Social media pressure and mental health

Social media is becoming an indispensable part of modern life. It opens up opportunities for connection, sharing, and learning, but it also creates invisible pressures that directly impact mental health, especially among young people.

" The virtual world ," a real burden.

It's not uncommon to see young people spending hours on their phones, engrossed in browsing the internet. Nguyen Thi Mai, a student at Hanoi Pedagogical University II, shared: "Seeing my friends post pictures of their trips and purchases makes me compare myself to them. Even posts that get little attention make me sad."

Mr. Tran Van Hung, an office worker, admitted: "My job involves too many Zalo chat groups. Sometimes I still receive notifications in the middle of the night, and if I don't reply, I'm afraid of being judged. It's very difficult to have any real privacy."

The Youth Union of ATK Son Duong Ethnic Boarding School encourages students to participate in practical activities and reduces their reliance on online platforms.

According to Dr. Vu Xuan Nam, Deputy Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Tuyen Quang General Hospital, in the last three years, the number of people seeking treatment for stress, anxiety, and depression has increased significantly, with many cases stemming from the overuse of social media.

Nguyen Huu Duc (22 years old) has experienced depression: “I saw all my friends succeeding while I was still struggling. Prolonged insomnia made me feel down. Thanks to the support of my family and professionals, I gradually recovered. Now I set limits on my internet time, and the important thing is to learn to see myself more positively.”

A multi-faceted solution

The mental stress caused by social media cannot be underestimated. Dr. Vu Xuan Nam emphasized: "Without long-term control measures, it will affect the quality of human resources. It is necessary to strengthen school psychological counseling and provide timely support to the public, especially young people."

According to Dr. Ma Ngoc The, Head of the Psychology-Education Department, Faculty of Politics and Psychology-Education, Tan Trao University, students need to be equipped with digital skills and emotional management skills to protect themselves. "Integrating topics on online behavior skills and self-mastery skills is an important part of character education," he said.

Supporting young people in the digital space requires the concerted efforts of families, schools, and organizations. Parents should care for and guide their children to use social media safely; schools should enhance experiential activities and promote the role of school psychological counseling teams to help students learn how to behave and protect themselves. Of course, a sustainable solution still begins with each individual.

Social media isn't inherently bad; the problem lies in how people use it. When we know how to leverage its positive aspects and eliminate its negative ones, the "virtual world" can become a space for learning and sharing, rather than a burden.

Text and photos: Khanh Van

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/xa-hoi/202509/ap-luc-mang-xa-hoi-and-suc-khoe-tinh-than-afc5182/