Greek psychiatrist Stelios Stylianidis warns of mental health risks from social media

Experts say the idealised images promoted on social media platforms are harming the mental health of young people in Greece. Professor Stelios Stylianidis, a professor of social psychiatry at Panteion University and honorary president of the Hellenic Psychiatric Association, explains that the constant exposure to flawless smiles, bodies and travel scenes creates a paradoxical hyper‑connection that actually isolates individuals. He warns that this environment fuels anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, eating disorders and behavioural problems, forming a self‑reinforcing cycle.

Other voices in the discussion include presenter Ioanna Maleskou and influencer‑chef Despina Kogioglu, who stress the need for authenticity and a "life without filters". Stylianidis stresses that while social media does not create narcissism on its own, it amplifies and exploits existing vulnerabilities, and the anonymity of online interaction can lower moral restraints, normalising aggression and further damaging social bonds.