This month, we consider the peace, love, and joy honored during the world’s many December holiday celebrations. This issue also encourages us to take stock of where we are as human beings, physically, intellectually, and morally, and to take whatever steps are possible to rise to the next level.

Sometimes that’s going outside and getting some exercise. Brian Barbeito walks by a lake and considers the joy of simple living and natural beauty.

Mrinal Kanti Ghosh recollects a dreamy summer night. Olga Levadnaya captures the solemn stillness of midday heat. Christina Chin renders up the cold silence and calm of winter.

Aura Echeverri Uribe evokes the monumental destruction of an avalanche. Jack Galmitz speaks to how we manage and control wildness, in our neighborhoods and our bodies, and how it can reassert itself. Carrie Farrar speaks to the joy and wonder of visiting France to see the Mer de Glace glacier. Mahbub Alam speaks to a solid connection between humanity and nature, like a tree standing firm in the changing winds.

Tasneem Hossain draws on the owl as an extended metaphor for wisdom and protection. Roodly Laurore reflects on the tender and colorful beauty and diversity of nature in a piece which he intends to bring comfort in a violent and turbulent world. Maja Milojkovic encourages us to imagine a new world of gentleness and peace towards our earth and each other.

Elizabetta Bonaparte’s poetry takes a short, but strong and cogent, stand against war. Valentina Yordanova, in poetry translated by Yoana Konstantinova, laments the mindless destruction war brings to ordinary lives. Eva Petropoulou Lianou calls for genuine humanity in a world at war.

Samar Aldeek tenderly celebrates peace in her bilingual poetry. Dr. Perwaiz Shaharyar draws on the style of courtly romance to honor the legacy of Mexican poet, peace activist, and literary cultural worker Dr. Jeannette Tiburcio. Fernando Jose Martinez Alderete joins in the tribute to Dr. Tiburcio and also speaks of the need for peace and mutual respect.

Paul Durand warns us of dangerous currents, both in the ocean and in American politics. Bill Tope’s poem criticizes human rights abuses committed in the name of immigration enforcement. Duane Herrmann speaks to the spiritual unity of all the world’s people under Ba’hai teachings and how that serves as an antidote to racism and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Travel gives us firsthand experience with different cultures and helps us understand each other. Türkan Ergör illustrates the dislocation of travel through clever and poetic alteration of word and line breaks. Lakshmi Kant Mukul captures the exhilaration and elevated beauty of plane flight. Abdumuminova Risolabonu Nizamovna discusses how travel helps people learn practical skills, including pragmatic communication in multiple languages.

Learning foreign languages, and mastering one’s native language, helps us understand each other, whether we travel in person or through imagination and books. Shakhnoza Pulatova Makhmudjanovna offers strategies for mastering the Arabic language. Muhammadjonova O’giloy Bunyodbekov qizi offers up suggestions for learning Turkish that would be helpful for any foreign language. Abduhalilova Sevdora Xayrulla qizi highlights grammar rules surrounding modal verbs in the Uzbek language. Allaberdiyeva Farangiz outlines ways for students learning English as a foreign language to gain writing proficiency.

Xudoyberdiyeva Jasmina analyzes the linguistic phenomenon of “chatspeak” and ‘text-speak” on the Uzbek language in a piece that’s more intrigued than negative. Dinora Sodiqova discusses the importance of professional communication for aspiring young Uzbek leaders.

People can also travel through time by reading older works and studying history. Petros Kyriakou Veloudas reflects on the joy and the weight of being part of a creative heritage, even when one does not know the names of each and every ancestor. Poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews poet Muhammad Shamsul Huq Babu about his literary legacy and dream of building a large book museum.

Dunia Pulungeanu highlights the lifetime intellectual and literary accomplishments of Dr. Edwin Antonio Gaona Salinas. Choriyeva Go’zal Gayratjon qizi explores the resurgence of academic and cultural interest in foundational works of Uzbek literature. Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso reflects on the historical significance of the Mud Battle, an early military defeat for Central Asian medieval historical figure Amir Temur.

Farzona Hoshimova celebrates the pride and beauty of the Uzbek culture. Matnazarova Munisa encourages young and old Uzbeks to remember and preserve their traditional culture. Bobonova Zulfiya sings of the pride, freedom, and beauty of her native Uzbekistan. David Woodward evokes a quest for truth through reading Krishnamurti, ultimately reconnecting himself with his family. Rahmonkulova Gulsevar Samidovna considers the cultural values implicit within Uzbek folk legends.

Muhammadjonova Ogiloy Bunyodbekovna reviews Abdulloh Abdulmutiy Huda Said Bahul’s book Qu’logim senda, qizim, which provides Islamic faith-based guidance for young girls, narrated by a loving father. Ruzimbayeva Quvonchoy also urges Uzbeks to hold onto their traditional values, including love, bravery, and respect for women.

Maja Milojkovic translates Eva Petropoulou Lianou’s tribute to hard-working women around the world from English into Serbian. Mashhura Ochilova highlights the historical respect for women in Uzbek culture and what modern Uzbek women have achieved. Jaloldinova Gulzirahon Otabek Kizi highlights women’s increasing participation in Uzbekistan’s public life.

Orifjonova Nozima Azizbek considers the prospects for preserving the Uzbek language in a time of economic and cultural globalization. Rahmonqulova Gulsevar Samid qizi analyzes the crucial father-son relationship at the heart of the Uzbek folk epic tale “Alpomish” and its centrality to Uzbek family-oriented culture. Rahimberdiyev Ozodbek outlines key elements of Uzbekistan’s heroic tales.

Rashidova Shoshanam explores the long shadows Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex has cast over human literature and psychology. Christopher Bernard reviews Cal Performances’ recent dramatization of Chicago’s Manual Cinema’s The Fourth Witch, about the after-effects of Macbeth’s violence on his victims. Paul Murgatroyd draws on Greek tragedy to poke morbid fun at humans: inwardly messy and selfish, even when outwardly clean. J.J. Campbell provides his signature dark view of human nature, full of sardonic, blunt, emotionally transparent blue-collar surrealism. John Grey picks apart human emotions in his vignettes, attempting to understand why we act as we do.

Dr. Jernail Singh describes how Dr. K.B. Razdan diagnoses some emotional and psychological ills of modern life in his book Gather Ye Rosebuds. Sean Meggeson’s visual poetry speaks to what we gain and lose as modern society progresses. J.K. Durick waxes poetic about times when it seemed that matters were more easily understood and categorized.

Abdulhafiz Iduoze’s epic poem, layered with traditional and modern references from Benin’s culture, serves as a ritual chant and prophetic warning about colonialism and corrupt power structures. It situates recent dynamics within epic time, reminding readers that current matters are not destined to last forever.

Shikdar Mohammed Kibriah affirms the reality of his personal experience amidst the complex claims of philosophical schools. Aisha Al-Maharabi speaks with the voice of one who asserts his claim to existence, writ large on the natural and human worlds. Strider Marcus Jones speaks to reclaiming and holding onto our interior life, emotions, and connection to nature in a world of mass media and technological disruption and deception.

Many other creators explore our internal lives, what we can learn from ourselves and each other and how we can grow as human beings. Allison Grayhurst speaks to her creative and personal journey: learning to function and create through loss, to integrate pain and struggle into her process. Alan Catlin’s fanciful “anxiety dreams” play with our modern insecurities about navigating daily life. Also experiencing anxiety, Mirta Liliana Ramirez’ poetic speaker takes a bit more time before she’s ready to venture out in the world.

Alimardonova Gulsevar Sirojiddinovna explores the balance between personal dreams and duty to society in Somerset Maugham and Abdulla Qodiriy’s writing.

Rus Khomutoff’s latest poetry collection Kaos Karma, reviewed by Cristina Deptula, flows through various words and ideas, pulling us along on the wings of a slow dream. Stykes Wildee’s latest poem seems at once dreamlike and ordinary and conversational, casual thoughts within the subconscious. Mesfakus Salahin’s poetry is ghostlike, contemplative, detached as he contemplates love and death. John Doyle’s poetry harks from a variety of inspirations: everything from insects to gas stations to trains and the countryside. Arjun Razdan’s quick fictional sketch compares young women he sees to elegant fine wine.

Annah Atane’s poetry elegantly traces the outlines of grief and sorrow. Abdulsamad Idris also explores tragedy and loss through a more frank and visceral voice. Graciela Noemi Villaverde finds herself lashed by the storms of loneliness and sorrow. Hanaan Abdelkader Ashour approaches loss with tenderness, offering a kind and reverent note of remembrance for departed loved ones. Marianne Jo Alves Zullas speaks openly of her mourning for her departed mother, everywhere and nowhere at once. Mykyta Ryzhykh’s poem captures the emotional emptiness of a relationship where one person loves intensely, and the other remains distant, consumed by their own habits. Marjona Eshmatova outlines various types of family system dysfunction and how to address them psychologically. Taylor Dibbert points to the ways even well-meaning people can misunderstand each other. Dilobar Maxmarejabova warns us how a person’s heart can become colder and more jaded over time.

Mohamed Rahal speaks of striving for authenticity in one’s faith and in love. Narzulloyeva Munisa Bakhromovna encourages people not to compare themselves negatively with others’ projected lives on social media. Raximberdiyeva Moxinabonu outlines the pressing mental health concern of smartphone addiction and the need to balance our phones with the real world. Moldiyeva Bahodirovna speaks to the way digital technologies have permeated our lives and how to have the Metaverse complement, rather than replace, our world. Choriyeva Xurmo urges balance in the use of digital media in preschool education. Orozboyeva Shodiyeva highlights educational social media applications and encourages her peers to use those rather than focusing just on entertainment.

Jacques Fleury reviews Boston’s Huntington Theater’s production of Alison Bechdel’s tale Fun Home, highlighting themes of intergenerational understanding, how children gradually came to make sense of their parents’ worlds. Young poet Avazova Diyora Alisher qizi offers her good wishes to her teacher in a tender poem. Fayzullayeva Shabbona Sirojiddinova shares her appreciation for her wise and caring father.

Priyanka Neogi playfully celebrates innocent, childlike love. Milana Momcilovic evokes an eternal, spiritual love. Dr. Brajesh Kumar Gupta captures an elegant romantic kiss under moonlight. Vorhees describes erotic and tender love with gentle whimsy and echoes of history. Kemal Berk contributes a graceful love poem about the merging of egos and personalities within a relationship.

Ana Elisa Medina describes a love that encourages her to become a better person. Mohan Maharana celebrates the value of small acts of kindness. Abdusaidova Jasmina shares the importance of kindness through a children’s tale involving a mouse. Balachandra Nair highlights the value of virtue by presenting positive character traits as valuable jewels on display.

Sayani Mukherjee pleads for deep, enduring joy that can withstand the world’s problems.

One way many people find joy is through engaging in various forms of creativity and knowledge gathering. Farida Tijjani draws on a wide variety of technical and natural inspirations to explore gender, creativity, and society.

Various contributors speak of advances in different fields. Uzoqova Gulzoda encourages innovative approaches to elementary school education. Nazulloyeva Feruzabonu highlights the value of science and innovation in inspiring society as well as providing material advancements.

Abdujabborova Rayhona points out ways medical and psychological professionals can reduce unhealthy stresses for pregnant people. Durdona Sharifovna Roziboyeva highlights the success of a recent orthodontic treatment for upper airway issues.

Dinora Sodiqova outlines basic principles of modern consumer advertising. Mamarajabova Shahnoza discusses how digital technologies are transforming the field of accounting. Dianne Reeves Angel celebrates the physical and mental artistry of comedian and actor Buster Keaton.

Several pieces remind us that as we advance in our knowledge and our technical skills, we must bring our humanity along with us. Kandy Fontaine raises questions about ethics and oversight concerning how people are treated in American hospitals. Avazbekova Rayyonaxon reminds medical professionals to display professional behavior as well as knowledge.

Finally, Dr. Jernail S. Anand reminds us to occasionally step back from the clatter of daily human interaction to connect with the universe on a deeper level. We wish all of you inspiration and a chance to think, feel, and connect with the world beyond yourselves this holiday season.

The High Value of the New Uzbekistan: The Global Ascent of Uzbek Women in Art and Beyond

Uzbekistan today stands at a decisive stage in its historical development — a period marked by rapid transformation, renewal, and the elevation of human dignity as a national priority. Within this dynamic process, women of Uzbekistan have become the defining force shaping the most inspiring chapters of the nation’s progress. They are not only the pillars of families and communities but also the driving agents of innovation, knowledge, and creativity. Through their remarkable achievements in science, technology, economy, culture, and sports, Uzbek women are capturing the attention of the world.

The status of women in Uzbekistan today goes far beyond symbolic respect. It is reinforced through tangible policies and initiatives that promote gender equality, remove structural barriers, and create strong platforms for personal and professional growth. This article explores the key directions of this rapid evolution, focusing on the mechanisms that empower women and the extraordinary accomplishments that have gained international recognition. Uzbek women are defining a new trend — one where intelligence, perseverance, and creativity merge to shape a globally admired identity.

The cornerstone of Uzbek women’s success lies in education. The country has made significant strides in ensuring that girls receive quality education and are encouraged to pursue modern and in-demand professions. In recent years, admission quotas for higher education have increased substantially, alongside the introduction of special grants and scholarships for female students. As a result, women now constitute more than half of all university students — a figure that symbolizes not merely numerical progress but a long-term investment in the nation’s intellectual capital.

Beyond traditional fields, young Uzbek women are making impressive strides in STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. They are entering disciplines such as IT, artificial intelligence, robotics, and engineering, supported by newly established IT parks and specialized training centers across the regions. Many of these women have earned recognition at international competitions and conferences, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s growing presence on the global technological map.

The rising number of women earning Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (DSc) degrees also signifies a powerful intellectual awakening. Uzbek female researchers are contributing meaningful innovations across fields like ecology, medicine, economics, and the humanities. Their discoveries enhance not only national academic prestige but also global scientific collaboration.

Economic independence and entrepreneurial spirit represent another defining dimension of Uzbek women’s global ascent. The government’s ongoing support for female entrepreneurship — through grants, preferential loans, and training programs — has enabled thousands of women to start their own businesses and achieve financial autonomy. Over the past few years, the number of women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan has nearly doubled, with their enterprises thriving in both traditional and emerging sectors.

Female-led businesses are now reaching international markets, proudly showcasing the “Made in Uzbekistan” label. From textile production to handicrafts, from food industries to technology-driven services, Uzbek women are redefining the standards of excellence and creativity. Their achievements are not only contributing to economic growth but also shaping a more inclusive and sustainable model of national development.

Uzbek women are also becoming global ambassadors of culture and art. Designers, performers, dancers, and visual artists from Uzbekistan are earning recognition at international festivals, exhibitions, and creative platforms. They skillfully blend national traditions with modern aesthetics, giving a fresh and distinctive identity to Uzbek art on the world stage.

In sports, Uzbek female athletes continue to bring pride to the nation by winning gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Asian tournaments. Their accomplishments in boxing, judo, weightlifting, and rhythmic gymnastics are powerful symbols of resilience, confidence, and determination. These victories serve as a source of inspiration for the younger generation, particularly for young girls who now believe that their dreams have no boundaries.

In conclusion, the women of Uzbekistan today embody intelligence, creativity, and perseverance that transcend national borders. Their dynamic participation in education, science, entrepreneurship, culture, and sports exemplifies the nation’s human-centered development strategy and its commitment to equality and empowerment. Every achievement of an Uzbek woman represents a collective triumph — a reflection of a society that believes in the power of opportunity and the worth of every individual. Uzbek women are not only shaping the New Uzbekistan but also redefining what it means to be successful in the modern world. Through their strength and creativity, they are giving birth to a new form of art — the art of ambition, progress, and excellence — a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

Mashhura Ochilova was born on August 14, 2001, in Sherobod district, Surxondaryo region, Uzbekistan.

She is a graduate of the Faculty of Philology at Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages, majoring in Korean and English philology.

Mashhura is an educator of Korean and English languages and a regional-stage participant of the prestigious Zulfiya State Prize competition.

She is the author of more than twenty international scholarly articles and has actively participated in academic presentations and conferences held in countries such as Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the United States. Her research papers have been translated into English and Turkish and published in international journals indexed on the Google Scholar platform.

Fluent in Korean and English, and proficient in Russian and Turkish, she demonstrates strong multilingual competence. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Yumyong Academy Online Learning Center, where she teaches nearly 200 students in Korean and English languages, contributing to cross-cultural education and linguistic development.

Living with the Departed

By: Hanaan Abdelkader Ashour – Egypt

They are absent now,

but their phantom is in every corner, in every place.

We see them in the eye of a child who carries their name,

We find them in the fragrance of an old perfume,

or in a line of poetry,

in the scent of bread.

In every good custom they bequeathed to us,

we live with the departed,

because they planted their love within us.

They are here in the heart.

We call out to them, and they shine like stars.

We pray for them secretly and openly.

We pray…

Hoping they are enjoying bliss in Paradise.

Krishnamurti on my mind

man-made-man

hiding behind

the esoterisms

of your sacred

                           script

you sculpture

a belief

of your own

demonstrative

                         self.

true religion

the search . . .

religion of truth

. . . true education

solitude

confidence . . .

to seek truth

confidence

elimination of fear—

including religion

We force

justice . . . as a concept

                  or can it be more . . . relevant

                  action more than spoken . . . demanded

                  & nurtured by the people . . . gravitational

                  forces raising awareness . . . court

                  rooms empty of lies . . . deceit

                  a disease . . . We

                  conquered.

love

is the source

or must be

(for reason

to be)

bonus:

book sense for holiday emotions

an eager book that has

sat on a patient

surface, waiting for

to-day, a day formulated

for the arrival of grand

emotions, the holidays are

here! absorbed by

the patient surface

no more, it works its way

into unsuspecting hands, greedy eyes

and a thirsty mind

lap up leaping words, linked

to treasures beneath

the surface you find

understanding, peace enters

gracefully and seductively

you learn to be at One

with what you usually escape: family.

City of Stooped Shoulders

The masked, thuggish man grabbed

for the 30-something woman. Her

nine-year-old squealed with fright as

her bag was ripped from her hands

and her sandwich and apple tumbled

from the torn sack and landed with a

splat on the pavement.

The man, oblivious to the little girl,

wrestled the 120-lb. woman to the

sidewalk and bound her wrists with

a plastic tie. When she struggled,

he placed his knee on her neck and

applied his weight. She grew still.

He snarled into his radio and seconds

later, a second man appeared on

scene and similarly bound the now

screaming child. “Say good-bye to

your mamacita,” the first thug

told the little girl, and grinned

wolfishly.

“She’ll be on a bus to Gary, Indiana,

if she’s lucky.” He turned to the girl.

“An’ we got a nice cage waitin’ for

you” Turning back to the woman he

said importantly, “We work for the

government, you little puta.”

“I am not a prostituta,” she

protested. “Then you’d better

learn, and quick,” he retorted.

‘I don’t even know who you are,”

said the woman breathlessly.

“We’re ICE,” he boasted. “U.S.

tax dollars at work.”

Landslide 

On the mountain’s edge

man fears.

The hurricane

and the deafening winds.

Gloomy darkness.

Overflowing rivers,

the mountain roars.

The earth collapses

taking away the houses

and the people in droves.

Without trees,

the enchanted axe

felled them, embracing

death and desolation.

Aura Echeverri Uribe, Colombian. Writer of novels, short stories, and poems. I have published fourteen books: Six novels and eight books of short stories. My first book of poems is with the publisher and will be published soon, and I am currently writing a novel.

Raximberdiyeva Moxinabonu

Andijon davlat universiteti ingliz tili filologiyasi 1-bosqich talabasi

islomovshoyatbek32@gmail.com

Tel: 93 663 04 06

ABSTRACT: This article highlights one of the most pressing issues of the modern era: the problem of addiction to social networks and technologies and its impact on the human psyche. The study analyzes the psychological states arising from the excessive use of digital technologies and social networks, such as stress, decreased self-esteem, and depression.

Furthermore, it provides recommendations for preserving mental health through the rational use of social networks, proper time management, and adhering to specific rules. The results of this research could be beneficial for users of digital technologies.

Keywords: gadgets, mental health, social network, modern technologies.

АННОТАЦИЯ: В данной статье освещается одна из самых актуальных проблем современности: проблема зависимости от социальных сетей и технологий и ее влияние на психику человека. В исследовании анализируются психологические состояния, возникающие в результате чрезмерного использования цифровых технологий и социальных сетей, такие как стресс, снижение самооценки и депрессия.

Кроме того, даются рекомендации по сохранению психического здоровья через рациональное использование социальных сетей, правильное распределение времени и соблюдение определенных правил. Результаты данного исследования могут быть полезны для пользователей цифровых технологий.

Ключевые слова: гаджеты, психическое здоровье, социальная сеть, современные технологии.

ÖZET:Bu makale, modern çağın en acil sorunlarından birini, yani sosyal ağlara ve teknolojilere bağımlılık sorununu ve bunun insan psikolojisi üzerindeki etkisini ele almaktadır. Araştırma, dijital teknolojilerin ve sosyal ağların aşırı kullanımından kaynaklanan stres, öz saygıda azalma ve depresyon gibi psikolojik durumları analiz etmektedir.

Ayrıca, sosyal ağların akılcı kullanımı, doğru zaman yönetimi ve belirli kurallara uyulması yoluyla zihinsel sağlığın korunması için öneriler sunmaktadır. Bu araştırmanın sonuçları dijital teknoloji kullanıcıları için faydalı olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: cihazlar, zihinsel sağlık, sosyal ağ, modern teknolojiler.

Introduction:

In the current era of rapid development, gadgets and social networks have become an integral part of our lives. These digital technologies hold a significant place both in the field of education and in our lifestyle. If we take a look at the term “social network,” it translates from English as “social network.” This term denotes a structure consisting of a group of social objects and the connections between them, and it was first introduced into society by James Barnes, a sociologist from the Manchester school, in the second half of the 20th century.

Each of us spends a large part of our daily lives with the internet network and mobile applications: we follow the news, connect with our friends and acquaintances, and acquire knowledge and information. As everyone knows, through social networks we can create content, access unlimited information, and have a platform for entertainment (music and movies), studying various sciences, and easily solving all our work-related problems. Among the applications included in social networks, the most popular ones today are: Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Viber, Snapchat, as well as platforms specifically designed for teenagers, such as Ibrat Farzandlari and Mutolaa. These applications have many beneficial aspects, and the number of such applications is increasing daily. Speaking of their benefits, they provide opportunities for language learning, thorough acquisition of knowledge through online courses and video lessons, and information exchange through groups and channels.

Looking at the origin of social networks, we can see it through several examples. For instance, in the 1970s, the first email systems began to appear. This happened on October 2, 1971, with the first message sent to a remote computer, and the first users of this social network were military personnel on ARPANET. This was the first step towards the creation of the Internet and its networks. One of the applications whose user base is growing today is Pinterest. This platform is a media platform that allows users to add pictures online and organize them into thematic collections. Due to its artistic, beautiful design, Pinterest is particularly popular among women. Its founder is Ben Silbermann from West Des Moines, who founded the company of the same name in 2008. As of November 30, 2016, this site ranked 50th in the Alexa.com rating.

The role of social networks in our daily lives is undeniable. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to their dangerous aspects: social networks are stealing not only our precious time but also our mental health. Because these social networks are relatively new to our country, comprehensive research has not yet been fully conducted. But although these modern gadgets and platforms make our lives more convenient, their unlimited and uncontrolled use can also lead to psychological problems. Addiction to social networks gradually captures a person’s attention, time, and emotions, leading to feelings of loneliness, stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Stress

In most cases, people try to find refuge in social networks to escape worries and stress. However, experts emphasize that using these platforms does not reduce stress but, on the contrary, can cause nervousness and stress. In an experimental trial involving 1800 volunteers, it was noted that in many cases, women spend more time on social networks than men. Therefore, stress, anxiety, mental state, and addiction are developing at a higher rate among women. Women tend to waste their time on trivial things. Instagram, where other people share things that affect stress and mental health, has been proven to be the biggest source of stress among applications. When women using this app see the lives of famous actresses or wealthy people, they form various thoughts and start wanting those around them to be like the people on social networks. Unfortunately, such situations also cause stress in some individuals.

Mental Health

The World Health Organization, explaining the concept of mental health, focuses on the following points:

 Mental health is not merely the absence of mental illness.

 Mental health is an integral part of health; there is no health without mental health.

 Mental health is determined by a range of socio-economic, biological, and environmental factors.

Another study also notes that good and bad moods can spread among people through social networks.

In some cases, the time spent on social networks increases significantly due to the abundance of entertaining, superficial, and often unnecessary information. Such amusement and entertainment can also negatively impact a person’s health, as the sheer volume of large amounts of information often overloads the nervous system, causing a feeling of fatigue.

One might wonder, “What makes it so captivating?” The answer is that the people working on the functions of social networks strive to make them more interesting and diverse day by day, so that the person who logs in spends more time, spends money, and for similar reasons. Looking at research at this point, studies show that three billion people worldwide, 40 percent of the planet’s population, use social networks. Research indicates that on average, people spend about two hours a day on social networks. This kind of internet dependency is growing daily. This is becoming one of the biggest problems in the entire world.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is important to emphasize that addiction to social networks and digital devices, which have become an inseparable part of modern life, poses a serious risk to human mental health. Research indicates that individuals who spend a significant amount of time on these platforms often experience conditions such as stress, low mood, and diminished self-confidence. Constantly observing the “perfect” lives of others fosters feelings of comparison and low self-esteem, which can lead to depression.

Furthermore, excessive addiction distances the individual from the real world, damaging their family and social relationships. Sleep disorders, difficulties with concentration, and constant distractions negatively impact their daily productivity.

Therefore, while leveraging the positive opportunities of digital technology, it is crucial to minimize its negative consequences. This requires time management, purposeful usage, and maintaining a healthy balance between the virtual world and real life. By balancing online activity with real-world interests and personal connections, it is possible to preserve mental health and make wise use of modern technologies.

References:

1. Yusupova, M. “The Impact of Social Networks on Individual Psychology” (scientific article).

2. “Social Media Addiction – An Epidemic of the 21st Century” – popular article (xabar.uz).

3. Rozimurodov, Otamurod Baxromovich (3rd-year student, Fergana State University).

4. Ahrorov, S. “Socio-Psychological Factors in the Manifestation of Social Media Addiction” (scientific article).