We live in a society that is constantly evolving. Everything moves so fast, and therefore, we have to keep up. This makes it difficult for us to live peacefully and be happy. We often lose sight of life’s meaning, and despite the many movies, series, books, podcasts, and other types of content that address the topic, we still don’t understand why everything moves at a different pace than ours. That’s why, internationally, this issue affects us all personally, and we must give it the importance it deserves. This has been the case since 1992, when the World Federation for Mental Health established October 10 as World Mental Health Day. This day may seem like any other, but it can also save lives. It is important because we need to raise people’s awareness about mental health and its consequences when there are no sources to rely on.
Here in Norway, we have national public health campaigns such as the yearly World Mental Health Day and the “ABC For Good Mental Health” program. Both are designed to destigmatize mental health and provide different tools intended to help people live a more fulfilling life. Every little bit helps with an issue that still has a long way to go before achieving significant results in a society like Norway, which has a higher-than-average suicide rate (it is 13.12 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, according to a Datosmacro.com study).
Among the thousands of factors that affect people’s mental health, there are some that perfectly determines this fast-paced, changing society where everything and nothing makes sense; yet we stay afloat. This is social media and the strange dichotomy between being more connected and feeling more alone and lost. Young adults, given the generation they were born into, experience firsthand the advantages and disadvantages of living in the digital age.
This can be shown after a series of anonymous interviews with university students in Kristiansand. Three boys and three girls answer a few questions that help give voice to some of the problems young people face, such as feelings of loneliness and helplessness when using social media.
To begin with, it is worth noting that there is a significant difference in social media use between younger people, those in their 20s, and those closer to their 30s. The first prefer to use TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, while the latter use X or Facebook more. However, what they all have in common is that they log into social media daily.
One of the most common problems regarding frequent social media use is people comparing their lives with those of other profiles:
“You have really high expectations of what you want to do because social media only highlight the good stuff in your life so when your normal life isn’t like that you feel kind of lonely.”
“You can have company on Tik Tok or Snapchat but also you can feel kind of missing out of stuff if you are popping up things watching my friends, where are they now but I’m not.”
“Also it increases social pressure on young people to have jobs, make money, also study, to have stuff figured out. And I think this is amplified by social media a lot because people can choose to share everything that they are doing and they can compare each other.”
Even though we are aware that only relevant and aesthetically pleasing things are posted on social media, a general feeling of frustration persists, affecting most of the interviewees to a greater or lesser extent.
On the other hand, some of the interviewees described being overwhelmed by the excess of information. Constantly and relentlessly consuming news, especially unfortunate events, which are the most shared, causes a deep sense of anguish and helplessness that often prevents them from continuing with their lives peacefully. They feel that the world around them is simply cruel.
“The world has a moral compass and I think that is broken.”
Finally, one of the biggest problems plaguing young people is the feeling of loneliness that social media generates. It may sound contradictory given the very name “social” media, but it is causing younger generations to increasingly struggle to communicate in traditional ways.
“Some people might find social media as an alternative to real life context and interactions.”
“Due to social media they lack a physical community. I might not know my neighbour or the people around me and so I can not take contact or know that they are there if I need help but then I can know a random person from Chile cause we are on the same.”
“You might have a sense of belonging but if you use it too much it might make you feel even more lonely.”
And this is reflected in how active you are on social media, as some of the interviewees, mainly men, don’t feel the pressure or loneliness because they only spend their time connecting with their circle with no other intention than to hear from them and chat from time to time. Furthermore, another group of interviewees did show great unease when it came to addressing this topic, and this coincided with the fact that they are more active in posting and following people in their close circle, influencers, and others.
Ellen S. Øyna, a therapist at SiA, confirms that social media often comes up in her work with young people, though usually as a contributing factor rather than the main issue.
“Social media is not either bad or good—it’s both. It’s all about balance.” She explains that excessive use can disrupt sleep, increase stress, and lead to overthinking.
“People don’t usually come to therapy saying, ‘I have a problem with social media.’ But when we talk about their habits, it often turns out that they spend hours scrolling before bed, which affects their sleep and stress levels. It may not be the root cause, but it contributes.”
Social media is now deeply woven into our daily lives. As individuals and as a society, we need to find a balance between digital and physical. Despite the challenges, there are also undeniable benefits, such as staying connected with loved ones or finding communities across the world.
But balance begins with awareness. We must recognize how digital life affects young adults, normalize the emotions that comes with it, and accept that mental health is just as important as physical health.
As Ellen Øyna says:
“It’s healthy to have emotional responses to different situations. That makes you human. The key is not to run away from your feelings by staying more and more active online, but to accept them. That’s where perspective and focus come from.”
Avoiding uncomfortable feelings doesn’t bring solutions. Instead, we must learn to embrace our humanity, with its struggles, griefs, and uncertainties. It is normal to feel discouraged, anxious, or left behind in a world that never stops, especially when viewed through the lens of social media. The challenge is to pause, reflect, and find peace in simply being. When we achieve that balance, we realize that we are not truly alone – even online.
