The social media They are an essential part of many people’s daily lives, whether you use them to make connections at work or keep up with family and friends. And while it may seem like a universal way for most of us to communicate and entertain ourselves, it’s easy to get sucked into spending hours scrolling, checking out an old relationship, or compulsively buying things. It’s that addictive.
Signs that your use of social networks is becoming unhealthy
If you’re concerned about your own use of social media, read on for five signs that your Use of the social network it’s getting unhealthy.
Your self esteem is plummeting
The social media they often feature highly filtered and edited images of friends and strangers alike. That flawless, wrinkle-free skin you see on your ex-college roommate may be more smoke and mirrors than reality, but it can be hard not to compare it to your own.
People only show the highlights of their social media lifebut watching someone’s glamorous European vacation or the perfectly assembled tablescape they set up for the holidays can still make you feel less.
There’s nothing wrong with seeing our friends, celebrities, and artists posting selfies to their social media accounts, but you shouldn’t feel inferior to them as a result. It can be detrimental to your well-being if what you see on social media provokes you or makes you react.
It is important to remind yourself that what you see on social media is not real life and take a breather when you start to feel like your self-esteem is compromised.
You have been having trouble sleeping
It’s normal for many of us to scroll through our Instagram or Facebook feed before bed, but it can become a problem if it negatively affects your sleep schedule.
If you have trouble sleeping due to social media, that is a symptom of harmful use. These symptoms, such as difficulty putting it down before bed or waking up in the middle of the night to examine it, indicate that you have formed an unhealthy pattern.
The National Sleep Association suggests putting away your phone at least 30 minutes before bed to ensure a better night’s sleep. Electronic devices emit bright blue light that your brain perceives as sunlight, tricking you into delaying sleep and keeping you awake longer than you’d like.
Opting for a book before bed instead of a screen will benefit both your physical and mental health.
Can’t seem to stop scrolling
One of the main signs that your Use of the social network is getting unhealthy is when you can’t stop “scrolling” (of scrolling -in English) no matter how hard you try to distract yourself.
Although texting is something we use our phones for, primarily, social media is a very close second. Most of us have two to three social media accounts which we regularly review. If you always keep your head down and check your accounts, even for a second, your use of social media is starting to get unhealthy.
You use social media more than you see real people
It may be time to monitor your social media usage if you’re on your phone or laptop more than you have actual human interaction. As the height of the pandemic has passed, it is more important than ever to connect and share your human experiences with others.
You may be missing out on a crucial component of healthy socializing if you’re not catching up with your friends in person as often as you used to and are instead just perusing their online posts.
Maybe it’s time to check in with yourself to make sure your social media use isn’t bordering on unhealthy if you replace face-to-face contact.
It’s one thing to be an introvert, but if you’re shunning human connection in favor of your electronic devices, it may be time to take a step back and evaluate your relationship with social media.
Your relationships are suffering
If your relationships with your partner, friends or family are suffering, it is a big warning sign that you have been more attached to social networks than to your own reality.
Relationships can suffer the damaging consequences of social media. Your closest connections may be suffering if loved ones accuse you of spending more time on social media than with them.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if your friend posted a picture of her fabulous new outfit or if a stranger you’re following is on an extravagant vacation. Social media will never be as authentic or important as your own life.