said.

He added that the use of social media has increased significantly, concerns about body composition and the rate of online derogatory behavior have also increased, in fact these three elements are interconnected.

He said that our research proves that excessive use of social media is a threat to public health and is having a huge negative impact on the mental health of young people.