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What if Your Favourite Social Media App Was Gone Tomorrow?

How banning an app could affect users' financial and emotional well-being.

Key points

  • Losing an app could cause income loss, leading to financial distress.
  • Users may feel isolated without the community support from social apps.
  • Misinformation spread on apps can have serious health consequences.

The potential banning of a popular social media app could have significant mental health consequences for both creators and users who have integrated the platform into their daily lives. For many, these apps provide not only entertainment but also a sense of community, financial opportunities, and social connection. However, the abrupt removal of such platforms could lead to both positive and negative mental health outcomes, depending on how individuals adapt and find alternatives.

Impact on Creators: Financial and Mental Health Challenges

For creators who rely on a platform for income, the fear of an app being banned is particularly acute. Many have built their careers around content creation and audience engagement, and losing access to these platforms could mean a sudden loss of income. Such a financial disruption is often linked to increased stress, anxiety, and other mental health struggles (Ridley et al., 2020). While some creators may successfully transition to other platforms, the success of such transitions is not guaranteed, and the loss of their established audience could create additional uncertainty. Creators with families or financial obligations may feel the impact even more intensely, leading to long-term mental health distress.

The Role of Social Media in Building Community

For noncreators, social media apps play a significant role in fostering a sense of belonging and community. These platforms allow users to engage with like-minded individuals, find support networks, and access various types of content, from mental health support groups to entertainment. The video-based nature of many platforms enhances emotional engagement and can foster a deeper sense of connection compared to text-based forums, where communication can feel more impersonal (Westenberg, 2020). Losing access to this social support could lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, or emotional withdrawal, particularly for users who rely on these platforms to maintain relationships or participate in niche communities.

The absence of these online spaces may lead users to seek other outlets, such as in-person gatherings, smaller online communities, or different social media platforms. However, replicating the sense of connection and emotional engagement of the original app may be difficult, especially if alternative platforms lack the same community dynamics or content formats.

Potential Risks of Misinformation and Health Impact

Despite their benefits, social media apps are not without controversy. They have been linked to the spread of misinformation, including medical advice that may not be backed by evidence. For example, individuals may turn to social media for health-related information rather than consulting medical professionals, leading to poor decision-making and health risks (Basch et al., 2021). Additionally, platforms have been accused of fostering harmful behaviors, such as encouraging unhealthy body image ideals or facilitating toxic social comparison. If an app were banned, it could present an opportunity to address these issues more critically, potentially allowing for a reduction in harmful content while encouraging users to seek more accurate information from trusted sources.

Preparing for an App’s Absence

In anticipation of the potential loss of a platform, creators and users alike may need to explore alternatives. Creators could benefit from consulting career counselors to assess new avenues for income generation, while users may consider other social media platforms or smaller, niche communities to maintain their social ties.

While the loss of a beloved app could be disruptive, it is essential to recognize that meaningful connections can still thrive in other contexts. Smaller, more intimate circles of communication—whether in-person or online—can often offer a deeper, more sustainable sense of community.

Ultimately, though apps may rise and fall in popularity, the human need for social connection remains constant. It is possible to build and maintain strong, supportive networks outside of a single platform, allowing individuals to weather the potential mental health impacts of a platform's absence.

References

Basch, C. H., Meleo-Erwin, Z. C., Fera, J., Jaime, C., & Basch, C. E. (2021). A global pandemic in the time of viral memes: COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and disinformation on social media. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 17(8), 2373–2377. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1894896

Ridley, M., Rao, G., Schilbach, F., & Patel, V. (2020). Poverty, depression, and anxiety: Causal evidence and mechanisms. Science, 370(6522), eaay0214. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay0214

Westenberg, W. (2020). The influence of social media on youth culture. Social Media + Society, 6(4), 205630512098141. https://doi.org/10.1177/205630512098141

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