It starts with just one notification; you scroll quickly until something catches your eye, and you stop out of curiosity. “After all, it’s just a 45-second reel.” Before you know it, you have spent 20 minutes scrolling. You have laughed at that viral skit and even dropped a comment. You’ve digested the couple goals reel. That vacation post is flooded with aesthetic pictures; you wish you could like it more than once, but it leaves you feeling odd. You can’t shake the feeling.
You know it’s not envy nor sadness, yet you can’t figure out why you feel restless. That’s the silent effect of social media. Social media is a powerful tool that informs, educates, and entertains but slowly drains your emotions. We allow the apps we open daily to shape our feelings, perceptions, and lifestyles without realizing it.
The Appeal of Social Media
Social media is designed to be irresistible. It’s funny how platforms that promise to connect people are responsible for emotional exhaustion and anxiety. The volume of information consumed and the pressure of self-presentation outweigh the genuine connections intended.
You can decide to go online after a long day as an escape, and the first thing you stumble on is an influencer’s effortless “GRWM” video that screams opulence, and quietly, your emotions are crushed. Your boyfriend is not an “intentional man” because he didn’t buy you 32 gifts to celebrate your 32nd birthday. You were looking for a distraction, but you got something worthy of comparison instead. It’s all there… but we ignore the signs.
Social media can be intoxicating. It’s not just entertainment; it’s about validation. You get a rush of excitement when you get a notification of a comment or like on your post. The race to gain thousands of followers, likes, and engagements on posts has caused an emotional wreck for many users, leading to different platforms reviewing user privacy. Social media boasts of a global community, but the conflict lies in the emptiness it leaves underneath.
Signs That Social Media May Be Drowning Your Emotions
The emotional toll of social media doesn’t hit immediately. It creeps in silently. Most social media users have experienced at least one of these signs at some point. Here are a few signs you should look out for:
- You may experience Fear of Missing Out [FOMO] and constant comparison of your lifestyle, experiences, beauty, or success with someone else’s.
- Online validation dictates your mood swings. You are pleased when a post performs well and question your competence or self-worth when it doesn’t.
- You may neglect your responsibilities from endless scrolling, which is mostly a habit, not just because it’s fun.
- Sometimes, you feel lonely and isolated, despite being connected online.
- You may disrupt your sleep routine due to late-night scrolling and, in some cases, experience withdrawal symptoms when you can’t access social media.
Healthy Ways to Reclaim Your Emotions
You don’t have to delete every app or your social media accounts to protect your emotions. To regain control of your emotions, try some of these mindful strategies:
· Practice Mindful Scrolling:
Be clear about your intentions before opening the app and getting sucked in. What type of content do you want to consume, and how long do you intend to spend online? You can set a time limit on certain apps like Instagram.
· Curate Your Feed:
Mute, unfollow, block, and do whatever you can to protect your emotions. Avoid accounts or words that trigger your emotions negatively. Choose inspiring accounts only.
· Do a Digital Detox:
Practice an occasional detox to rid yourself of social media negativity. You can start by setting an hour in a day or during meal times to keep your phone away. If you try this, you can eventually go a day without social media. You will be surprised at the emotional clarity that follows.
· Self-reflection:
You can keep a journal to notice patterns and make adjustments as you take intentional steps to regain control.
· Replace Habits with Healthier Alternatives:
When you are bored, pick up a book or try stretches instead of picking up your phone. Simple alternatives can help reset your emotional compass.
It is crucial to be mindful of social media habits, curate your online experiences, and establish healthy boundaries. Ultimately, reflect on how social media affects your emotional well-being, with an aim to make it a tool for empowerment rather than a source of emotional stress.
Let’s try a challenge…
Take a 5-hour social media detox. Write down how you feel before, during, and after. You may discover that your emotions feel clearer and calmer than you imagined.
How do you feel after spending time on social media when you close that app?
