There is an emerging trend to either go on a social media detox, or completely delete personal accounts. Although social media accounts are not a ‘must-have’ for everyone, when people opt out, especially after having them for a while, you may naturally wonder why. In informal conversations online, this is considered an indication of a dwindled mental wellness, which prompts a checking in among friends just to see if everyone is okay.
In the recent past, there have also been a concerns over the social media versus reality portrayals, whereby people tend to post only what they think is considered desirable and would gather some form of applause. This has led to faking expensive lifestyles which often involves going to great lengths to attain money and wealth.
Social media is enmeshed into society today in ways that are linked to identity. Common phrases like, ‘if you didn’t post it, it didn’t happen’ create an expectation that people should constantly post to prove a point, and dictate how they should show up as well. In a podcast on RTE Radio, Jackie Fox alongside industry professionals discusses at length the parameters of social media use today. If we look at it deeply, social media is a very busy space and people are constantly sharing details of their lives-positive ones at that. There is nothing wrong with positive posts, but the constant curation of aesthetics, and fitness, and goals, and wealth, seem to allude to a perfect world-which is very far from the truth.
Away from the wealth and lavish lifestyles, now even the more ‘subtle’ areas of life such as how you spend your weekends come with some form of pressure. This raises the question; ‘Is there space for vulnerability especially in times of struggle online?’ and ‘Do we need to step away from social media to process negative occurrences or emotions?’
The truth is, there are strides in the mindful use of social media today but we need to do more. Mindful use ensures that people get to share connections and have impactful conversations online in ways that are authentic of the human experience. Studies on the problematic use of social media highlight aspects like overuse, neglecting other responsibilities and withdrawal-like symptoms when not using social media. The intentional use of the personalised algorithm feature for instance, can largely help social media users to essentially prioritise more of what is good for them. This, combined with regularly taking time off these platforms not only after hitting a slump, but also for more grounded experiences.
Lastly, it goes without saying that social media should be consumed with a grain of salt. Social media posts are often intentionally planned out content. Things are not always as they seem. If caution is exercised, then there is no pressure to also have similar ‘perfect’ lives. Social media is meant to be complementary to our personal lives, it is key that we separate it from who we identify as. Mindless scrolling is not only time-consuming but also harmful to our thoughts and emotions and therefore balance and intention is very essential.
