Category: Social Media & Mental Health

Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE

Benefits of Tech Detox for Mental Well-Being

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  December 18, 2023

How much time do you spend looking at screens? This could include scrolling social media before bedtime, playing video games, checking work emails, and more. If you’re like most people, it’s probably more time than you’d like to admit. Reports show people, on average, spend a third of their waking...

The Dark Side of Connectivity: Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Depression in Youth

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  November 29, 2023

Understanding the impact of social media use on depression among young people has become increasingly crucial for both individuals and society as a whole. This article attempts to give you the details to get to grips with a fast-moving area of digital culture. As Gen Z lives and breathes social...

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Social Media's Contribution to Anxiety Disorders

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  October 22, 2023

The fear of missing out, or “FOMO,” is a phenomenon first identified nearly 30 years ago, but one that has taken on a new meaning in recent years with the rise in social media. This article describes what FOMO is, its relationship with social media, and how social media contributes...

The Role of Social Platforms in Promoting Unrealistic Beauty Standards

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  October 13, 2023

This article looks at the role of social media and its relationship with body image. Can social platforms really promote unrealistic beauty standards? If so, how can we protect ourselves against this influence and what can be done to mitigate the risk?   What is body image? Body image is...

Cyberbullying and Its Impact on Mental Health: The Unseen Consequences of Social Media

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  September 30, 2023

Since the introduction and rapid rise of the internet, cyberbullying has become an increasingly prolific issue, with social media playing a significant role. This article explains what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, the prevalence of cyberbullying, and how it can impact mental health. Warning: this article contains references to...

Is Social Media Turning Us Into Narcissists?

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  September 6, 2023

Social media usage is becoming increasingly common. Now, over 75% of the world’s population uses some type of social media platform. Reports show that narcissistic personality traits are also growing in young people[1]. The question is: Are the two related? Are young people becoming more narcissistic due to social media...

What are the Pros and Cons of Social Media For Mental Health?

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  August 11, 2023

As much as we all love to scroll social media, most of us don’t think of it as something that’s good for our mental health. You’ve probably heard claims about how too much social media use can negatively impact you, especially if you’re a teen or a young adult. But...

How Social Media Filters are Impacting Our Mental Health

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  August 3, 2023

Have you ever looked at a photo on social media and thought, “That person is so beautiful, they look almost inhuman”? That’s because many photos on social media aren’t real – they’re filtered or edited to wipe out signs of imperfections. Teeth are whiter, fine lines are erased, and noses...

Will TikTok Time Limits Improve Teen Mental Health?

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  June 26, 2023

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 5 years, you’ve probably heard of TikTok. TikTok is a video-based social media platform that’s gained immense popularity, especially with teens. Reports show that two-thirds of teens worldwide have a TikTok account, and there are 1 billion users (of all...

How Do You Identify True Friends?

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  June 13, 2017

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that the only way to have a friend is to be one. The depth of your character is best gauged by the depth of your friendships.

What Causes a Negative Image of Yourself?

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  February 7, 2017

Perhaps you have forgotten who you really are. Maybe you've never known. What causes a negative image of yourself? Your life story holds some valuable clues to solving the mystery.

Partnering Online

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  July 29, 2016

Recent technology has presented us with a new, potentially devastating forum for inappropriately sexualized relationships. The Internet with its anonymity and wide-open content can tempt us to cross physical and sexual boundaries.

When Informal Counseling Leads to Sexualized Relationships

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  January 30, 2016

You may think you’re not a formal counselor, therapist, doctor, or attorney. Because you don’t hold one of these specific titles, then your job doesn’t put you in a position to offer advice or counseling to other people. So you don’t have to worry about it, right? Not necessarily.The potential...

Detoxing from Technology as a Family

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  October 16, 2015

How do you know if you and your family have crossed that line from technology use to obsession? Perhaps the true answer to whether or not you have control over the technology in your life is to do a tech detox. You may want to begin first by trying out...

The Importance of Knowing Your Friends

By: Dr. Gregory Jantz  •  August 26, 2015

In today’s social media–saturated world, no analysis of relationships would be complete without proper attention to the criteria you set for your friends—online and off. If you are engaged in online relationships that you consider to be a prominent source of support and companionship, be sure determine the strength of the relationships based on these factors.

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