Staying In Control of Your Social Media
Photo by Anthony Menecola on Unsplash
DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical or mental health professional. Everything I share is information gained through personal experience, professional help, and outside resources. It is your own personal responsibility to seek professional help and advice before implementing any life-altering practices. Everyone's mental health journey looks different. My story is just one of millions. If you are feeling lost, scared, alone, concerned, or just not right, I encourage you to connect with a mental health professional. Don't wait until it becomes a crisis.
Alright, let's tackle it. Let's tackle that ever growing, ever changing, never ending topic: social media.
Bum, bum, buuuummmm. *insert eye roll here*
Social Media as We Know It
If you were born in the early 90s or before, we watched the planet change as the world wide web slowly became part of everyday life.
Then, in the mid-2000s, one of my college roommates was so excited that a thing called "Facebook" was becoming available at our school. Yes, a few other sites like MySpace had been a reality for a while before that, but this one seemed somehow different.
Then came…
Twitter
Vine
Instagram
Snapchat
YouTube
TikTok
…and countless others.
Social media made the world a bit smaller and our communities much bigger. But it also came with drawbacks…
More screen time.
Fewer in-person connections.
Comparison.
Addiction.
Bullying.
Trolls.
Misinformation.
Popcorn-worthy comment section drama.
Now, there are even studies proving a connection between depression and the use of social media. “The study found the less people used social media, the less depressed and lonely they felt,” shared Nadra Nittle in this medically-reviewed article.
So, how do we do it? How do we navigate this dangerous, but beautiful landscape of social media? Well, very carefully and very intentionally.
Tips to Stay In Control of Social Media
Our social media usage can get out of hand without us even realizing it’s happening. Here are some ideas and tools to keep social media from controlling you.
Turn Off the Feed
Need to be on social to market a business or participate in groups? Use the Chrome and Firefox browser extension called News Feed Eradicator. This open-source free add-on hides the firehose of posts on various platforms and replaces it with an inspirational quote or custom saying. You can then access the feed by selecting a specific amount of time. Once the time is up, the feed automatically disappears again.
Restrict Access
Find yourself mindlessly landing on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? There are numerous apps to help you be aware of how much time you’re spending on social media, some are even built right into the platforms themselves.
Personally, I’ve chosen to delete the social apps from my phone altogether, and limit my access to desktop only. And to keep from accessing it in my phone internet browser, I’ve change my passwords to something impossible to memorize, and use LastPass to store and access it once on my computer.
Connection, Not Obligation
When you follow an account or accept friend requests, do so intentionally. Take a moment to consider why you're connecting with them. Can't find a good reason? Getting some red flags? Maybe you should pass on it. Already accepted or re-evaluating your list? Don’t be afraid to unfollow, mute, or unfriend.
Face Your Feelings
Does this happen to you: you’re overwhelmed by a task or emotions and suddenly find yourself scrolling? As much as the distraction may be welcomed, we need to ask ourselves, “Is this a healthy reaction or is this us just avoiding tough emotions?” Find a few alternative methods that help you sit in the uncomfortable moments, then work through them instead of turning to social media.
Need help finding methods and tools to care for your well-being? Check out “One Small Thing: Thirty Days”.
Be Inspired. Be Informed. Be in Community.
Social media isn’t just something we have to “handle” or “manage.” It can be an awesome way to stay connected with people from the past and with others from around the world. It can be a tool to find and share inspiration and ideas. While implementing common sense and critical thinking, it can be a catalyst for staying informed and starting tough conversations (which I will always recommend happen “face-to-face” and not in comment sections).
Amazing communities can be built and grown through social media too. I’m proud to be the leader of TuesdaysTogether - Lehigh Valley/Bucks Montogomery. This local chapter of the Rising Tide Society is made up of creative entrepreneurs, professionals, and small businessowners meeting and connecting in the spirit of community over competition. Social media allows our members to share information, engage with one another, stay linked between monthly in-person (and currently, virtual) meetups. It also made continuing to meet and remain a community virtually when #allthehugs became unavailable for health and safety concerns.
How Do You Stay In Control of Social Media?
Obviously, these methods aren’t the only way to moderate your social media usage. Are there any tools or tricks I didn’t include on this list? Share with me any I may missed in the comments below!
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