How to Use Social Media Without Losing Your Mind

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“You’ve likely heard that using social media (especially in excess) can increase your risk of depression, anxiety, plunge your self-esteem, and may even impair your social skills. While some research shows this isn’t always the case, many studies support the adverse effects of social media use—combined with spending too much time online in general—on our emotional, social, and physical health.

However, social media use isn’t an inherent threat to our mental health, provided we use it wisely and within moderation. How we engage with social media has a substantial impact on how good or bad it makes us feel. Reducing the amount of time we spend on social media, engaging positively with others when we do use it, as well as filtering out harmful or useless information and accounts can go a long way towards improving our online experience—as well as our offline well-being.”

KEY POINTS

• • Social media can make us feel like we don't measure up to others and it can overwhelm our processing abilities.
  • There are ways, however, to use social media so that it doesn't flood us—or make us miserable.
  • Passive scrolling on social media is linked with reduced well-being but positively engaging is linked with enhanced well-being.
  • Ignoring irrelevant, annoying, and harmful information and users is key to keeping social media from making us miserable.

Read the whole article at Psychology Today

#SocialMedia #MentalHealth #Well-being

💬 What might be the signs that someone could benefit from a social media break?

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