Today’s digital age leaves us reminiscing the times when going to the local park was the best way to catch up in your friend’s lives and the way you got in contact was by knocking on someone’s door or pulling out your address book to call your friend’s house phone. MSN online messaging introduced us to a new form of contact, and the invention of Facebook got us all hooked. Now, everyone is expected to be readily available all the time.
In 2020, we’re in an era where social media has completely sucked us in. The longest I’ve gone without checking various platforms was probably about 8 hours, and even that was tough. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), people that use social media regularly experience “similar neurological responses between compulsive [Social Network Sites] use and addiction to substances.” In fact, those who frequent social media experience the same reaction within their brain’s reward center as when those who struggle with substance abuse drink alcohol or take drugs. This is reaction is commonly triggered when people get likes, comments, or views on a post. Social media is addictive, especially within a society that relies on the reach of social networks to influence consumers and connect people with information from all around the world.
While some researchers suggest we’re still just simply adapting to this new age of easily accessible technological resources, another problem with social media is the impacts it can have on your mental health. According to the article “Addicted to Social Media?” featured in Psychology Today, Mark D. Griffiths, Ph.D. observes that “social media use for a minority of individuals is associated with a number of psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and addiction” (2018).
However, frequent social media use can be managed in healthy ways to avoid these negative experiences. Apple and Android have both released operating system tools for their devices that help users monitor their screen time use. These features also provide information on which apps are being used the most and at which times. Using these tools to help limit your time on social media will help you to focus on the tasks you actually need to complete, like class readings or studying for your next quiz!
Additionally, when putting time restrictions on your social media consumption you regain more time in your day that has been previously spent aimlessly scrolling through Instagram or TikTok. It’s very eye-opening to go to your screen-time stats for the day, especially when you feel as though you have no time to tackle your to-do list, yet you’ve spent 2 hours of your day on Twitter.
A strategy that I use to help lower my social media use is turning off notifications for certain apps and hiding the icons on my home screen. By taking the cliché “out of sight, out of mind” approach, I find that it’s a lot easier to focus on being present in the physical world instead of crawling back into the virtual world. Another bonus of limiting your social media use is that it simultaneously lowers that competitive feeling of FOMO you get when scrolling through countless pages of influencers and seeing the successes or events of others. Most importantly, I incorporate critical thinking skills when dealing with certain online news content before allowing it to negatively affect my mood. Thank you, Brantford Foundations, for teaching me the value of credible sources.
I’m in no way saying that social media is the destruction of our modern-day society! I love the advantages of social media, and the voice it is able to give to those who deserve to have their stories told. I even binge-watched The Circle on Netflix in 2 days, loving every second of the social drama! But, I’m suggesting that mindful consumption should be considered when using social media, particularly when it’s pull is affecting your relationships, academics and most importantly your mental well-being. Avoid following accounts that leave you feeling small, and focus on positive messages of encouragement! There are accounts available that provide evidence-based positive practices or affirmations/encouragement such as @thebraincoach, @shopsundae, @minaa_b, @lisaoliviathereapy, or Her Campus at Laurier Brantford’s own IG account!
When asking some friends about their favourite positive Instagram accounts to follow, each person gave me accounts that fit their own personal aesthetic. Therefore, while I have a list of recommendations, it’s really up to you to curate and tailor your feed to compliment what makes you happy! Scrolling through a feed that leaves you feeling like you have the ability to conquer your day or the world, is a much more effective use of both social media and your time.