Safely Navigating Social Media
Social media is a huge part of our culture. It’s how we connect and pass the time. It’s where we showcase our achievements and share fun times. Social media can be a wonderful place to reach mass audiences for influencers and business owners. However, there is a dark side of social media that we need to be aware of. That line can be crossed very quickly if we don’t monitor our usage. Here are a few dangers of social media to be aware of:
FOMO: FOMO or fear of missing out is something I hear a lot among my generation(20s). But the reality is it can impact anyone and always has. However, with 24/7 social media, this becomes more detrimental to our mental health. How difficult is it to see our peers out enjoying a nice day at the beach when you are stuck at home? This never-ending loop of other people’s content can have a hefty tool on us. Understanding your threshold for how much you can take is imperative to healthy social media use. Also, keep in mind the distinction between real life and what gets posted on these apps. I truly believe that social media has the impact of making us forget what we have going on in our lives. Make time for those meaningful, real-life connections.
Online bullying: It’s important to understand that online bullying isn’t just an issue that adolescents face. I’ve seen full-grown adults fight, insult, and humiliate online. It doesn’t matter how old you are, this can impact anyone. If you and your family are being threatened online, don’t brush this off. Being harassed online can drastically harm your mental health. If you are experiencing this, address the issue quickly before it gets too out of hand.
Content and Emotions: I’m always blown away by how I can watch a video that makes me cry and swipe down and watch the most hysterically fun piece of content. I’m often left in a whirlwind of emotions and it’s difficult to snap back and engage with those around me. Especially with so much unrest, in the world, this can have a heavier impact on people. It was difficult and scary enough to watch a news segment and go on with your day, but now it’s constant. Now we are faced with constant updates on the tragedies going on in the world. While it’s good to stay informed, taking a break is also necessary for our mental health.
Another point I want to share is the “memories” feature on social media. While these memories can make us remember happy times, it’s something to also monitor. If you’ve lost a loved one, or been through a divorce, seeing those memories without any emotional preparation can be a shock to our system. Also, these memories might make us compare ourselves with ourselves too much. “Oh my goodness, I was so thinner 8 years ago!! It becomes a cycle and takes us away from the moment.
Time: It’s astonishing to think about how much time we really spend on these apps. Not only does this over-consumption affect our mental health on its own, but finding out how much time we spend can be a shock. Phones have a feature called “screen time” that can help us monitor this. If this is something you want to work on, I suggest paying attention to this. If you feel you’re spending too much time on social media, try blocking off your time. This can help you focus on more productive tasks and reserve social media for free time.
I hope this helped to give some background on how to effectively use social media. It’s key to understand how these apps personally impact you and to refrain from black-and-white thinking around this. The dangers of digitalization are real, but it’s not all bad. It’s about KNOWING how to use it. If you feel this is something you struggle with, please reach out to us at gfico.empower@gmail.com to learn about our digital wellness program! Let’s keep working together towards positive change!
