Can you have a positive relationship with social media?

I have written about social media on this blog before. A reflection on how we use it, when we use it and why we use it. Like many of you reading, I remember a time when it didn’t exist, yet I’ve incorporated it into my life. Sometimes for the better, sometimes it is a challenge. I’m now a parent to children who are “digital natives”; they have never known a time when the world wasn’t accessible instantly, and I have a career where social media is an essential part of the day-to-day of my business. With all this in mind, I want to talk about how we can create a more positive relationship with social media.

 

The volume of social media channels we can access change and grow every year. Some don’t stand the test of time – Myspace and Google+ anyone? – and others that are risking a monopoly (I’m looking at you, Meta!)  There is no doubt the social isolation enforced through the pandemic has led many of us to use social media in new and interesting ways. I am one of the Gen Xers that joined TikTok at the beginning of lockdown in the UK, and two years later, find myself scrolling through it daily! I get some of my news from Twitter, arrange my social life through WhatsApp, promote my business on LinkedIn, and get updates from my friends on Facebook.

 

With the average person spending two hours and 27 minutes a day on social media, we have to be aware of the very human potential of falling into a filter bubble; to end up surrounded virtually by people who think the same and firmly reject and delegitimize any opposition. I am sure you can see how this can be problematic. Also, we have the risk of harmful comparisons that impact how we feel about ourselves and the world.  All of this feeds into the estimated equivalent of AT LEAST TWENTY-THREE WORDS PER SECOND of information I am receiving each day. No wonder I often feel tired and wired!

 

However, I am here today to propose that if we can be more conscious of how we interact with social media, it can be part of a positive experience Let’s imagine for a moment social media was a real place. It could be a library, a book shop, a museum, an art gallery, a music venue, exercise class or even your favourite supermarket. You would be entering that place with an intention; to spend time, or money (or both) and would want to walk out having something tangible or an experience. You are there for a reason.

Now let’s think of your time on social media in the same way. What do you want from it?

 

Is it to:

 

• Teach?
• Entertain?
• Challenge?
• Inform?
• Find a community?
• Inspire?
• Support?
• Relax?

 

 

Open your phone and have a look at which “boxes” they tick! From the podcast app to your preloved shopping platform, what purpose do they have in your life? By looking at the use of social media as having a purpose, which brings real value into your life, you can start to become more mindful and structured when you use it.

 

Don’t forget, these feeds are designed to grab and keep our attention; they are habit-forming! As we know from the work of James Clear in Atomic Habits, habits can be beneficial if they are used with intention and clarity, and lead to positive change. So, why don’t you do a quick social media audit and work out the purpose of everything you access. When used constructively, as part of a routine (not as a distraction) and responding to purposeful content that others share, you can see how social media can be a healthy addition to your life. And it’s not just me that says so, a recent Harvard study found routine social media use is positively associated with social wellbeing, positive mental health and self-rated health. But what made it positive was the intention; how you use social media can make the difference between a positive and negative impact.

 

So, I encourage you to consider all the different platforms that you are accessing; what do they bring you? If you can’t find a purpose for them, then maybe consider removing them from your life. It can be as simple as the deletion of an app or an unfollow, but it could make all the difference for your confidence and balance!

 

What do you think? Is social media a problem or a positive? Come over (unironically) to Creating Careers to Enjoy on Facebook and let me know what you think!