Social media has made it possible for us to peek into the lives of others like never before. We can connect with long lost friends, acquaintances, and cyber-friends we’ve only met online. We can follow celebrities, musicians, and any number of influencers. Sometimes, this social media activity is positive and fun. It’s rewarding to find old friends. It’s often inspiring to see what others are doing.
Unfortunately, though, social media habits frequently bring negative influence with them as well. It’s arguable that the detrimental aspects even outweigh the good. All in all, being aware of how your social media usage impacts you is important knowledge.
Comparison
It’s probably obvious that comparison is one of the main issues that can affect our mental health when it comes to social media. We forget that our contacts are selectively choosing what to share. They’re usually sharing the best moments. We see pictures of their smiling, happy families and their posts about travel or fun social events. But we don’t usually see the reality behind everything else. And then we feel like we don’t measure up.
Self-Doubt
As we compare ourselves to others, it’s easy to feel self-doubt about our own worth, success, appearance, and relationships. We start to question our own accomplishments. This easily leads to depression and anxiety.
Loneliness
Let’s face it: there will always be gatherings that we aren’t invited to. But when we see our friends sharing girls’ nights out or other events on social media, we often feel left out. We wonder why we were excluded. Or, even if we were invited, we might be tempted to think that our life stinks because our husband forgot his promise to hold down the fort so we could go out.
And then we’re back to comparison and self-doubt: wondering if we’re not funny enough or hip enough to be included.
Wasting Time
Scrolling through social media can feel like sorting through junk at a garage sale. You are driven to keep looking but afterward feel like your time was wasted. Then you regret the time you lost. And you worry that you could have spent doing something more productive.
This sense of guilt can hang over you for the rest of the day. It may nag at the back of your mind the next time you start browsing feeds, yet you continue scrolling anyway.
Oversharing and Digital Reputation
Yes, it’s important to be able to share the important things in our lives. We need to be able to reach out for help when things are hard. It’s helpful to share when things are good. But when we use social media to shame other people, we hurt ourselves and our own reputation.
Likewise, we also need to use discretion when sharing about our own lives. Do you really want hundreds of acquaintances to know details about your medical problems or romantic life? Private messages may be a better option if you need to share details about particularly personal events or troubles.
Be Proactive
There are steps you can take to decrease social media’s negative impact on your life. You don’t have to let it bring you down.
Set firm limits. Determine how much time you spend online and stick to your own boundaries.
Stop using social media altogether for a week or month. See how you feel afterward. Use the resulting free time to read or catch up with friends in person or by phone.
Consciously remind yourself of the good in your own life. Remember that people usually only portray what they want you to see on social media. Nobody’s life is as perfect as it seems.
Finally, do you suspect that your social media habits are wearing on you? Do you often feel blue and dissatisfied after scrolling through posts, pictures, and feeds? If so, I encourage you to take proactive steps like those listed here. Social media and electronics usage can even turn into addictions. If you continue to struggle, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. It can make a world of difference. I’m here to help. Contact me today for a free consultation and read more about how therapy for codependency can help you restructure your relationship with social media.