Your say / mental health
‘We have to be mindful of how we use social media’
I spend too much time on social media. I know I do, and my partner frequently reminds me. But I’m not alone. Almost all of us use social media in some way these days, and for many, it can become hard to navigate modern life without some kind of online presence.
“But however will I share my brunch without Instagram?”
Unfortunately, however, social media has been linked to depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating issues, and even increased suicide risk. The evidence is pretty clear. Every red pop-up or upbeat jingle triggers the production of dopamine, similar to the sort of response you get to alcohol, drugs or cigarettes. It generates pleasure, and is addictive.
is needed now More than ever
With social feeds that are updated every second, it creates a never ending stream of information. For some, spending a day, hour or even a few minutes without their phones can cause an itch; to know what people are saying.
This FOMO (fear of missing out) is heightened online. Whenever I post, I find myself always flicking back to check on it for the first 15 minutes to see how it’s doing. It’s hard to detach from this desire to impress others.
Apps like Instagram make it easy to compare and despair. We often only share our perfect vision of life on social media, and it’s easy to forget that. Seeing people live these amazing lives online, makes me feel wonder how my life compares. Often though, you’re only seeing the glamorous tip of a not so glamorous iceberg.
One of the biggest impacts online is cyberbullying. Anonymity behind a screen makes it easier to say nasty, offensive and even abusive things. Perpetrators can’t see the real consequences of their “jokes” and “teasing”.
So we have to be mindful of how we use social media, or these negative effects will only get worse. We can’t just stop using it – social media is here to stay, and it’s important that we foster healthy attitudes.
Social media has brought us so many benefits. We can build relationships across greater distances. We can share our lives with family that might have felt detached before. I’ve learnt so much from people I’ve connected with. Social media does a lot of good.
Most importantly, social media can offer solidarity and support. Whole communities have developed around offering compassionate advice for people struggling with issues. Covering everything from where to go on your holiday, or sharing stories and tips about recovery from illness.
Social media is worth using, but it’s important to ensure your mental health isn’t harmed in the process.
Try spending time away from phones and laptops or regularly clearing out your “friends” to more accurately reflect the real connections you’ve made.
Remind yourself that people only share the best bits of their lives and. Comparing yourself to them is like comparing to a caricature.
Finally, think before you post. It may sound obvious, but we’re all quick to overshare or say something stupid. Ask yourself what you’re really sharing and the consequences of that. Are you encouraging the compare and despair attitude? Are you sharing something you might regret later?
Be mindful of how you use social media. Negatives are rarely inherent to tools; they come from how we use them.
Connecting online has so much positive potential we’d be silly to deny ourselves it. Use social media, but use it with care.
Cai Burton is a director of Freedom of Mind and a freelance illustrator. The Freedom of Mind festival is returning to Bristol from October 8-12 2018 and is a series of events that destigmatise mental health and wellbeing. Cai is talking about mental health and social media on Wednesday, May 30 at The Rules of Engagement, a group for Bristol-based social media and digital marketing professionals.
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