Captivating trend of reels on social media is posing big challenge to our mental well-being

Mandi (HP), May 23 (Agency) While social media is a platform for important conversations, it also limits its safety. Besides the rampant trolling and verbal abuse, sensitive topics also act as psychological triggers for people. Captivating trend of reels on social media is posing a big challenge to our mental well-being said Dr Naresh Purohit, Advisor – National Mental Health Programme Saturday. Visiting Professor at the Dharamshala (Distt Kangra) based Central University of Himachal Pradesh, School of Medical Sciences Dr Purohit told UNI here after virtually addressing a webinar on “Mental health challenges posed by social media ” organized by Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College , Mandi – that increased social media usage has been shown to contribute to hysteria, anxiety, and depression. “Social media platforms like instagram trap teenagers into endless scrolling,” he added.

Noted Disaster Mental Health Expert Dr Purohit averred that research suggests that increased exposure to reel videos with their fast-paced nature and curated content, can contribute to higher levels of anxiety and depression. The constant exposure to seemingly perfect lives and relentless social comparison may exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions. “Reels are designed to capture and retain viewers’ attention. The rapid-fire format, coupled with engaging visuals and music, creates a mesmerizing experience. This quick-paced content can be particularly captivating, leading to prolonged consumption and potential addictive behaviors. “These videos can intensify the Fear of Missing Out, called FOMO , a phenomenon where individuals feel anxious or left out when they perceive others having rewarding experiences they are not a part of.” he added Renowned medic said such videos on social media often emphasize physical attractiveness, creating unrealistic beauty standards that can affect body image perceptions.

Continuous exposure to flawless faces, perfect bodies, and curated beauty ideals can foster feelings of dissatisfaction, body dysmorphia, and a negative self-image. He stated that the constant stream of exciting and glamorous reel videos may lead to feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s own life. These bite-sized visual snippets are designed to captivate viewers’ attention within seconds. Hence, such videos have also been accompanied by a concerning trend of rising impulsivity. “The constant exposure to rapid-fire content can lead to shorter attention spans and impulsive decision-making. Viewers may find it difficult to focus on longer-form content or engage in sustained thought. he added Principal Investigator for the Association of Studies for Mental Care pointed that as per the latest statistics, India is the leading country in terms of Instagram audience size with 180 million users, followed by the United States with 170 million users. The banning of Tik Tok by the government of India has left 200 million’ digital refugees’ with an uncertain future in their vertical video creation. He averred that reels emerged as a new Tik Tok clone with its sized Instagram user base and provided an ideal virtual playground for these Tik Tok refugees. Recent statistics show that the average time spent on Instagram in India has increased. 3.5 per cent after reels launch and increased Instagram downloads by 11.4 per cent.