You may be negatively impacted by social media if you find yourself sacrificing real -life interactions to spend more time on the internet. This can be a sure sign of phone dependency if you find yourself needing to constantly check social media and comparing your social life to that of others. Furthermore, you can find yourself constantly worrying your missing out on the fun and constantly wishing you were somewhere else. Comparing Yourself If you find yourself having to seek out the approval of others, specifically in the form of “likes” and comments, having lower self-esteem, eating less, or feeling inferior to other people on the Internet, this might be a cause for concern. It’s good to also remember that what people post online isn’t always as it seems and generally people tend to highlight the best moments of their day/lives and downplay the negative. Worsening anxiety and depression As opposed to working through negative feelings and improving your overall mood, too much Internet usage and self-reflection could result in anxiousness, depression, and/or loneliness. Being the Subject of Cyberbullying You might find yourself being treated badly or being spoken to meanly. Another form of this can be people posting negative content about you. Finding Yourself Distracted You might feel pressure to post regularly, and engage with your friends’ comments regularly either in messages, or with likes and comments. Not Self-Reflecting When you spend a lot of time on the Internet or focused on other peoples’ lives, you give up adequate time to take a good look at who you are, what you want, what you think, what you believe, etc..instead focusing on what the media and other people tell you to think and enjoy. Worsening anxiety and depression As opposed to working through negative feelings and improving your overall mood, too much Internet usage and self-reflection could result in anxiousness, depression, and/or loneliness.