Vernon Kay has spoken about the negative effects of social media on mental health and how he has taken the decision to ‘step away’ from the platforms as a result
Vernon Kay has shared his own personal battle with the dark side of social media and its impact on mental wellbeing.
Amid a light-hearted conversation about a beer festival in the UK, Vernon took a moment to delve into the darker side of our digital habits during his BBC Radio 2 show.
Addressing the issue of doomscrolling – excessively consuming a stream of negative news online – he admitted to his listeners that it had taken its toll on him too.
Explaining his choice to distance himself from social platforms, he remarked: “We end up doomscrolling on social media and it’s all negative, it’s all really bad, it’s awful on social, I’ve stepped away, personally. I have it’s just grim, it really is. It brings you down, it creates anxiety.”
The well-known presenter also highlighted the growing trend of celebrities and public figures putting social media aside as experts uncover more about its effects on mental health, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Bringing attention to academic research on the matter, Vernon cited a study from University College London which was published towards the end of last year.
According to researchers who shared their findings in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, frequently posting on social media could exacerbate mental health concerns over time.
Dr Ruth Plackett has highlighted the potential mental health risks associated with social media use, stating: “These findings suggest that ‘active’ social media use activities, particularly posting, may have a more significant impact on mental health than ‘passive’ use, such as viewing content.”
She explained: “This may be because posting on social media can lead to negative interactions or cause anxiety about others’ judgments. This highlights the need for awareness about how different social media activities can affect mental wellbeing.”
Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Dr Plackett emphasised the necessity for further investigation, saying: “Evidence shows that social media use can have both positive and negative effects on our mental health.”
“More research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these patterns to inform targeted interventions and policies.”
She concluded by noting the gaps in current understanding: “We are still uncertain about who is most negatively affected by social media and why, as well as who benefits from its use.”
This comes after Vernon’s wife, Tess Daly, was awarded an MBE by King Charles. Taking to social media, the radio presenter said of his wife: “Well what can we say!!! Congratulations @tessdaly on your MBE. All the hard work and huge effort you put into everything you do has been recognised by the King.”
He added: “Being on Strictly from the start when our babies weren’t even born just proves how well you’ve done. Now they’re almost 21 and 16 and we’ve all enjoyed this journey together!! “
He then went on to say: ” Also, bravo everyone at @bbcstrictly and @claudiawinkle for consistently consistently producing the best show every year!! Time to pop a cork me thinks….. “
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