Want to learn about potential social media dangers? Then you've come to the right place! Social networks have so many advantages! They help us to stay in touch and up to date with other people, to make connections quickly, to set up groups and organize projects, to promote our own To live out creativityto educate and inspire people.
But Facebook, TikTok, Instagram & Co also have their disadvantages, which can be extremely dangerous for our psyche and, not least, our lives. You may be a parent and want to protect your child - or simply have the feeling that spending time on the networks is not good for you.
Either way, I would now like to list and explain the most important risks and dangers of social media in this article. Let's go!
1. Addiction Risk
Social media contribute to the fact that you are actually always available and can be the next stimulus in just a few seconds could be reached via push message.
The use of Facebook, Instagram and other networks is a challenge for the Neurotransmitter dopamine which is a kind of Reward effect triggers. As a result, we develop the need to experience these positive feelings more often.
This creates an addiction to it within a very short time. similar to gambling, drugs and alcohol. We just don't get addicted to the next opportunity, the next heroin injection or the next gin, but to the next entertaining content and validating likes.
Tip: Be honest with yourself if you recognize yourself here. What you can basically do against smartphone addiction you can learn in the linked article!
2. Impaired Focus and Attention Span
A social media addiction or simply the regular use of the networks means that you are basically no longer Switch off properly and come to rest can. We quickly get bored because the need for the next Insta-Reel or TikTok video "kicks in".
So we reach for our smartphones every free minute. In the end, the addiction even goes so far that some people are no longer even able to watch a 10-minute video or moviewithout having to play on your cell phone to catch up on the latest social news.
Our ability to concentrate suffers greatly from social media consumption, as our brain becomes accustomed to our attention constantly wandering from one thing to the next. As a result we can no longer resist distractions so well or even long for it. Ultimately, through this form of multitasking, we become not better at multitaskingbut worse.
Be sure to read the Book "Success through focus and concentration" by Jan Höpker* to learn specifically how you can get back on track. concentrate better simply by following your heart.
3. Increased Social Isolation
Social networks naturally help us stay in touch with other people - whether through video chat, photos or text messages. But away from this direct, virtual interaction, Social media actually increase the feeling of loneliness and exclusion.
People who spend two hours or more each day on Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter & Co. are twice as likely to feel isolated than those who spend only half an hour of their daily time on the networks. This was found by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh at an extensive study out.
Why is that? First of all, because it feels like having lots of friends and constant social interaction. But in reality, you only follow the lives of others while completely forgetting about your own. This pre-programmed loneliness then has further consequences for your own life - and can have an extreme impact on the school performance of children and young people, for example.
4. Cyberbullying with Far-Reaching Effects
Not everyone is rewarded with feelings of happiness as soon as they log into their social media accounts. One of the biggest social media dangers is the Cyberbullying. (Book Tip: Cyberbullying - overcoming digital violence pedagogically*)
This includes, for example, the Threats of physical violence, harassment, defamation, sending a hate message, defamation of character, posting personal pictures or also Stalking, the continued persecution and harassment of victims.
Many people feel particularly safe online under the guise of anonymity. However, bullying activities and their spread are difficult to stop. The pressure on the victim of bullying becomes correspondingly more intense, so that the social isolation is ultimately reinforced even further.
To Making bullying more difficultit is advisable to use the privacy settings in the respective social media account. Set them up so that As little information as possible publicly visible are. You should also refrain from sharing dates or locations so that potential perpetrators have no chance of interfering in your - or their potential victim's - real life as well as the virtual one.
Notice: Anyone who has been on the World Wide Web for a while knows that many people also send hateful messages that can leave deep scars on the recipients. Nobody has to accept this without doing anything! What each of us can do against hate on the netYou can learn more about this in the linked blog article.
5. Constant Comparison with Others
A chic selfie in front of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona or a picture of your trained six pack -. most posts on social networks like Instagram represent a perfect world. This perfect world does not exist, but most children and adults quickly forget that. Especially when they constantly (automatically) compare their lives and appearance with the staged self-portrayals of other people.
Ultimately, the social media danger described here can result in the fact that one envious, insecure or dissatisfied becomes and with Inferiority complexes or even Depression even though you are perfectly fine the way you are.
6. Misuse of Personal Data
Whether it's Facebook groups, Instagram posts, WhatsApp messages, or a simple Like, every activity grows your digital footprint and the data collection of the operators of the respective social network about you. They know where you live, how old you are, who you like, who your role model is, what music you love to listen to, and where you are right now.
On the one hand, the data is often resold to third parties for advertising purposes. On the other hand, sensitive information can also be Non-compliance with data protection regulations or also by one or the other Data leak fall into the hands of other people.
Again, my urgent advice to, among other things Prevent identity theft: Use the Privacy settingsto limit such social media risks as far as possible.
7. Users with Criminal Intentions
Your social network accounts are excellent targets for hackers. The latter will find your email address there, as well as countless data and information that you may use as a password. Once they have cracked your account, they can spread viruses and malware in your name without hindrance and also attack your friends on the networks.
More and more frequently, even the already mentioned and far more serious Identity Theft. For example, if the perpetrators take out paid subscriptions or order goods in your name.
Not to be forgotten, moreover, is the risk that potential burglar:inside just waiting to find out your current location to strike when you are not at home.
8. Spread of Misinformation
Social media are the ideal breeding ground for the spread of Conspiracy Theoriesbecause "fake news" can reach millions of people in a very short time. And before they have been clearly refuted, the lies are already firmly anchored in numerous minds.
"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."
Mark Twain
Those who want to spread disinformation can with the help of personal data from the networks (e.g., place of residence, interests or political views) can even use targeted campaigns to address precisely those people who are potentially particularly susceptible to the lies.
To better understand conspiracy theories, I can recommend the Book "Fake Facts: How conspiracy theories determine our thinking" (is available here*) recommend.
By the way: The American writer Mark Twain quoted above lived from 1835 to 1910. If he knew how many times a lie can run around the world these days (thanks to social media) until the truth puts on its shoes, he would probably turn over in his grave.
9. Once on the Internet, Forever on the Internet
You can delete many uploads, but by this time they have usually already reached hundreds, thousands or even millions of people. You eventually lose control about what happens to the pictures, for example from the last drunken stupor.
But this social media danger doesn't just apply to recently posted and immediately removed content. As you leave a lot of your data permanently uploaded online, your "virtual past" even years or decades later.
For example, if your new employer is aware of any information that you have posted. Embarrassments from your youth experiences.
10. Lost Freedoms
Many people take more of an observational role in social media. They consume content and share their private information only in small circles. But with every piece of information, you make yourself more transparent. In addition, social media addiction, as described above, threatens to take control of one's own behavior. Constant accessibility creates additional stress.
Other people, on the other hand, create the corresponding, entertaining content. As a so-called content creator, you have to deliver regularly - otherwise you lose relevance and thus reach in the respective network.
Accordingly constant pressure on publishers toothat causes stress. These are definitely major social media risks for your own health.
Tip: Turn off social media for a few weeks! I guarantee you that this Digital Detox new freedom and you can finally really switch off again.
Countless social media dangers lurk in the networks!
The social networks are Both a curse and a blessing. We can network, organize and stay in touch - but we can also die from excessive social media consumption and massively endanger our mental health.
That is why it is so important to Consume content with the knowledgethat they can be addictive and lonely, mislead and hurt you, and cost you your job or even your life.
"The biggest decision in life is about changing your life through changing your mind."
Albert Schweitzer (more at Change quotes)
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to further books which have helped me personally to become more aware of how I use social media:
- Fake Facts by Katharina Nocun and Pia Lamberty (is available here*)
- Success through focus and concentration by Jan Höpker (is available here*)
- Cyberbullying by Catarina Katzer and Armin Castello (is available here*)
I hope that with this article I could make you aware of the risks and disadvantages of social networks. Do you have any questions, tips or your own experiences with social media dangers that you would like to share? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay mindful,
PS: Content on Facebook, Instagram and the like can unsettle people. How you, on the other hand Strengthen self-confidence you can find out now in the next article.
