Instagram & Mental Health: How Victims Can Claim Justice

Social media platforms like Instagram make a great way to stay connected with friends and family. You can share bits and pieces of your life in photos, videos, and reels on Instagram. It also enables you to check updates shared by your followers and favorite celebrities and influencers. Hours seem to fly by when you dive into the exciting world of Instagram.

But the other side of the picture is not so alluring. According to a study by the University of Pennsylvania, the consistent use of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram is linked with decreased well-being.  Participants limiting their daily social media use to 30 minutes experienced lower levels of loneliness and depression than those using it for more than two hours every day.

Teen girls suffer more when it comes to mental health issues related to Instagram use. Even the internal research conducted by Facebook with the Wall Street Journal shows that one in three teen girls using the platform come across body image issues. Instagram can affect the mental well-being of its users, regardless of age, gender, and social status.

Awareness can be a game-changer as it empowers you to claim justice as a victim dealing with the ill effects of Instagram use. Here is all you need to understand about your risks and rights as a user.

The Downsides of Instagram Use

Several studies indicate the ill effects of Instagram, specifically when used for an extended time. The addictive nature is part of what makes the platform more problematic than other social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.  With Instagram, you never get stop-cues because it continually serves up content that drives you back to the top of the feed and nudges you to repeat scrolling. 

Let us highlight a few ways it can harm your mental well-being:

• Inadequacy about your life because of  irrelevant comparisons
• Low self-esteem and insecurity about your appearance
• Isolation and depression due to lack of in-person interactions
• Fear of missing out (FOMO) and addiction 
• Cyberbullying and sexual exploitation
• Unhealthy self-centeredness

Instagram users engaging in social comparison and digital status-seeking are at a high risk of negative psychological outcomes in the long run. Such behaviors can lead to social anxiety, depressive symptoms, body image concerns, and eating disorders. 

The Legal Side 

The mental health effects of Instagram use are a pressing concern for users, specifically parents of teenagers spending a lot of time on the platform. Users may be eligible for an Instagram lawsuit if they sustain mental health issues due to its use. 

The potential compensation of these lawsuits can include medical treatment bills, therapy costs, emotional damage, and pain and suffering. With growing legal pressure on Meta, more damages may become viable in compensation claims.

According to TorHoerman Law, users dealing with qualifying conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, self-harm, and mental illnesses linked with Instagram should seek compensation from Meta. Since the concept is relatively new, it is best to collaborate with a lawyer with relevant know-how and experience to have a strong case against a giant corporation.

Signs to Watch Out For

Instagram addiction and mental health effects do not surface overnight. The process is gradual and subtle, so you may not even know that you are getting into a problem. Being vigilant about the early signs of potential mental health issues helps you deal with them before they become real problems. 

Here are the ones indicating that Instagram may be adversely affecting you:

• Comparing yourself with influencers, celebrities, and your followers
• Spending more time browsing and interacting with virtual connections than with real-world friends
• Being distracted at school or work
• Suffering from sleep-related problems
• Feeling anxious or depressed without a tangible reason
• Having no time for personal relationships, self-development, or self-reflection
• Trying to get likes and comments through unfair means such as buying or bullying

Paying attention to these early signs and working on your social media usage and behavior can save you from getting into a real problem. Be proactive about limiting your Instagram use, minimizing negative interactions, and restricting your online connections.

Conclusion

Going overboard with Instagram use can affect your mental health in more ways than you imagine. While giving up on social media altogether may not be feasible, you can check your habits to address the risk. At the same time, you should be aware of your legal rights because Instagram lawsuits will likely become common in the future. Young children are more vulnerable, so parents should stay ahead of the latest updates.