Snapchat, College Students, & Mental Health

Snapchat, College Students, & Mental Health

Written by Kirk Wood 

Apps like Snapchat could act as useful interactive resource for college students to receive mental health information. Qualitative data collected by a few researchers shows that people who have some form of mental illness refrain from communicating about it (Yamasaki, Geist-Martin, Sharf, 2017). 

Snapchat would allow users to communicate in an environment that is safe and sympathetic environment. It is important that people with mental illness have an environment where they communicate without the stigma that surrounds having a mental illness. Stigma is the main reason why people are uncomfortable with talking about their mental health (Yamasaki, Geist-Martin, Sharf, 2017. Snapchat has many features that help with maintaining and building relationships. Compared to other social media platforms, its focus is on image-based communication. There is also some level of anonymity and privacy where users can only see each other’s message for a set period (J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Kathryn Barnett, Cesia Roche, & Jimmy A. Young). 

Some researchers found the platform helped increase psychosocial health.

Psychosocial health involves an exploration into how a well-functioning social network can be created. A well-functioning social network is one which the feelings an individual experience are more positive than negative. A platform like Snapchat would allow individuals to feel open communicating about their mental health related concerns. It would also help them build and maintain relationships amongst other college students who have a mental illness. The platform creates an environment where individuals’ can feel that they are being listened to (Yamasaki, Geist-Martin, Sharf, 2017). 

One study showed that when researchers used the Uses and Gratifications Theory (U&G) that when individuals engaged in an appealing environment, they were more active, self-aware, and goal-directed. The features of the platform allow for the exchange of narratives and a platform where a personal experience can be visualized. Meaning is developed for the both receiver and sender. The qualitative data collected showed that the behaviors young adults engage in online are purposeful and representative of their real identity (Vaterlaus, Barnett, Roche, & Young). Through Snapchat, individuals are able to send and receive interpersonal information in an environment that is safe and sympathetic.

Written by Kirk Wood

References

Vaterlaus, M. J., Barnett, K., Roche, C., & Young, J. A. (2016). “Snapchat is more personal”:
An exploratory study on Snapchat behaviors and young adult interpersonal relationships. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 594-601. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.04.029.

Yamasaki, J., Geist-Martin, P., & Sharf, B. F. (2017). Storied health and illness: communicating personal, cultural, & political complexities. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.

We do not own the rights to this media | All media is labeled for reuse

All work is cited