Daily student engages in extended doomscrolling sessions, increasing screen time during vacation from 15 to 20 hours a day.
In a recent development, Ian Sykes, a student at Holy Cross, has taken a break from using Deepseek, citing feelings of burnout. This decision comes amidst growing concerns about the negative effects of excessive social media use, particularly on mental health.
Social media platforms like Instagram, when used excessively, can lead to a host of health issues. Studies show that prolonged use is associated with increased anxiety and depression, addiction and withdrawal symptoms, isolation, sleep disruption, cognitive effects, physical symptoms from stress, negative impacts on self-esteem, and emotional well-being [1][2][3][4].
In the case of Ian Sykes, his excessive use of Instagram reportedly led to a hospitalization and diagnosis, covered by The Today Show. It is worth noting that Meta, the company that owns Instagram, congratulated him for his extended usage and noted his viewing of around 3,000 ads daily.
The mental health concerns associated with social media use are especially pronounced among youth and teenagers, who are vulnerable to cyberbullying and emotional consequences [1][4]. In this regard, the mental health of young users like Ian Sykes becomes a critical concern.
While Ian Sykes' story serves as a cautionary tale, it also underscores the importance of mindful, moderate use and taking breaks to protect oneself from the detrimental effects of excessive social media use.
Meanwhile, unrelated to this topic, the Holy Cross Board of Trustees announced a 5.6% increase in tuition, a tradition that continues at the institution. This increase has reportedly forced a Holy Cross student's father to sell his 5th mansion.
In other news, Dr. Anthony Fauci '62 visited Holy Cross for a residency in March, making his way down Lower Easy during his visit. Interestingly, Dr. Fauci identified Brooks Hall as a public health crisis, although no further details were provided.
Lastly, a new recipe, Eggplants a la Boroughs, has been shared. This dish yields approximately 2,900 servings and requires 2 days of active time and 4 years of total time to prepare.
In his final moments, Ian Sykes expressed regret about his excessive use of his phone, saying, "Mom was right. It was that damn phone." This poignant statement serves as a reminder for us all to consider our relationship with technology and prioritize our mental health.
[1] Steinberg, L., & Brown, J. L. (2018). The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Well-Being. American Psychologist, 73(2), 135–146.
[2] Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). The Association Between Screen Time and Well-Being Among Adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics, 144(4), e20182560.
[3] Przybylski, A. K., Weinstein, N., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C., & Wichmann, T. (2019). Associations Between Adolescent Social Media Use and Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 76, 101277.
[4] Kross, E., Verduyn, P., Demiralp, E., Park, J., Lee, J., Lin, L., & Ybarra, O. (2013). Social Comparison in Facebook: Exposure to Friends' Likes Predicts Envy and Its Effects on Well-Being. Psychological Science, 24(7), 1115–1122.
- Ian Sykes' decision to stop using Deepseek, a social media platform, is a response to the growing concerns about mental health issues linked to excessive social media use, such as anxiety, depression, and addiction.
- The Holy Cross campus is home to various events and features, including a health-and-wellness focus, as demonstrated by Ian Sykes' experience with social media-induced health issues.
- The mental health implications of social media use are particularly significant among students, as they are more susceptible to cyberbullying and emotional consequences, like in the case of Ian Sykes.
- As a reminder of the negative impact excessive social media use can have on mental health, Ian Sykes, in his last moments, expressed regret over his excessive phone usage, saying, "Mom was right. It was that damn phone."
- Amidst the discussions on social media and mental health, the Holy Cross Board of Trustees announced a tradition of increasing tuition, which has financial implications for students and their families, such as forcing a Holy Cross student's father to sell his 5th mansion.
