Social Media. It’s something that has become an integral part of the daily lives of millions of people in our society. It’s a
“place” where we connect and congregate with our friends and stay up-to-date on breaking news. It’s a tool that enables us to market, and shop and laugh and many other amazing things. But it’s also become a place where many of us go and feel left out, self-conscious, discontented or possibly even out-of-control. While the good of what social media has provided for us can’t be undermined, the challenges are also becoming just as undeniable.
In the age of filters and influencers and everyone aiming to be “living their best life,” logging onto any app can quickly become a scroll through picture after picture of people who seem prettier, skinnier, richer and (probably most notably) happier than us. The comparison game is almost inevitable when it seems everyone’s life is better than ours. But I believe the operative word in those sentences is seems,because the tricky thing about social media is that things can appear very differently than they are in reality. And while that may be mostly harmless on the surface, it can be detrimental when physical and mental health are compromised as a result of either portraying a life that isn’t real, or when comparison and discontentment trigger depression or other negative thoughts and feelings.
So while the reality of what’s portrayed on platforms like Instagram may be questionable at times, the effects it can have are very real. When even the act of logging-on and scrolling can become an obsession, we have to be able to examine the relationship we have with social media and assess if it’s playing a healthy role in our lives. And if you find yourself feeling less-than, anxious, depressed or even unable to function without it, it may not be. Take a look at your habits and your feelings around social media, talk about it with someone if you need to, and if it’s an area you need some extra help in, a mental health professional will be able to help you sort through your concerns and build a healthier relationship with no only social media, but yourself!
Whitney Turner, MFT