Did you know that Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people’s mental health? According to a UK report conducted by the Royal Society of Public Health, it came out on top against all other social media platforms surveyed for creating personal issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying and body dysmorphia.
How many of us are guilty of laying on our beds and staring at our phones for hours, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, tapping through Snapchat stories and refreshing our Twitter feeds only to wonder where the time has gone? It’s happened to the best of us…
Recent research suggests that heavy users of social media are more likely to report poor mental health, including psychological distress. Studies have also found that females spend far more time on social media platforms than males do and are much more likely to display signs of depression linked to their interactions with popular apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp and FaceBook.
These findings are alarming, with many reports asking for a call to action. Some reports are demanding that certain social media platforms highlight when photos of people have been digitally manipulated. This is key in keeping things transparent, as simply knowing if a picture has been edited could offer some much need emotional relief to certain users.
Of course, we’re not suggesting you boycott social media altogether. However, here are some helpful tips that could aid your online enjoyment even more. You’ve probably heard many of these suggestions before, but making a mental note to act on at least one of these tips could drastically improve your mood and boost energy levels while helping you to foster more positive thoughts.
How to start a digital detox
Try unfollowing the pages that make you feel bad about yourself.
No one intentionally follows brands or accounts that make them feel bad, but beware of pages that make you feel like you’re lacking something or dampen your self worth.
Try replacing some of the feeds you follow for more inspiring options.
If your phone album is full of ‘body goal’ screenshots, try swapping them for inspirational imagery from gym or exercise pages. Focus on the process of achieving your goals rather than posts that make you feel down because you haven’t quite got there yet.
Monitor your screen time habits.
Apple’s Screen Time feature makes it a lot easier to see how you’re spending your time on your iPhone and iPad. It lets you see which apps you’re using the most and how often you pick up your phone, which can be a bit of an eye-opener.
Remember there is no escaping social media.
Everywhere we look there’s either a new app or app upgrade, so for now the responsibility lies within ourselves to get ahead of this issue before it gets ahead of us. Remember, social media should be fun and self-care won’t work unless you do.
We always love spreading positive vibes on our social media. If you feel like following us, head to our Instagram, Twitter or Facebook pages.
