Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook – we all have our favourite social media platforms. They can be a great way to unwind, have a giggle, be inspired or even learn something new. However, with all of the benefits that social media can bring, there are many negatives too. This could be from the amount of time you spend on the site, to perhaps the app making you feel bad in some way.
When using social media, it is important that it is only ever good for you, not bad. It can help to regularly check-in on your relationship with social media and make sure it’s healthy by answering the following questions;
Have you ever deleted a post because it didn’t get enough likes?
There are loads of reasons why some posts do really well, and some don’t. What’s more, social media is designed to make you feel rewarded if you get lots of likes. But, it shouldn’t make you feel embarrassed, ashamed or upset if it doesn’t do well.
It can be difficult when you see other people getting lots of engagement and comparing yourself to them, but it really is impossible to compare because you are beautifully unique!
So, the next time you post something ask yourself;
- Am I posting this because it’s something I want to share, or because I think it will get lots of likes?
- Am I seeking validation from others?
- Will I feel bad if it doesn’t do well, or am I just sharing what I love?
If you think you’re posting something for the wrong reasons, it may help to delete the app for a little while to keep your relationship with it healthy.
Are you doing it for social media, or because you enjoy it?
There’s nothing wrong with documenting a fab time with a few snaps. But when getting the perfect photo is more important than actually experiencing something, then your relationship with social media might be going south. Try to have fun, doing what you want to do and be in the moment, rather than just doing something because it will look cool on your feed.
Do you think everyone else is having more fun than you?
FOMO can be a really toxic side effect of social media. However, it’s important to remember that social media only shows one side of a person’s life. It is the edited highlights; it isn’t the whole show. No one’s life is as perfect as they show on social media, and they are not having way more fun than you. It can help to remember that social media is a distorted reality, usually only showing the best bits, but it isn’t the real thing.
Can you go a day without social media?
The average teenage will spend around nine hours a day in front of a screen and between one to three hours of this will be on social media. That is a lot of time where you are being bombarded with information, noise and distractions. Social media takes up a huge amount of mental energy and can be really addictive too. It can really benefit your mental health if you try and limit your social media use and take regular extended breaks so you can make the most of other activities.
So, is it time to give your own batteries a recharge and give social media a little rest too?
