Technology does have a lot of bad side effects on our health and brains but also a large number of good side effects that I could not leave them out.

Teens are hardwired for socialization, and social media makes socializing easy and immediate. Teens who struggle with social skills, social anxiety, or who don’t have easy access to face-to-face socializing with other teens might benefit from connecting with other teens through social media. As well as Teens in marginalized groups—including LGBTQ teens and teens struggling with mental health issues—can find support and friendship through the use of social media. When teens connect with small groups of supportive teens via social media, those connections can be a great way to find support.

Social media can also be used as a motivational tool to achieve healthy lifestyle goals such as quitting smoking or attending the gym on a regular basis. Announcing a goal via social media and regularly posting about it promotes accountability to others. Research has shown that sharing a goal publicly not only promotes accountability but helps one stay focused, and dramatically increases one’s chance of success, whether it be weight loss or sobriety for recovering addict/alcoholics.

The use of technology can benefit therapists and psychiatrists by extending their reach. Mental health professionals are increasingly using social networking tools such as Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest to collect data that can be used in research, and to connect with other professionals in the online community. It also helps them contact their patients 24/7 if needed and can provide support at any time.

There is also Twenty-four hour suicide prevention hotlines via the internet or your cellphone aren’t the only sources of intervention. An increasing number of websites are now offering support through social media channels. These sites often provide anonymous forums for people to connect, share personal experiences, and may even allow them to sign up for an SMS service to receive daily advice, motivational messages, and information useful for seeking or promoting recovery.