Social Media and Our Mental Health

Whether you like it or not, social media appears not to be going anywhere anytime soon. But what sort of impact is it having upon our mental health?

For as much good as social media can do, there are also pitfalls to be aware of. If it is making you feel angry, jealous, or disconnected from others, you likely need to take a step back. Taking a digital detox has been beneficial for many people. I often read, “Goodnight IPad” to our three year old and it has proven good training for all of us in the family. Many feel it is important to take the time to unplug, but few actually do.

Talking to Your Teen:

According to the Facebook Privacy page, one ought to be 13 years old before setting up an account with them. The unique stage of life teens are in make them susceptible to online hazards that parents need to discuss with their children. “Cyber Bullying” has become more and more common, for example. Cyber bullying is basically when others use media to give false, embarrassing, or hostile information to or about another person. Helping our children understand the consequences of social media use is important. It is also crucial children understand the enticement of soliciting likes with questionable behaviors and have a plan in place to use self-control and discernment. This plan often may include the 24-hour rule. That is, do not “weigh in” for 24 hours until you have had proper time and space to think about a topic.

Choosing When to Spend Time on Social Media

Late night screen time can make falling asleep more difficult. Families may consider adopting “hours of operation” that do not include immediately before bedtime. Besides sleep, one’s emotional health may also be impacted unexpectedly while using social media. For example, you may be on LinkedIn updating your profile when you see that your peer has gotten the promotion you applied for. Or you go onto Facebook and you see that a friend has passed away unexpectedly or another friend is dating your ex. Making sure that you have time to deal with unexpected emotions that can arise as a result of using social media would be a good thing to work into your schedule.

Late night screen time can make falling asleep more difficult. Families may consider adopting “hours of operation” that do not include immediately before bedtime. Besides sleep, one’s emotional health may also be impacted unexpectedly while using social media. For example, you may be on LinkedIn updating your profile when you see that your peer has gotten the promotion you applied for. Or you go onto Facebook and you see that a friend has passed away unexpectedly or another friend is dating your ex. Making sure that you have time to deal with unexpected emotions that can arise as a result of using social media would be a good thing to work into your schedule.

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If you have any questions or comments about this article you can contact the author, Jodi Gregory at Jgregory@fsaelgin.org