Ah yes… the internet, where one can express themselves and share opinions about worldly topics BUT it comes at a price. Now Gen Z is the first generation to have grown up with the creation of most screened devices that we have today (phones, laptops, etc) and I can fairly state that I do not recall a time that I was never in front of a screen of some sort and I don’t see it as a bad thing.
It’s common sense essentially not to outright disclose any personal information to the world and the same goes for what comes out of our mouths. I’m talking about controversial opinions and commentary (yes, I’m looking at you Reddit user0987q3275 lurking about). It’s all well and good and quite wholesome when the internet bands together to create memories or help each other and educate any users. Now here’s the tricky part; the thing is, never believe everything on the internet. Do your own research if you really want proper information (I feel like this is a necessary reiteration…) but there are two sides to this.
Take TikTok for example; there are thousands if not more users using the platform for their own uses whether its to educate, vlog, entertainment, etc. There are hundreds of videos of viral dances, to music video promotions to cat videos BUT there are also videos that shine light on different awarenesses (mainly of mental health and conditions). People just love to showcase themselves of what it is to be autistic, or have OCD or anxiety which is completely okay but going back to ‘don’t believe everything on the internet’ should always be present in the back of your mind. Yes, bringing awareness to different health issues is amazing at spreading the word, but the internet is so buggy in the sense that people love to take advantage of that and use it for their own plight.
There are so many videos showcasing ‘what it is really like to have depression’ or ‘a day-in-the-life of someone who actually has ADHD’ and most of the time, it’s true. But there are also people who fake diagnose just to get views or even spread false information and even go as far as to self-diagnose themselves without professional tests (getting tested and the stigma behind that is a whole other topic but that will mayhaps be a later post-). Spreading false information and disguising oneself as a mental health disorder is absolutely absurd and hurts other people more than it hurts the creator.
Unruly Bodies 
Hi,
I stand with you on this. I sometimes even see it in person, people claiming illness but don’t claim the actual symptoms of it. Even something as little as the common person stating, “I’m depressed” can take affect on someone who suffers major depressive disorder. We should be mindful of what we put on the media as it can come shooting right back at us.
I am not in complete disagreement here. I for sure think that you should corroborate anything you find on social media with reputable sources of information. However, self diagnoses has been around for much longer than the self diagnoses seen via social media. It is a big part of a lot of communities who get ignored/not taken seriously by their doctors and have to do the work on their own of documenting and understanding their symptoms. Just food for thought!
Yeah, the internet can bring good information within a sea of misinformation. Luckily, within this generation, we were taught about good and inadequate resources to depend on for research. The problem that we have within these new generations is they are having a more challenging time retaining information due to the constant stream of entertainment that the internet and social media provide. Some parents don’t want or do not have the time to parent their children and influence them to think beyond their immediate entertainment. Some people are growing up and always expect some change in their lives. Some of these people do no research and assume their issues must relate to a mental illness, which could be accurate; however, they need professional information or help to know themselves fully.
I agree that when someone who has an online presence fakes a diagnosis it has negative consequences when they’re representing a community they claim to be a part of. However, self-diagnosing can be a really important tool for people who cannot seek professional help or don’t have the money to do so. Because of the internet and the vastness of lived experiences being shared about mental health experiences, people are able to understand their symptoms so they can at least cope with it.
There is something weird about glorifying mental illness like people have been doing on the internet. Talking about their routines as someone with autism or depression or adhd. I think for the people who actually have these mental illnesses it can be therapeutic to do this. To make your day into something that people could empathize with. But for those who exaggerate this for the clout, or for those who straight up fake mental illness? Not okay. Not your place. Find something else. You are misinforming people and it can be harmful to those people who actually have the mental illness.
I agree. It’s very harmful to make videos about disorders and saying “if you do _____ then you have _____.” It’s very misleading and can lead to individuals misdiagnosing themselves. I especially see it happening with autism and ADHD. Videos like these are the reason many people go around telling people they have mental disorders even though they don’t. People should simply spread information about disorders instead of trying to diagnose random people online.
This is an issue that I really agree on and hits a little too close. I talked about mental health in my blog post and how it is so hard to be struggling with issues that you do not know for sure exist within you. It is so harmful to self-diagnose and it almost makes it harder for people who are diagnosed. It almost “downplays” it and I understand getting it medically diagnosed it so hard, but that doesn’t mean that people can say they have something that they found on the internet.
The topic of self diagnosing is quite nuanced because self diagnosing has only worsened how mental illness as a whole is perceived by our generation, especially when labels for particular conditions are thrown around. I personally didn’t know much about OCD until someone told me that I must have it because I had to have all my pencils straightened up on my desk, even though I only did that because I like how they look when they’re organized. The gross oversimplification of mental disorders really shows how underprepared the vast majority of people are to deal with what they actually entail and how debilitating living with one can be. Self diagnosing even causes people who might actually have those disorders to believe otherwise when they don’t fit into the box of what having it should look like.