Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, social media is part of our everyday lives. We are well aware of the pros and cons of having a social media presence and although there is always danger, it comes down to responsibility.
Believe it or not you are in control of what and who you see online.
Recently, Facebook whistleblower Francis Hougen revealed her identity on 60 minutes. While discussing and exposing Facebook she also claimed that Instagram, also owned by Facebook, is responsible for damage to teenagers’ mental health. This statement, in my opinion, is very misleading.
It is true that social media can contribute to distress or mental health issues, however this is where self-awareness, common sense and responsibility come in.
It doesn’t matter what social media platform you were on – you are in control. You have power over who and what you follow and who follows you.
If you aren’t comfortable with what you are seeing from any certain account on social media, you have the power to block or unfollow them.
After a certain amount of time social media platforms tailor your “discovery, “or “popular” pages to your preferences.
You must remember that your “discovery” and “popular” pages are your “window to the world.”
Therefore, it is essential to be picky about who you follow and the content you interact with as it will shape your experience.
Of course, there will be some national or global trends that will grace your page but if you don’t interact, its presence will be gone as fast as it appeared.
Mental health is extremely important and should be a priority in one’s life, therefore one should have the self-awareness to know whether being on social media is a good idea for them or not. You don’t have to have a big social media presence if you don’t want to.
You don’t have to be on social media at all. It is entirely up to you what platforms you choose to use. If you currently feel stressed by the content on your social media, then maybe it’s time for a digital deep clean.
Bottom line, if you want to emerge yourself or have a presence on social media you must be responsible and understand that it is as enjoyable or as stressful as you decide to make it.