The Greatest Dangers of Social Media to Human Beings

Ioan Szasz ()
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Ioan Szasz: Pentecostal Theological Institute in Bucharest, Romania

RAIS Conference Proceedings 2022-2025 from Research Association for Interdisciplinary Studies

Abstract: This article explores the multifaceted psychological, sociological, and cognitive dangers that social media poses to human well-being. Drawing on recent interdisciplinary research, it identifies seven key areas of concern: identity fragmentation, loneliness, and social isolation, anxiety and depression, social media addiction, social comparison, and self-esteem erosion, manipulation through algorithmic systems, diminished attention and cognitive performance. The analysis reveals how social media, while offering unprecedented connectivity, simultaneously fosters behaviors and mental states that undermine individual and societal health. Heavy users often experience dissonance between their curated digital personas and their offline realities, leading to identity confusion and distress. Similarly, constant exposure to idealized content fosters unrealistic comparisons, which correlate with depressive symptoms and anxiety. Algorithmic personalization compounds these effects by reinforcing cognitive biases and promoting compulsive usage patterns. Additionally, the fragmented structure of digital content consumption has been linked to a reduction in attention span and critical thinking ability. Despite its positive affordance, the paper concludes that social media is a double-edged tool requiring conscious use, policy intervention, and educational strategies to mitigate its risks. Recommendations include digital literacy education, platform-level design changes, and regulatory oversight alongside personal practices that foster mindfulness and authenticity in online engagement. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on technology’s impact on human identity, behavior, and societal structure, advocating for a balanced and ethically responsible digital culture.

Keywords: Social-Media; Identity; Digital Addiction; Manipulation; Mental Health; Anxiety; Depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 11 pages
Date: 2025-04
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Published in Proceedings of the 39th International RAIS Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities, April 17-18, 2025, pages 142-153

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