Why You Should Take Frequent Social Media Breaks
Recently, I had a friend share his concerns with social media and anxiety. He noticed an increase in feeling anxious when scrolling through social media. We both are adamant about following inspirational and uplifting pages, so I know he wasn’t looking at negative news constantly which could be a stressor. I was instantly intrigued because this person has a successful life, I felt his issue was not anxiety stemming from comparison but something deeper. As I researched the correlation between social media and anxiety, I learned quite a few alarming facts.
A 2016 study Trusted Source using survey data from 1,787 U.S. adults between the ages of 19 and 32 found a link between social media use and increased depression. A 2017 study used data from same survey to explore the impact of using multiple social media platforms. The results of this study suggest people using between 7 to 11 social media platforms are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than people using between 0 and 2 platforms. – Healthline
Social media connects us to each other in amazing ways, but it can never replace in-person human interaction. In-person interactions can be calming, encouraging, and supplemental to our mental health. We are becoming more anxious and depressed as a society overusing social media. We assume it is connecting us more, but it is also overwhelming many users. Everyone is inundated with nonstop news stories, millions of opinions, the pressure to post or comment, and so much more that overstimulates our brains.
According to Medcity news, constantly swiping and tapping is changing the brain. There have been studies that detail the repetitive finger movements touching the smart phone has resulted in a change in the brains sensory-processing area. Pew research has disclosed that more than 69% of adults and 81% of teens use social media daily, with more than 90% of teens using it for more than 4 hours a day. Our brains are exposed to high volumes of stimulation and our neurons are firing all day long, which creates changes in the neurological architecture of our brain.
In the Netflix movie “Social Dilemma”, we learned many things about the way social media is shaping our world but the connection to addiction was most alarming. Dopamine a neurotransmitter and hormone plays a role in mental health and neurological diseases. It is released after a good meal, sex, a great run, after swiping on social media or gaining likes on a post. The addiction center describes that social media is addictive both physically and psychologically. According to a new study by Harvard University, self-disclosure on social networking sites lights up the same part of the brain that also ignites when taking an addictive substance.
We will not know for many years all the effects social media has on us psychologically and socially but what we can be sure of is that we should all be taking more social media breaks. We are watching stories, reels, and post that are often manipulated by algorithms. These algorithms have the capacity to steer our mood or perception of reality in a certain direction. It is important to remain cognizant that you may think you control what you intake but you may not have complete autonomy. The best way to combat this is to scroll less, read more, and have many moments of being unplugged from our electronics that tempt us to stay on social media.
I challenge you to decide how many hours you want to be on social media per day. Take frequent breaks and begin to enjoy more moments without posting and sharing. If your business is online use automated systems to post so you don’t have to interact all day. Fight the urge to keep up with every post or comment on every current topic. Include larger breaks from social media in your self-care because it can improve your mental health.
-Gabrielle B., M.Div.
