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Feel anxious when you log into social media accounts? Do you compare yourself to others online — and find yourself wanting in accomplishments, appearance, or relationships?
The Mirage of Perfection and FOMO
Social media’s knack for inducing anxiety can manifest in several ways. Constant comparison promotes feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, building anxiety. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) increases our internal stress levels and adds to our internal stress.
Our online connections have access to filters and editing tools to make their life look great (heck, nobody posts about the argument they had last night). The gap between your lived reality and the online facade of your connections is enormous. It’s just too easy to envy a curated life or appearance — even if your life is just as good (and maybe even better) than what you see online.
The Pressure to Stay Connected
Another stress inducer is the pressure to stay constantly connected. Whether it’s FOMO kicking in as we see others having fun without us or the need to keep up with every conversation to avoid feeling left out or talked about, the constant vigilance over our digital lives can be exhausting. If you find yourself glued to your phone, anxious about missing out or being excluded, it might be time to reevaluate your social circle and the pressure you’re putting on yourself. True friendships shouldn’t breed such anxieties.
The content we consume on social media can leave us feeling worse off. Whether it’s the barrage of negative news, hate speech, or simply themes that trigger our fears, it’s essential to curate our online spaces to protect our mental health. This could mean unfollowing accounts that bring us down, following more positive and uplifting content, or even creating an entirely new account dedicated to things that make us feel good.
Strategies for a Healthier Social Media Experience
So, what can you do to mitigate these effects? Start by curating your social media feed. Unfollow accounts that don’t add value to your day or even consider starting a fresh account filled only with positivity. Pay attention to how different posts make you feel; if jealousy or discontent frequently follows your scrolling sessions, it might be time to mute or unfollow those triggering these feelings.Remember, the digital world is not the entirety of reality. What we see online is often a curated glimpse into someone’s life, not the whole picture. If social media is becoming a source of stress rather than enjoyment, stepping back, setting boundaries, and taking breaks is perfectly okay. Your mental health will thank you for it.
While social media is an integral part of modern life, it’s crucial to approach social media mindfully. By being selective with what we consume and engaging with our online communities in a healthy way, we can enjoy the benefits of connectivity without letting it adversely affect our mental well-being.