Shreyas Talpade Calls Social Media a Double-Edged Sword for Mental Health

As an actor in the industry, Shreyas Talpade has himself seen the effects of social media on mental health. Years of communication and interaction have been transformed by the power of social media, but this comes with unavoidable and substantial risks that are negative to our health. In the context of present-day innovations, Shreyas underscores the significance of positive approaches towards social media and its negative aspects while focusing on the proper usage of the platforms.

Social Media: Unrealistic Expectations, Anxiety & Rivalry Risks

On the one side, social networks have positive impacts but in that they can also cause negative impacts such as anxiety and depression due to the display of unrealistic expectations and comparison. Instagram & Facebook present life as a series of montages, and therefore create an environment of rivalry. This in turn may result in tension among the users particularly the youths who may feel compelled to portray an image that is considered ideal in the online world hence feelings of inferiority. In addition, what Shreyas said is that due to the constant flow of information, people experience anxiety and stress.

But Shreyas also notes the positive effects of network sites as well as other social networking sites. Perhaps forums can help to bring people together and combat loneliness thus making people feel they are part of a community. Social media has also become a critical platform for creating awareness on mental health with influencers and celebrities coming out to share their experiences. Moreover, social media brings in the resources and the support groups since it eliminates geographical barriers, and help is just a click away.

Shreyas believes that the positive effects of social media can be achieved without the negative effects if people use it responsibly. He also wants his followers to get out of the virtual world make tangible interactions in the physical world, and talk to people directly. He says and we quote,

He said, “I think the possibilities are in the midpath, we can leverage the potential of social media to enhance mental health, not to deteriorate it. This time it is necessary to delete negativity and to apply social networks for something more useful and, moreover, reliable. It is important to do something that will be of benefit to the public. I’m ready for social media to start encouraging people instead of constantly making them feel like they want to pull their hair out.

Well done Shreyas Talpade for really giving it out and supporting such an important cause. The fact that such a man, such a respected personality comes out in the open and speaks his mind has the ring of courage to many people who are struggling to cope with the grimmer aspects of social media. In terms of work, Shreyas Talpade is entertaining the audience with a new serial ‘Swagtam’ on Sony Liv which also showcases deep issues like mental health. Shreyas is the brand ambassador of ‘Bombay Psychiatric Society’ and the fact that he got a chance to play something like this on-screen has appealed to fans.