As the internet continues to heavily impact the discussion around mental health, it ultimately raises the question: how is self-care achievable in the era of social media?
Note: This article is part of our archival content and belongs to a previous phase of our publication. Amaranth Magazine is now a dedicated literary magazine.
Over the past few years, the world has seen major development in how social media is both operated and utilized. With apps like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok harboring millions of users and new users on a regular basis, social media offers people from around the globe the ability to interact with users worldwide. They are able to meet like-minded individuals with similar interests and develop relationships with others who do not live in close proximity.
Content can be digested in a variety of ways through social media, whether it is in the form of a small text post, a thread, or even a video. While users have the ability to customize their experience by adjusting settings such as following/unfollowing accounts, most social media apps will also recommend posts and videos to users based off of their previous searches. On top of this, these apps primarily enable people to comment on and respond to certain content they are being given.
Additionally, these social media apps provide a multitude of other services, including, but not limited to: long-distance calling, job openings, online shops.
With such a vast sector of opportunities being offered through social media, new users are constantly popping up, all from different backgrounds and walks of life. Ultimately, this structure allows for both positive and negative aspects within the social media world.
Challenges of the Social Era
As social media continues to dominate modern day society, it seemingly brought about significant self-deprecation and unrest. While it can provide a serotonin boost on a bad day, it also has the potential to expose users to negative content. Due to how customizable and open the social media world is, it can be very easy to stumble upon a bad crowd or content that someone does not want to see. One unsettling video or a demeaning comment can go a long way and carry both short and long-term effects, but in the worst of situations, they can be incredibly damaging to the user’s mental health.
If this is the case, then why does society find it so hard to pull away from these apps? Quite simply, it often stems from the individual’s desire to fit in and blend with the crowd.
To Be Like Everyone Else
We have seen many instances of people hopping onto trends that have grown popular through social media, whether it is a choreographed dance to a popular radio song or a new fashion trend that has captivated the online world. Regardless of the trend, it can be difficult not to feel excluded when millions of users are engaging in the same content. Furthermore, openly criticizing such content risks being viewed negatively by other social media users who enjoy it.
This desire to be an active, well-liked participant on social media fosters a sense of urgency, making it hard to pull away from the phone screen for more than an hour. That’s a fear of being left out and left behind, creating a habit that can be incredibly hard to break.
Prioritizing Self-Care
Confronting a bad habit is never easy, but in an age where social media is becoming more powerful than ever, it is important to recognize when enough is enough and take a step back from the very thing that is causing distress.
Self-care can be conducted in numerous ways. Something as miniscule as turning the phone and the computer off for a few hours can be seen as a form of self-care, especially if it provides the opportunity to unwind, rest, and take a breather. Spending more time outside, taking up an old hobby, or even reading a good book can easily fill in the gaps. Eliminating social media as a whole is no easy feat, but limiting the amount of time spent glued to the screen can at least deliver the incentive to pay more attention to what the mind and the body truly needs to be happy.
Saying ‘no’ to letting social media occupy the day is just the first step. Actively partaking in self-care methods and limiting scrolling time altogether can lead to a much more balanced and peaceful mindset in this era of social media dominance.
