Online Depression (3)

Today's third session of the online lecture series on depression was held. Here is a summary of this session

First, the six pillars of self-esteem, according to Branden, are: 1) living consciously, 2) self-acceptance, 3) personal responsibility, 4) self-assertiveness, 5) living purposefully, and 6) personal integrity. In the previous session, I showed how social networks relate to some of these six indicators. For example, social networks have made self-acceptance more difficult than when we did not have access to them. This, of course, increases our negative feelings, which can all lead to depression. Additionally, if we struggle with self-acceptance, we cannot succeed in expressing our feelings, emotions, needs, thoughts, and actions.

Second, I believe one of the most important functions of social networks is the increase in ambiguities and uncertainties we face regarding our entire lives or its components. For a good, happy, and meaningful life, we do not need this much information, and this is precisely what leads to more and more serious ambiguity. In other words, choosing between two, three, four, or five options requires conscious action, but selecting among a thousand or two thousand options is no longer a choice. This is sheer ambiguity and uncertainty. I believe the main problem for a depressed individual is not the various challenges in life but the lack of meaning behind these challenges. In other words, these challenges are sheer ambiguity and uncertainty for them. Social networks, in various ways, add to this ambiguity. Furthermore, in social networks, the 'other' is reduced to just another social media user, while the 'other' is one of the most important sources of meaning in a person's life, whether it is our emotional partner, someone with whom we pursue a common goal, or someone we feel obliged to help.

Third, social networks can significantly undermine personal integrity. They can create serious disruptions in our understanding of the world. In other words, they have the potential to make us follow names and titles more than in offline spaces, influencing our values. Our behaviors may differ in online and offline spaces because our personal identity varies across these realms. Additionally, social networks can create a greater gap between our actions, words, needs, thoughts, and emotions compared to offline spaces.

Fourth, physical embodiment does not take its place in social networks. We must be aware of the unintended consequences of the lack of embodiment in relationships. Embodiment dispels loneliness, explains the meaningfulness of life, and introduces a world we have lived in for centuries but have recently been forced to leave due to the presence of social networks. In my view, we have been exiled to these social networks.

Fifth, at a certain level, depression and anxiety are nothing but preoccupation with mental ruminations about the past and future instead of engaging in meaningful activities, which can include thinking. Mental rumination about the past is depression, and about the future is anxiety. I believe that a type of political, social, cultural, and individual activism in social networks can be highlighted that is essentially inaction, leading to depression and anxiety.