“Connected” Yet So Lonely – Why Social Media Has Adverse Effects
The Value of IRL
Human beings evolved to develop in face-to-face social environments. We learn more from such interactions. Without regular personal contact, we lose the nuance of vocal inflections, body language, and facial expressions.
Our ability to read social cues can and will atrophy. Perhaps most commonly, we convince ourselves that we are uniquely flawed. Those carefully curated/often fabricated social media accounts we diligently follow can shatter self-esteem and breed depression and anxiety. Which leads us to…
Understand Why Social Media Has Adverse Effects
Where do we begin? The mere act of checking one’s feed has been shown to instigate a feeling of sadness. A recent study of Facebook and Twitter users found:
60 percent felt jealousy from comparing themselves to others
62 percent ended up feeling inadequate
Think about it; around 40 percent of humans use social media. That’s over 3 billion people who, on average, spend two hours a day engaging with social media. This massive cultural shift is exposing us to harmful effects, such as:
Negative body image
Cyberbullying
Fear of missing out (FOMO)
Sleep disturbances
Depression
Anxiety
Internet addiction
3 Basic Social Media Self-Care Steps
To safeguard your well-being, the following are three practice steps you can take toward more effective self-care.
1. Unfollow Anyone Who Depresses You
It could be a celebrity, a stranger, or even a lifelong friend. If someone’s account—for any reason—brings negative and depressing thoughts into your life, unfollow them. Why expose yourself to content that consistently upsets you? Tune in to the kind of media that inspires you or, better yet, turn off your phone and skip to step #3.
2. Daily (Hourly) Reminder: Social Media Does Not Represent Reality
In most cases, the average social media profile is as real as “professional wrestling.” It’s a show designed to present an illusion. In most cases, this is not a nefarious plot. It’s just a form of digital perf pressure that leads us to omit any imperfections from the public eye.
If you can enjoy them for the entertainment value, fine. If not, see step #1 above and get in the habit of giving yourself daily/hourly reminders.
3. Temporarily Deactivate, and Create Some IRL Joy
All social media accounts allow for temporary deactivation. It is a powerful way to gain some distance from the clamor. Use this time and space to step away from your devices and engage in some real-time shenanigans. Afterward, resist the urge to post about your old school fun—but be sure to tell someone about it in person!
Therapy as a Safe Space From Tweets, Likes, and Follows
The way things are these days, we can’t be blamed for thinking there is no escape from our devices. Social media seems to literally and figuratively follow us everywhere. Committing to weekly therapy sessions is one way to quiet that noise.
You and your counselor can cultivate a place of serenity and reflection. No single person can alter the direction of online connectivity. Each of us, however, can personally counter the adverse effects by seeking balance through IRL contemplation and exploration.
Our culture is changing quickly and dramatically. This situation means it will require robust and conscious action to stay grounded and healthy. Therapy can be a sturdy foundation for such work.