Social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, as well as keep up with news and the latest dance craze. While social media is a positive part of many of our lives, this 24/7 connection also has risks for our emotional well-being.
Studies have shown that excessive use of social media can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness as we move our relationships online. Constantly reading posts about friends and celebrities who seem to be more popular, attractive, successful and having more fun than us can result in feelings of envy, low self-esteem and depression. Not to mention the toxic effects of trolls who attack others for their own warped pleasure.
Here are six suggestions of ways people can reduce the harm social media can do to their mental health.
- Limit when and where you use social media
- Have detox periods
- approch social media mindfully, ask "why am i doing this now"
- Pay attention to what you do and how you feel
- stop social media from replacing real life
- unfollow accounts that make you feel bad
