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10/03/2022

The High Cost of Living Your Life Online

Constantly posting content on social media can erode your privacy and more

To be online is to be constantly exposed. While it may seem normal, it is a level of exposure we have never dealt with before as human beings. We are posting on Twitter, and people we've never met are responding with their thoughts and criticisms. People are looking at your latest Instagram selfie. They re literally swiping on your face. Messages are piling up. It can sometimes feel like the whole world has its eyes on you.

Being observed by so many people appears to have significant psychological effects. There are, of course, good things about this ability to connect with others. It was crucial during the height of the pandemic when we couldn’t be close to our loved ones, for example. However, experts say there are also numerous downsides, and these may be more complex and persistent than we realize.

Studies have found that high levels of social media use are connected with an increased risk of symptoms of anxiety and depression. There appears to be substantial evidence connecting people’s mental health and their online habits. Furthermore, many psychologists believe people may be dealing with psychological effects that are pervasive but not always obvious.

Please select this link to read the complete article from WIRED.

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