Is it time to break up with social media?

Social media has grown to be such an integral part of our lives, but is it impacting our mental health? The pressure to keep up with peers on social media, coupled with obsessive scrolling through posts about other people’s seemingly perfect lives can cause pressure and affect our mental health. Far from being the cornerstone of a connected world, social media can actually damage us. Is it time to break up with social media and reclaim our lives?

How much do you use social media?

The occasional check-in to see what family and friends are up to can help us feel connected, particularly if we lead busy lives and are unable to meet in real life. However, if every spare second you have is spent scrolling through your feed and swiping through posts and notifications, you may find that social media is taking over your life and swallowing up all your spare time. If this is the case, it could be time for a break.

Is it impacting your mental health?

Anxiety, depression, and stress are all caused by negative self-evaluation, which can be exacerbated by the perception of other people's 'perfect' lives as portrayed on social media. Numerous studies show that social media can increase anxiety, contribute to low self-esteem, and has links to depression.

Breaking up with social media

Social media can be toxic. It's hard to navigate the line between 'good' and 'bad' when you feel an obligation to check Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for fear of missing out on something important. If you find this compulsion taking over your life, it's time to either take a break or bin the platforms for good; you will probably find you are more productive for doing so. If you’re not ready to take the plunge just yet, deleting the apps or setting them to not display notifications during certain hours can be a less forceful way of taking back control.

1) https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/self-esteem/the-media-and-body-image-how-it-impacts-your-self-esteem/