Social media has become the fundamental essence of every individual’s life. It’s our new means of communication and staying connected. We use it as the main source of learning, researching, and acquiring information. A 2020 study shows that, on average, an individual spends around 2 hours and 24 minutes per day on social media.

Mothers use social media to learn about their children’s growth and milestones, look for support groups, follow influencers, and much more. Mothers who entirely depend on social media as their primary source of communication and support may suffer from it in the long term. 

The effects are: 

1. It jeopardizes the feeling of social support when transitioning to motherhood. A mother’s feelings may feel invalid due to the high use of social media when comparing her life to another mom’s life. Especially mothers who aren’t physically well surrounded by family and friends.
2. Mothers seek someone to talk to and share similar experiences. This type of communication may not always be available through social media. Therefore, a mother trying to connect with others may fail. 
3. Many mothers seek information about child development, parenting techniques, feeding, and health concerns. By finding answers to their questions mothers are reassured that so many other mothers don’t know and are seeking answers.
4. A study has reported that higher stress levels are evident in mothers who constantly use Facebook to check on comments and likes they receive on things they post. 
5. Passive social media consumption has led to low self-esteem and envy. Mothers who use social media to only take in information have shown a more significant negative impact on their self-esteem. 
6. According to a study in Canada, 53% of mothers have noted that motherhood isn’t what they have witnessed on different social media platforms, negatively impacting their motherhood experience and how they deal with their children in general. 
7. Social media produces insecurities related to body image and physical appearance. Mothers who don’t immediately return to their pre-baby weight and look like they used to suffer because they feel they don’t measure up to society. 
8. Mothers who are heavy social media users have also reported poor mental health when viewing posts that depict a few seconds of another mother’s life. Mothers who only choose to show perfect moments from their imperfect lives negatively target the mental health of new mothers trying to pull it together while staying sane. 

In general, social media connects people and brings them together. It makes life easier for many. Yet, social media can have detrimental factors that negatively affect parents in general and mothers in specific. Choosing to be a social media user has positive aspects, but it also has negative ones. New mothers need to limit their social media use, especially immediately after delivery, because the fluctuation of hormones can also help worsen their condition and what they are going through.