How social media ruled our lives by making us depressed, in debt and wanting surgery

SCROLLING through social media has become as ingrained in our daily routines as a cup of coffee in the morning. But at what point does a little harmless browsing become more of a problem?

Former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, 36, recently criticised the facade people present on social media. She said: “Everyone is looking around like, ‘Why does everyone seem so good, having a good time in a happy place, and I feel rubbish?’ That’s not helpful.”

And Little Mix star Jesy Nelson revealed last week she used to hate herself as a result of trolling online.

A recent study by UCL found that 40 per cent of teenage girls who spend more than five hours a day on social media showed symptoms of depression.  Social media can be used for good – but it can also be detrimental to our mental health.

Here, Isabel Deibe speaks to four women who became obsessed with social media and are now urging others to be more honest online.

‘I spent all my cash on luxury lifestyle’

ADMIN worker and ­amateur boxer Megan Letkey blames social media for her £20,000 debts. Megan, who is 22 and from ­Benfleet in Essex, says:

“Being bombarded on social media with advertising and gorgeous bloggers in designer clothes and fast cars all the time just made me want to spend all my money.

Whether it was a new Chanel bag or a dream ­holiday, if I saw it on Instagram, I’d buy it. When my money ran out, I turned to credit cards, loans and store cards.

My friends call me “Paris Hilton” because I even spoilt my little dog JoJo.

I stayed with a pal in Florida for six months to get over a break-up. From pictures I posted online, it looked like I was loaded and living a life of luxury.

I knew I had to stop when my mum told me that my spending habits were disgusting.

For the past four years I’ve been grafting, trying to pay off my debt. I’ve moved back in with my parents and learned how to handle my money.

I come off social media for weeks at a time, as I’m sick of temptation. That has helped already.”

‘Gorgeous women’s photos made me want surgery’

SINGLE mum-of-one Danyell Sinckler spent £7,000 on surgery to look more like famous faces on Instagram. The venue supervisor, from Folkestone, Kent, recently made the top ten of Miss Swimsuit UK. She says:

“Scrolling social media non-stop for four hours a day, obsessing over the profiles of gorgeous girls, made me want to change myself.

I went to consultations with pictures of models on Instagram and said: “That’s how I want to look.”

I’ve had breast implants, jaw and chin filler and six rounds of lip fillers and Botox. I was put off bum implants by the price.

But I’ve messed up my lips. One side of my mouth has fillers I have to get dissolved in September. There have also been complications with my boobs.

I regret changing myself to look like everyone else. I’ve got body dysmorphia. I just don’t see what other people see now.

Having deleted my social media accounts, I downloaded them again to connect with other contestants in the Miss Swimsuit competition I was entering.

All of the girls were supporting each other. It showed me social media doesn’t need to be negative. Now I work out to get a fit and healthy body rather than looking for a quick solution and I limit my time on social media.

I won’t let my daughter Destiny, who’s 11, use social media until she’s older. We need to embrace who we are naturally.”

‘Pals’ perfect pregnancies pushed me to depression’

FOR Abigail Moss, 25, a care support worker in Trowbridge, Wilts, the “perfect” pregnancies on social media sparked pre and postnatal depression. Abi, who lives with husband Jonny, 29, a Royal Mail worker, and their son, Ezra, one, wants others to share ups and downs alike. She says:

‘I hated the idea of posting my pregnancy online at first. Lots of people I know announced it on Facebook showing off “perfect” pregnancies. I just felt tired and unwell. I’d put on a lot of weight and hated how I looked.

I convinced myself I was going to be a bad mum, as I didn’t feel like all these other women. Now I know that’s just what they chose to share.

But I wasn’t thinking rationally. I couldn’t stop checking people’s updates. It became an obsession.

I’d wake up in the middle of the night terrified I had miscarried and even more terrified I’d be happy about it.

When I went for my 20-week scan, the baby wasn’t in the right position and they weren’t able to finish the ultrasound.

I convinced myself something was wrong. I went home to bed and didn’t get up. That’s when my husband forced me to get help. I spoke to my midwife and within a week was in therapy.

I went into early labour but other than low glucose levels, Ezra was healthy. My postnatal depression was managed well, as I’d been open about my feelings and had counselling.

Social media can help but it’s important we share the good days and the bad.’

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