It is no doubt that most people today believe that social media has some negative effects on their mental health.
This has caused them to be afraid of the platforms, and they either take social media detox every now and then or stay away from it entirely.
The documentary ‘Social Dilemma’ sums this up perfectly. It has done an amazing job in delivering the message to acknowledge people to become more aware of the effects that these online platforms are causing to their users.
However, the documentary rarely presented counter-arguments. Other than the mention that Facebook ‘Likes’ was built to bring more positivity to the world, which ended up being a dopamine button for people and a self-worth measurement for some.
It is easier to just blame everything else, so we don’t have to make any changes ourselves.
Social media is just a ‘tool’. If we know how to use it then, it can also bring positive things into our lives.
Here are 3 ways you can use social media in a better way.
1. Become aware of your usage and use it in moderation
Just like food, if you eat too much then that’s not healthy.
And you wouldn’t blame the food for being too delicious, would you? We know whose fault it is if you eat until you get uncomfortable.
People who spend too much time on social media are likely to be those who don’t have clear goals or purposes in life, so they would rather spend their time checking out other people’s lives. They also scroll through newsfeed looking for something that will entertain them or excite them. If only they knew that doing something to chase their goals would be more rewarding.
Action item: Set a time limit on how long you can spend on social media each day. Start small and build it up while being consistent. Think about what you would rather be spending time on instead of scrolling.
2. Use it to educate and inspire yourself
Who you surround yourself with has an impact on your thoughts and how you see the world.
If you surround yourself with pretenders or drama queens online, then your world will be like theirs.
If you surround yourself with those who inspire you and educate you, then you will become a better version of yourself.
Surround yourself with those who have a higher standard in life so you will have to lift your standard too.
Action item: Go through your social media feed and unfriend/unfollow those who do not serve you in a positive way. Go and follow those who inspire you to be better.
3. Use it to educate, inspire and connect to others
You no longer have to be a professional speaker to be able to express your idea to the world.
You can easily write it down or record it and put it up online.
Create content that amplifies your values and purposes in life. Your life will become meaningful. This is your opportunity to make your mark in the world.
What’s more, use social media to find like-minded people, and see how you can help each other to get closer to your goals.
Without social media, I wouldn’t have found my mentors who ended up changing my life.
Facebook also helped me fundraise $1,349 for the Bushfire appeal and Stomach Cancer Australia.
Without LinkedIn, I wouldn’t have found new connections, opportunities and jobs.
Social media is a game-changer and you will be losing a lot if you are not using it.
Action item: Find out what your values are and express them on social media, so you can to attract like-minded people, who can potentially end up changing your life.
Stop the blaming
We don’t blame alcohol, chocolate or other addictive substances when people are addicted to it. If they know that they have less self-control, then they should manage it instead of blaming things.
Social comparison is normal in human nature, even without social media. To fix the problem, we need to address the root of the problem, which is the mindset, not social media. Young people find themselves comparing with others anyway without social media.
Privacy data is an issue for everything that exists online, not just social media. It is a price you have to pay to be online because you are not paying anything to be on it, and no one is making you.
Social bullying is caused by bullying not social media. If someone writes something mean to you on your locker, you wouldn’t blame the locker for being there, would you?
Having low self-esteem is caused by the mindset not social media. To fix the problem, we need to educate people about that instead of blaming social media.
Play the game right
Social media has proven to now be a normal part of everyday’s life, with 49% of the World’s population are now on social media.
People who know how to use social media has gone ahead and change millions of lives and make millions of dollars.
In the third quarter of 2020, Facebook’s total advertising revenue amounted to 21.22 billion U.S. dollars.
Social media is created to connect people together, so they can create opportunities to change the world.
We need to stop accusing it and start learning how to make the most of it.
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Neil Krikul
Neil is currently a Digital Marketer in Hobart, Tasmania. His mission is to become the best version of himself to inspire and provide values to those around him.