The Impact of Social Media during the Pandemic

We are over a year into the pandemic. During much of that time and for many others, a lot of it was spent using social media. Overall, the uses, attitudes, and trends of social media have changed significantly since the start of the pandemic. Here's how:

Before the pandemic, most social media platforms were used as a way to share memorable moments with others. But much of that ceased when the pandemic began. So, with people stuck at home with nothing to do but use their phones, many craved a way to stay entertained. How did people alleviate this? Through a social media platform called Tik Tok. Tik Tok is a more casual, fun, inclusive, and easy way to laugh and connect with others. Tik Tok grew by about 800% from Jan. 2018 (11 million global users) to August 2020 (over 700 million global users).

The rise of social media usage during the pandemic has also called for a rise in awareness of social media and mental health. Social media has both positive and negative psychological effects on mental health. On the positive side, social media helps people stay up to date with family and friends around the world, find new friends and communities, network with other people who share similar interests, raise awareness on important issues, offer emotional support, serve as an outlet for creativity, and act as a free tool for learning.

Opposingly, social media can increase feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety, self-absorption, and self-hate as well as cause one to feel inadequate about their life or appearance. This had led to both an increase and decrease in usage of social media during the pandemic.

Finally, social media has led to an increase in influencers. With more time to create content, the shift and increase in influencer marketing, the relatively small market size in comparison to the money in the sectors, and the ease of entry, many recognize the value and payoff in becoming an influencer. Ultimately, it is evident that the pandemic has had a tremendous effect on our social media usage and will most likely continue to impact it in the future.