Moderating Social Media Usage
Social media has become a part of virtually everyone's daily life. However, during times of uncertainty—such as elections, natural disasters, or wars—social media usage tends to increase. It has become a platform for impacted individuals to share their stories, for users to stay up to date with current events and politics, and for people to become informed citizens. On the one hand, this has many positives, but on the other, it can easily lead to doomscrolling and the feeling of being unable to put down the phone and walk away. That’s why today we’re discussing ways to limit your social media intake, especially during times of instability.
1. Set Clear Intentions
Why are you using social media? Be clear about your goals. Are you using it to connect with friends, stay informed, or for entertainment? When you understand your intention, you can avoid mindless scrolling or overuse
.Use social media with purpose: If you're using it for professional networking (e.g., LinkedIn) or to engage with a particular interest (e.g., Instagram for photography), be intentional about those goals.
2. Create Usage Limits
Time limits: Set daily or weekly usage goals for social media. Apps like Screen Time (iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) allow you to set limits for specific apps.
Timers: Use alarms or timers on your phone to remind you when your social media session is over.
3. Turn Off Notifications
Social media notifications can constantly pull you back into apps. Turn off non-essential notifications so you're not distracted by every new like, comment, or message.
4. Designate No-Social Media Zones
Incorporate social media-free areas: No phones at meals, during family time, or in the bedroom. This helps maintain balance and encourages offline relationships.
Create social media-free periods: Set boundaries around when and where social media is used, such as not checking it first thing in the morning or right before bed.
5. Be Mindful of Your Consumption
Unfollow or mute: If certain accounts or topics trigger stress, anxiety, or envy, unfollow or mute them. Curate your feeds to include only content that positively impacts your mental health.
Engage consciously: When scrolling, actively ask yourself: "How is this content making me feel?" and "Is this helping me achieve my goals?"
Quality over quantity: Replace time spent mindlessly scrolling with more intentional and enriching activities that fulfill you.
Incorporating one or a few of these steps can help you become more conscious of your social media use. However, if you’re feeling like you can’t put the phone down and social media is beginning to affect your mental and emotional health, it may be time to reach out.
Book your free consultation now at mindplexcity.com/consultation.