Currently, social media & mental health, especially amongst the younger generation, is top of mind. Social media has its pros and cons, but sometimes we’re unaware of the toll that social media takes on our mental health awareness. There is plenty of good that comes from social media, but we’ve seen the toll it takes not only on kids but on ourselves over the previous few years.

The images of perfection play with people’s minds. Not only theirs but also yours. You’re setting this expectation of your life on social media that is either not all relevant to your actual life, or partially. We’ve all heard the term fake it until you make it, but social media takes it too far sometimes. And the toll that has on our mental health is extreme.

Contrary To Popular Belief …

Social media doesn’t need to be this fantasy world you wish you lived in. You don’t need to be perfect to show up on social media. However, you do need to be authentic regardless of whether you’re a brand or a person. Social media & mental health go hand in hand – we’re connected 24/7.

This doesn’t mean you have to show an argument or you going through a breakdown. Social media is a great way for businesses and influencers to build communities, and for people to stay in touch with friends & family.

Let’s use my social media as an example. On my social channels, I have a mix of hobbies and business. As someone who manages social media, I prefer to have all my content on one channel because that’s what works for me. Others prefer to divide them up. As a freelancer that works in social marketing, showing various ways that social can be used is my ultimate goal. I am active the most on Twitter and Instagram.

I am an avid runner so I post all running content in addition to blog content, business tips/advice and lifestyle content. I post the highs and the lows, especially with regards to running. And last summer, I was pretty honest about the flood we went through. Life isn’t perfect, and one thing that I always want to get across, aside from authenticity, is that life isn’t perfect and we don’t need to portray otherwise.

We’re all flawed and we all struggle. That’s a known fact.

The positives of social media & mental health

• Professional networking
• Allows you to keep in touch with people
• A tool for introverts to be social
• Eases loneliness
• You can promote social change
• Showcase your talents / be an expert
• Connect with experts to continue learning & improving
• Spread positivity
• Inspire others

Connecting & inspiring

Social media doesn’t have to be as negative as it is getting. There are so many benefits to our mental health, especially when separated from friends and family. Social media can be a great tool to inspire others, be inspired, spread positivity, learn & educate and stay in touch with people.

You can spend time online learning more from experts about the industry you’re in or studying for. You can make important professional connections to help you grow your career and also become a thought leader within your industry. There’s always room for more.

Social media & mental health go hand-in-hand both personally and professionally. The toll social can take on our mental health is higher than it’s ever been before, but of course, these positives definitely seem worth it, right?

The negatives of social media & mental health

• Can cause addiction
• Triggers insecurities
• Fear of missing out (FOMO)
• Can increase depression / have psychological effects
• Privacy concerns
  • Not posting your specific locations can help keep you and your loved ones safe from the creeps online. They exist and it’s more common than you think.
• Spread misinformation
  • This is front and centre stage these last couple of years. It’s terrifying to see that anything and everything can be posted without any thought. Be conscious of what you’re consuming and spreading online.
• Kills productivity
  • We only have so many hours in a day to get things done and we can spend a lot of time wasted scrolling through social media. Set yourself some guidelines and adhere to them.
• You can never completely erase your online presence
  • People take screenshots, and honestly, completely scrubbing is near impossible. It is important however to know that what you post on social can be found so be careful.

These cons definitely affect each and every one of us more than we tend to admit. When you’re scrolling social media, it can seem like everyone has their life together and that you need to be just as great as these people to be successful in life – personally or professionally.

Social media addiction  & psychological effects

Social media is around us 24/7 and it’s very quickly becoming a problem. If you find yourself posting absolutely every single thing on social media, it’s a sign you should take a break for your own mental health. Removing yourself from social media, even just for a day, can help you get clarity on why you’re using social and how it’s affecting you and/or your family.

The flip side to social media addiction is that people post things that don’t actually reflect real life. Whether you’re posting things that you want to believe, or are trying to keep up appearances, it’s time for a long break. Especially since your kids and other family members can be affected by your “truths” either presently or in the future.

A great way to avoid this moving forward in your present life is to not post everything on social. Keep your intimate moments private for both professional and personal reasons. Remember that you’re prospective employers, and current ones for that matter will search you. You can really put your family relationships and friendships on the line when you’re blurring the lines between reality and your belief. They can also be very much affected psychologically by your online presence.

You’ll see this with a lot of influencers as they try to keep their private lives and relationships out of the spotlight. Assess your social media presence and see where you can make changes to benefit your life positively.

Misinformation

I am not going to say too much on this, as it is a hot topic and is dividing people. However, it is important to realize that anyone can post anything on social media. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and to make their own choices. What’s not okay is spreading information that isn’t true. When reading any posts, you need to carefully consider the source and read between the lines and come to your own conclusions.

Social media & mental health tolls are rapidly increasing to the misinformation battles online. This is a dangerous place to be and we all need to be better.

Social Media & Mental Health Moving Forward

We all need to be better when it comes to social media & mental health for not only ourselves but for those around us. For everyone online that we don’t know personally. Everything we do can affect other people and we need to be more conscious of that.

Your kids, family members, friends can all see when you’re in a dark place on social media. Children see everything and taking care of their mental health in this immediate digital age should be priority number one for all of us. I don’t have children, but I have nieces and nephews and I want to set the example that social isn’t the most important piece of your life. It’s difficult at times because of the field I work in, but it’s a top priority for me. I don’t want what I post on social to affect them negatively. I want to inspire them to be better.

We have to be the example. Let’s show the younger generation that our lives and mental health don’t revolve around social media. It’s a tool, not a necessity.