There is a benefit to the increase of mental health awareness that has come of age in various social media platforms today. We see influencers discussing their mental health, challenges promoting taking daily walks to improve our physical and mental health, and the conversation moving away from the stigma surrounding mental health struggles.

All these benefits of highlighting our mental health and experience as humans are a great use of social media. As time goes on, the mental health community is learning that social media can have positive effects for those with positive support systems outside of online platforms.

The dark side includes challenges that induce harm or fear and encourage us to believe we meet diagnostic criteria for conditions we do not have or miss those we need treated. Quick quizzes cannot summarize the complexities of autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

While many of us are struggling with reduced or lacking attention and focus, it can go much further than a quick label for a condition that is considered neurodevelopmental (meaning it begins when we are young and impacts our developmental milestones).