Social media, love it or hate it, has been a part of our lives for a long time now, and it’s nearly impossible to avoid. What started as a fun platform to connect with friends and family has turned into a complete shit show. Yet, some of us can’t seem to unplug from it. Ha! And our parents were afraid of us getting addicted to drugs.
It took a long time for me to find the balance with these platforms. I’ve been asked how to balance it, and I’ll be honest: it’s not perfect. But it works for me, although I’ll still have days where I’ll doom-scroll myself into depression. But before I talk about that, let’s talk about the highs and lows of social media first.
Sometimes I Love It
1. Keeps Me Informed
Social media keeps me looped in with current events faster than any other news source. Props to channels like Dylan Page and Bikini Bottom News! You could argue that ignorance is bliss, if that is your choice, so be it.
2. Stay Connected to the Friends You Don’t See Often
Let’s face it, as we get older, it gets harder to see friends. Life happens, and we prioritize what works with us. You have your little group, but anyone outside of that, you may see once or twice a year, if ever!
3. It Can Cheer You Up
Not everything you see is stupid TikTok dances or negative news. If you have your algorithm set up how you want it, you’ll see that many creators create very fun, positive, or educational content. I have seen videos that made me laugh really hard and cheered me up on the gloomiest of days.
4. Helps Finding Inspiration
Writer's block is real, even with the help of ChatGPT. You can get it to write you an outline, but if you hit that block, you don’t even want to sit there and build on it. Sometimes, you need a bit of a spark, and social media can help with that. You see something interesting that invokes feelings deep inside you, and bam!! All of a sudden, you have your next article!
5. Cat videos
Need I say more? I know this point could be combined with #3, but it’s cats; they deserve their own headline! You can feel like shit, and a cat video will make you smile. Fine, even if you hate cats, there are so many cute and funny animal videos on social media. We really don’t deserve animals, eh?
Sometimes I Hate It
1. Mentally Draining
Social media is that one friend you have that is a blast one minute; the next, they’re a complete drama queen. It can be extremely exhausting being bogged down with alpha males, Kardashians, influencers selling you shitty products and world events.
2. Dem Comments
Don’t get me wrong, there are some hilarious and witty comments. I go to read them for those reasons. But holy shit, there are some highly misinformed people or those who just want to spread hate and anger in the comments. I understand free speech, but come on!
3. Misinformation
What spreads faster than a fire? Misinformation. Perhaps the creator is doing it for views and such, but don’t repost something if you haven’t done any research. Trust your bullshit radar, and when in doubt, google!
4. Why is Everything About Money?
Social media used to be fun. Now, it’s about capitalizing on things. Everything is for views and clicks. What happened to just authentic fun? I understand we all need money to live but don’t make that your main reason for creating.
Finding Balance
1. Limit Yourself to Checking Only DMs
We all have certain friends with whom we only chat using Insta or whichever. It’ll be tough to do at first, but resist scrolling and go straight to the DM section. Answer your friends and close out of the app. Don’t make it a habit to scroll each time you’re on to check your messages.
2. Stay Offline on Gloomy Days
I can get super emo or angry on gloomy days. I love the rain, but for those super cloudy days, I stay offline. If you know small things like that can affect you mentally, then social media will only add to that. Gloomy days don’t have to be weather-related; it can be a bad day at work, and all you want to do is rage. You should start a journal instead, seriously! Don’t go hopping into the comment sections to drag someone down.
3. Read a Book Instead
Itching to doom-scroll? Force yourself to read a book or listen to a podcast instead! There’s life beyond a screen! There are many ways to immerse yourself that don’t involve scrolling through TikTok videos or Insta reels.
4. Set a Timer
Just like how parents would limit their kids' screen time, you should do the same for yourself. It’s OK to hop on and entertain yourself, but to avoid the doom-scrolling, just set a timer. How often have you told yourself that you’ll only be on for five minutes, then suddenly, half your day is over?
5. Treat It Like a Schedule
Only go on social media on specific days and times. For example, if you’re taking a dump—if your legs go numb, you’ve been on the toilet for too long—or when you’re commuting (assuming you’re NOT the driver). Or only go on during weekdays. On weekends, I’m not on it often, and I especially don’t go on it when I’m on vacation.
Social media is a bit like that box of chocolates—enticing, a bit risky, but also filled with some delightful surprises. The key? Enjoy it in moderation, just like everything else in life!
Hey Kathy, this really hits home for me! I feel like the negative stigma of social media is what hindered me from not writing online sooner. Over the years, I found a nice balance. I look at social media like how I view real life. Make genuine and meaningful connections with people and don't worry about numbers or stats, because it won't give you the joy of having a good conversation with someone :)