TikTok chef Abir El Saghir poses with her TikTok trophy in Jeb Jennin, west Bekaa, Lebanon, on June 30. Reuters
TikTok chef Abir El Saghir poses with her TikTok trophy in Jeb Jennin, west Bekaa, Lebanon, on June 30. Reuters
TikTok chef Abir El Saghir poses with her TikTok trophy in Jeb Jennin, west Bekaa, Lebanon, on June 30. Reuters
TikTok chef Abir El Saghir poses with her TikTok trophy in Jeb Jennin, west Bekaa, Lebanon, on June 30. Reuters


The paradox of social media being good for your mental health


Tarek Abdalla
Tarek Abdalla
  • English
  • Arabic

November 04, 2022

With the presence of digital technologies in our lives, moving slowly and mindfully can be a challenge. This is not because technology is in itself negative. But its influence is sophisticated and present in our days to such an extent that it can overshadow other aspects of life.

It is therefore critical that digital platforms prioritise the safety and well-being of users by fostering communities that feel positive and in control of their online experiences.

Indeed, digital platforms today have empowered users to be purveyors of meaningful information, shining a light on movements and innovations before they have gained broader traction or trended. This, in turn, has aided mental health literacy.

But simply raising awareness about mental health stigmas is not enough – digital platforms must take the lead in providing access to information and resources around mental well-being that can normalise the conversation around it and encourage self-acceptance and self-care. TikTok, for example, launched the #EndTheStigma campaign in the Middle East – with a host of in-app activations, the hashtag is utilised to engage with mental health topics, raise awareness of common struggles and create communities of support. The campaign aims to bring the community together to ensure that everyone has the resources they need to support their mental well-being.

Digital platforms can normalise conversations about mental well-being and thereby help users forge mental and digital resilience

Such efforts come at a critical time for mental health awareness and well-being. According to the latest Mena Mental Health Day survey conducted by YouGov in partnership with TikTok, 59 per cent of Gen Z respondents (18 to 24 years of age) said they are afraid of being judged by friends and family if they were open about their mental well-being.

Notably, nearly 59 per cent of the survey respondents also felt fairly comfortable being talked to about mental health by an online community, and millennials were found to be more comfortable with this than members of Gen Z.

As mental health issues continue to pose challenges around the world, digital platforms have the potential to support the global community by normalising vital conversations about mental well-being, thereby helping users forge mental and digital resilience.

They can do this by providing users with tools such as screen time dashboards, daily screen-time limits and breaks, and mental well-being guides that educate and empower them to spend their time online intentionally. In addition, the ability to select, turn off or filter content endows users with agency.

For instance, while digital platforms can and do play a positive role among users and foster an environment where people can express themselves creatively on a variety of topics, they also must protect against potentially challenging viewing experiences that may upset some viewers.

One of the most effective ways of doing that is by promoting media literacy – providing users with the tools to access, analyse, evaluate, create and act effectively using all forms of digital communication.

They can also continuously help their communities evolve and improve by providing guides and toolkits. For example, as part of #EndTheStigma, TikTok has partnered with experts to develop toolkits for the community to learn more about ways they can improve their well-being, better support the community, and build a supportive online conversation that boosts mental health and its awareness.

It is equally vital for digital platforms to elevate the voices of advocates and experts within the communities who are dedicated to promoting equal access to mental well-being resources and eliminating stigma and discrimination. Given the global reach of digital platforms, they must continuously support users with data-driven insights, community resources, programmed hashtags and expert and relevant creator content.

In this vein, #EndTheStigma leverages the strength of online communities to host live sessions from mental health advocates, work with creator partners to launch videos that help end the stigma surrounding mental health and provide tutorials highlighting in-app features for digital well-being that users have access to.

More than anything, mindfulness practices significantly help users to make the most of their digital experience as well as encourage them to reflect holistically about how they spend their time online. A study published in the journal Health Education & Behaviour found that routine usage of digital platforms is positively associated with mental health and social wellbeing outcomes. The findings indicate that the way people use digital platforms may be more impactful than the frequency; for mindful users, routine use can be a positive instead of a negative.

Additionally, a 2022 study in Paediatrics and Parenting, published by the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found that digital platforms offer opportunities for personal expression and social support, in turn contributing to positive mental health outcomes among young people. The findings of another study in the journal Health Promotion International support this idea, concluding that digital platforms seem to have the potential to promote positive mental health.

In many ways, digital platforms today are the global ambassadors of health and mental well-being. It is only when digital platforms are truly passionate about ending the stigma that they help forge a community that feels empowered to talk about well-being and raise global awareness about the vital importance of mental health.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Other key dates
  • Finals draw: December 2
  • Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
  • Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence. 

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

WHAT IS GRAPHENE?

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. 

The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Updated: November 07, 2022, 6:44 AM`