Protect your Mental Health while using Social Media
There is no denying that social media has become a major part of our everyday lives, consequently leading to some challenges at varying degrees for mental health. Many of us can empathize with having had that familiar experience of comparing ourselves to others who post on social media and feeling in awe about how amazing their lives look. Often we dont keep in mind that most images are unrealistic or adjusted to present favorably to peers. Being exposed to these types of images or videos can lead to feeling stressed, competitive, unhappy or all of these at once.
So, what do we do when social media begins to negatively impact or interfere with our emotional well being? Consider limiting the time you spend on viewing or interacting on social media platforms. Some social media platforms like Instagram offer settings to help you set reminders to take breaks or limit the amount of time you spend scrolling through content. Keep track of what platforms you use and ask yourself what you gain from each visit. If it worsens your emotional well being, consider unfollowing or unsubscribing to that content.
At the time of this publication, if you have an instagram account, you can set parameters by following these steps: (1) open your Instagram app and go to your profile (2) Select the three horizontal lines at the top right of the screen to open up the menu, (3) Select “Your Activity,” (4) Select “Time Spent,” (5) Select “set reminder to take breaks or “set daily time limit.”
In the settings of Instagram, you can also manage how much control you give this platform to show “sensitive content” from accounts you do not follow. If you wish to change this setting follow these next steps: (1) open your Instagram app and go to your profile (2) Select the three horizontal lines at the top right of the screen to open up the menu, (3) Select “Settings,” (4) Select “Account,” and (5) Select “Sensitive content control.”
Remember, you have power and control over what you expose yourself to on social media and ultimately, you can help protect your mental health and wellbeing.
This article was written by Angelica Ramirez-Diaz, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) #122193