How can I use design to raise awareness of the negative effects and implications social media addiction has on young adults (18-24 years old)?
FINAL PRODUCT:
Kill Instagram
Kill Twitter
Kill TikTok
RESEARCH:
Young adults, aged 18-24, are experiencing more anxiety and depression due to being addicted to social media. Research has shown that the rise of social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have been causing an increase in anxiety and depression amongst young adults. People have begun replacing their reality with online personas by focusing more on their social media rather than focusing on what’s going on in real life. A lot of young adults are not aware that social media is causing a rise in anxiety and depression amongst themselves and their peers. This unawareness of social media addiction is causing young adults to have problems within their home, school, work and social life. I wanted to combat this problem of my generation using design. So, How can I use design to raise awareness of the negative effects and implications social media addiction has on young adults (18-24 years old)?
Social media may be fun and seen as a positive thing this generation has to offer. Social media is a free app or website that gives you a chance to meet and keep in touch with people without ever leaving your home. It is also user-friendly geared towards everyone, and can be used to promote exposure to businesses. (How Social Media Has Evolved, 2017). You see what the world has to offer without ever leaving your home.
While the brain is getting rushes of dopamine from the notifications from social media and attention through social media, there is still a negative aspect. From frequent use, people can begin to force themselves into social pressure of sharing, liking, and posting things to seem like their life is fuller than it may be. People also tend to compare themselves to other users over material things and lifestyles.
The most negative consequences of feeling depression and anxiety from social media is people turning to harmful ways of dealing with it. This leads to an increase in suicides. In the article “Social Media Use May Play Important Role in Youth Suicide” we see how suicide rates have tripled among teenagers. Jamie Zelazny, PhD, RN, outlines how teenagers who use social media more frequently experience poor mental health outcomes. This is linked to low self-esteem, poor body image, and risk-taking behavior such as self-harm, drug abuse, and overall risk to seem better. According to a Harvard University study 7 IN 10 young adults than spend more than 5 hours are at a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts and sadly higher risk of committing suicide. In the same study 40.6% of young adults say they believe social media affects their mental health.
Using design, I would want to create something that makes young adults be aware of their addiction to social media, as well as think about the consequences it is having on their mental health. The best way for me to show my skills in design and capture the attention of young adults would be through bright, yet simple, designs that feel dramatic without feeling like I’m putting the audience down about their addiction. I want to kill the addiction, not necessarily stop all usage.
