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With Anything In Life, Nothing Good Comes From Extreme Use
November 13, 2018
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Earlier this year, we looked at the correlation between heavy social media use and the state of our welfare.
It began with researcher Rebecca Darmoc, MS, revealing findings printed in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, linking the toll of heavy social media use to declining mental health.
And beyond this scrolling social media addiction - there's the awful people part, too.
We shared research conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, finding a strong tie with exposure to hateful people - hate filled words on social media - and depression.
Now, new actual experimental data directed by University of Pennsylvania connects heavy social use to decreased well-being. Psychologist Melissa G. Hunt published her findings in the December Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.
Participants completed a survey to determine mood and well-being at the study's start.
Bottom Line:
Using less social media leads to significant decreases in both depression and loneliness.
Here's why:
"There's an enormous amount of social comparison that happens. When you look at other people's lives, particularly on Instagram, it's easy to conclude that everyone else's life is cooler or better than yours."
What To Do:
Reduce Opportunities For Social Comparison
Facebook began encouraging earlier this year to make time spent on social more meaningful.
This means reduce time spent posting daily selfies and random thoughts (because the more we post - the easier we get sucked into the vortex), and work on creating a more memorable presence for your brand, and for your personal self.
Quality, not quantity
Protect Exposure
Tweak your News Feeds to only reflect people and brands who make you feel better.
Turn Off Superficial Notifications
None of us need to know someone "liked" our tweet in real time. Turn off all sound and badge notices that do not bring constructive meaning to our days.
Decide Where You Can Create Impact
As 'fun' as it can be posting, snapping, tweeting and making Stories - identify what platform(s) you have the best experience on. Equally, what platform(s) are you having a bad experience with? Do some soul inventory on where you should really be.
You will find more meaningful use of social greatly benefits our brands (plus our overall health and relationships).
Consider adding the above to your company's social media policy, as well as your own personal policy; work healthier, not harder.
Social is an excellent outlet; incredible moments and connections have been created because of it.
But with anything in life, nothing good comes from extreme use.
Reach out to me anytime on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.
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