It doesn’t have to be so toxic
Social media has been stigmatized as a primary cause of people’s mental health decline in the last few decades. It is often considered the biggest culprit for poor self-esteem, which can eventually lead to more severe mental health issues. Although the connections between social media and mental health struggles are apparent, I believe a mindset change can go a long way. I know creating a healthy relationship with social media is much easier said than done and can take a long time to achieve, so I’ll share my mindset. I hope it can help anyone that is currently on this journey.
1. Instagram is a platform that lets you share your memories
I know what often comes to mind when people think of Instagram is likes, comments, followers, popularity, etc. And although I am definitely guilty of having cared about these things in the past, this is never how I viewed this app. Rather, I see it as a collection of memories. I have a public space to share different aspects of my life that my friends, family and future self can look back at for years to come. I am able to collect my favorite photos from prom, graduation, freshman year of college and many more events and share them with myself and the people I love. And I do it my own way. I only ever post because I want to. This is in no way a popularity contest; it is a public journal.
2. Everyone posts their best moments
A common reason social media is so stigmatized is that people often compare themselves to influencers and celebrities who use these platforms. These people are often criticized for making themselves seem “perfect.” But don’t we all do the same thing? I know I wouldn’t post a photo I thought I looked bad in. Everyone caters their social media profiles to what they like and how they want to be seen in public. In other words, their idea of their best selves. The only reason influencers are criticized for this is because of how public their accounts are. But really, they are no different from all of us. This obviously excludes celebrities using apps like Facetune; that can be a discussion for another day. I will say, though, if anyone is making you feel bad about yourself, unfollow them. It’s your feed, not anyone else’s; however, all in all, we all want to look our best, so going into social media knowing everyone posts only their favorite photos on their best days can help avoid the comparison.
3. There are so many positive ways to use social media
I feel like people often only associate social media with posting photos of themselves, but there are a lot of different ways that the tools that social media provides can be used. For one, photographers or people who just enjoy taking photos,have a perfect platform to post. It allows both the photographer to share their passion and others to enjoy it. Similarly, chefs, dancers, musicians and so many more people have a free way to share their talents. I know I have picked up recipes and found new music through social media. Catering your feed to your own interests can actually make social media, particularly Instagram, a very enjoyable and often educational experience.
Your individual experience with social media is really just what you want to make of it. No one is forcing you to post specific things, follow specific people, or look at specific posts. If you look at it as a platform to showcase your talents, store memories and communicate with people, it does not have to be such a toxic environment. I know this can take time, but if you are struggling to find the good in social media, I encourage you to make your individual experience your own. Follow who you want to follow, post what you want to post, remove who and what you want to remove. Do it for you, not for anyone else.