To What Extent Do You Think The Internet Causes Anxiety?

[Raidergal2022]

I was about 14 before getting a mobile phone and 16 when I had the internet at home.

I kind of appreciate growing up without a phone, playing outside and just agreeing to be back at a certain time. These days I feel in a way insecure if I don’t have my mobile.

I also felt that life was a lot simpler without the internet, I was not overloaded with information I just used my brain, in person professional opinion and what I didn’t know somehow I didn’t worry about.

I was aged 17 when I first developed anxiety interestingly this was the time I started to google a lot and developed health anxiety. In attempt to fill my gap of uncertainty I would google everything, this potentially led to biased information, giving more credit than due to forums/peoples radical opinions and finding more unanswered questions.

We can’t say for certain whether having access to infinite information reduces mental health but if you think about it it is very unnatural. Our ancestors would mostly only have knowledge of their immediate environment not the lives of the rest of the world. They would therefore mostly focus on their daily lives and tasks, not the disasters around the rest of the world.

It is interesting how interrogation methods that were used to stress and break people involved overloading with stimuli - noise, light, unsettling stories etc yet in a way isn’t this present to a lesser extent with TV’s and now internet. A lot of therapy for mental illness promotes information reduction/grounding techniques ie focusing on the present and becoming more absorbed in daily tasks - something which I can imagine our ancestors found easier to do due to less distractions.

For all its advantages how damaging do you think the internet is?

[barry1010]

The vast majority of people of any age and throughout history will say their life was simpler and caused less anxiety before they were 14. That has nothing to do with the internet.

Health anxiety is also nothing new, and puberty does cause a lot of changes in body and mind. Even without access to information people have worried about their lumps, aches and pains, sometimes too frightened to seek information or see a doctor.

I agree that 24/7 rolling news from around the world is not always healthy, especially because hearing every development of the same incident many times over a long period can make the situation seem worse than it is.
For instance you read about a fatal stabbing that happened a mile from your home. You may read and hear about it several times a day for a week. Same when somebody is arrested, then charged. Months later the trial is reported. The vigils are reported, the victim's family and friends are in the news.
It is overload and can make us feel a stabbing happens in our neighbourhood every week.

What is dangerous is the anonymity the internet gives keyboard warriors, the insane, the troublemakers, the bigots, the conspiracy theorists. People who you would instantly dismiss and avoid after half an hour if you happened to find yourself next to them in a pub.
The scammers, users and abusers who now have access to potentially millions of people.

The positives does outweigh all of that, though. We no longer live in the same tribes and villages as our ancestors and through necessity families may live many miles apart. The internet helps to bring people together on a daily basis.

Online support groups are invaluable for the mental wellbeing of those living with debilitating heath problems, and their carers.

Instant access to knowledge from a wide range of sources is a modern day miracle.

The ability to get advice for practical problems is extremely useful to me.

There are aspects of the internet I hate but I can avoid them.

[1ozzy]

Well, that was a lot of reading, thanks to both.

The internet can be either helpful or damaging, your choice.

[barry1010]

Much like most things in life.

[rowanwitch]

It's a useful tool, but you do need to develop a new skillset, learning how to check information, basically having a really good cowpoo detector. You also need to know what your safe usage time is, mine is around four hours a day but broken up with other activities. I think the best guide is if separation from your tech makes you anxious you need to cut down.
Only check social media a couple of times a day maybe, and only use your phone to make important connections, leave it at home sometimes. We managed for years without beng constantly in contact with our friends. It's quite nice to give yourself space without feeling you have to respond instantly to every communication. 99% of what we do outside of face to face contact us probably just fluff! Who really needs to see what you had for lunch or all fifteen pairs of shoes you tried on last saturday. We know what our friends look like, and they know us, why not keep selfies for major style changes , or when we manage to bump into a celebrity. You can probably think of other things. You just need to recognise the signs of overload and adjust.

[Akshu]

I do not have personal beliefs or experiences. However, studies have shown that excessive internet use and social media can contribute to anxiety and stress. The constant need for validation, the fear of missing out (FOMO), cyberbullying, and exposure to negative news can all contribute to anxiety. On the other hand, the internet can also be a source of support, information, and resources that can help alleviate anxiety. It ultimately depends on how one uses the internet and the amount of time spent online.

[hamta03]

It's interesting how the internet can be a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to anxiety.