Recent Studies on Dealing With Social Media Toxicity
Many people’s lives revolve around social media. In today’s new normal, it’s hard to get away from social media. Every little thing we do finds its place on our Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter spaces. While global spaces have merged, connecting lifestyles and making the world smaller than it has ever been, social media does have its faults. It also doesn’t come as a surprise if we tell you that social media thrives on toxic elements.
Learning how to deal with social media toxicity addresses unseen mental and emotional issues.
Why Should I Learn How to Deal with Social Media Toxicity?
RMIT University’s School of Media and Communication expert Natalie Hendry claims that social media can turn into a breeding ground of toxic positivity. Toxic positivity thrives under the guise of harmless, well-polished realities showcased in the platforms. As a result, people source out their joys from these conditioned realities. The well-polished faces, grand lifestyles, and idealized scenarios eventually force a concept of positivity in the person. And, this is exactly where things get toxic.
Does Social Cause Depression?
According to another case presented in a 2017 study published at the Sage Journals, adolescents who spend time on the new media tend to exhibit more mental health issues (depression, anxiety, confusion) than those who spend time off-screen. Unsurprisingly, mental health experts, in the later years, began linking social media to the alarming global rise of depression.
Within the U.S. population alone, almost 92% of the teenagers own a smartphone. Moreover, that figure began swelling in 2015. One can only imagine its peak as of today. Thus, instead of the causative nature between social media and depression, it cannot simply be dismissed as coincidental. Again, this fact no longer surprises me. Teenagers tend to be more invested in social media, spending hours that exceed the limit, to the point of inactivity. That, no doubt, proves to be an undisputed tell-tale sign of toxicity. Here are other tell-tale signs of social media toxicity:
- Posting becomes compulsive
- Insecurity intensifies (due to constantly comparing oneself to others)
- Fear of being left out intensifies (in terms of trend, lifestyle, relationship, etc.)
- Feelings of being unsafe begins to settle
- Trivial issues, rumors, gossips, etc. start to take center stage in your life
- Feelings of stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and worry take center stage
- Happiness depends on likes and follows
- Bullying starts to occur
How to Deal with Social Media Toxicity
If you sense that a number of these red flags start to overwhelm your life today, you should take the next step. Acknowledgment. Acknowledging the toxicity of the situation will prepare you in dealing with it. Fortunately, you don’t have to deal with it alone. We at MindShift (see locations and branches in California near me including Riverside, Corona, Los Angeles, and Newport Beach) are here to talk to you. In the meantime, read our best tips on how to deal with social media toxicity:
Do Not Hesitate to Unfollow Events and People
The main causative agent of toxicity is the fear (or, feeling of guilt) of having to unfollow, unfriend, or ditch people, groups, events, sites in the social media platform. Another factor that makes dealing impossible is excessive dependence and obsession with social media. Mustering the courage to do so comes in handy when you have to ditch social media in the future.
Enjoy Physical Meet-Ups and Activities
Nothing beats actual social engagements, activities, and gatherings. After all, it takes sweat and tears to reap the joy. In the case of social media engagement, it’s only just about tears. In today’s quarantine period, you can still enjoy actual social engagement via new media. Sign up to chat rooms, zoom meet-ups, or even just settle with telephone calls. That should warrant as to the closest means for a physical meet-up.
Surf Responsibly
Always set a limit to your social media consumption. Balance your life by setting a schedule to things. Be mindful of the number of hours you’ve spent with your device. Moreover, properly divide your time. Allot time for exercise, book-reading, creations, and family bonding. Lastly, begin by putting down your phone at the dinner table. You’d be surprised by what it can do.
Our View About the Studies
The recent studies presented in this article confront us with alarming realities. Yet, their findings even qualify as understatements. The claim that social media is correlated to the growing number of depressions among teenagers may seem downsized. Fortunately, studies about mental health awareness on how to deal with social media toxicity – positivity, depression, anxiety, etc. – couldn’t be more true and effective. We at MindShift, with branches in California near me, support such moves to free oneself of the issue at hand.
The first step to dealing with social media issues is to acknowledge the toxicity.
Learn to be Mindful with Social Media
Contact us at MindShift Psychological Services today to deal with the toxicity affecting you at the moment. Build enjoyable relationships with our trained therapists and psychologists through Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, and Couples Counseling. Visit the branches near me in California namely, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, and Corona. See also some branches located in Southern California – Century City, Costa Mesa, Brentwood, plus many other branches near me. Take a step-by-step approach to mitigate social media’s negative impact on your life.
