Is social media actually a bad thing for your mental health?

After conducting in-depth research on reviews related to this relationship, we aim to highlight several critical aspects, including:

Varied perceptions regarding the use of different social media platforms, encompassing positive, negative, and neutral effects.

The influence of social media and smartphones on our daily lives, impacting factors such as sleeping habits and mental fatigue.

The impact of interactions and relationships formed on social media on our behaviors, encompassing phenomena such as echo chambers, bullying, and presenting a curated lifestyle to showcase an unattainable status. Additionally, we explore how social media can contribute to reducing levels of depression by fostering a sense of belonging within communities that share common values.

The time spent on social media comparing different generations.

“85” is a collection of 85 instagram reel, printed on a fabric. 85 is the average number of reels a Instagram user watch per day.

For the Physicalization we chose to use the metaphor of the magician's game, where the magician continuously pulls out never-ending handkerchiefs. This choice is significant for several reasons. Firstly, the magician's game evokes a sense of wonder and surprise, reflecting the immersive and captivating sensation that many people experience when browsing social media. Like the magician who tirelessly extracts handkerchiefs, users often find themselves moving back and forth between content, unaware of the time elapsed. Secondly, the magician metaphor highlights the illusion of endless possibilities offered by social media. Like the magician who appears to extract handkerchiefs endlessly, social media present an seemingly infinite stream of content, which can be enticing and engaging, but at the same time can lead to a loss of perception of time and reality. Finally, representing reels as handkerchiefs in the magician's game allows us to tangibly visualize the amount of content consumed each day. Each handkerchief extracted represents a reel watched on Instagram, enabling us to better understand the impact that excessive use of social media can have on our mental health.

We've chosen to symbolize each handkerchief with an Instagram reel. To emphasize this correlation, we decided to replace traditional paper cards with fabric printed with screenshots of reels that appeared on our homepage. This tactile representation allows viewers to grasp the tangible impact of excessive social media use, as each fabric handkerchief mirrors a reel watched.

Additionally, we incorporated interactive elements into the display, inviting viewers to engage directly with the fabric reels, further highlighting the immersive nature of social media and its potential effects on mental well-being. Through this project, we aim to spark reflection and discussion on the balance between digital engagement and mental health in today's society.

Gupta, C., Jogdand, S., & Kumar, M. (2022). Reviewing the Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Adults.
Khalaf, A. M. (2023). The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematical Review.

Psychology Today. (2023, 8 novembre). The Whole World Is at Risk for ‘Compassion Fatigue’: Social Media and Empathy Around the Globe.  [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/what-do-you-mean/202305/social-media-and-empathy-around-the-globe

Common Sense Media. (2021). The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens. [online] Available at: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/8-18-census-integrated-report-final-web_0.pdf

Demand Sage. (2024, 15 gennaio). Instagram Reel Statistics.  [online] Available at: https://www.demandsage.com/instagram-reel-statistics/#:~:text=Over%20200%20billion%20Reels%20are,100%20billion%20daily%20Reels%20plays