Overcoming The Negative Effects Of Social Media

Actor Aamir Khan quit social media about two years ago. He had then said that he hardly posted any updates. The news coincided with his announcement to take a break from work. For a generation whose definition of a quick break is social media, can we even think of following suit?

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Life without social media seems unthinkable for many of us. It has become a means to stay connected with friends, learn new things and express ourselves.

Yet there are disadvantages of social media. The first step to overcoming them is to be aware of their existence.

1. Distraction: Social media has reduced our attention span over the years. That is understandable when hundreds of advertisers, brands and people fight for your attention for as little as three seconds. It makes you mindlessly scroll through social media when your real intention was just to take a five-minute break.

2. Loneliness: Picture this — close friends meet for quality time together and all of them are on their phones. Social media is depleting the quality of our friendships. Social media has made us lonelier than ever. No wonder a 2018 study found that limiting social media use to ten minutes reduces loneliness and depression.

3. A Decline in Mental Health: People with social media addiction are likely to have depression, social phobia, ADHD or anxiety. Uncontrolled negativity on social media and the feeling that others’ lives are better — FOMO (the Fear Of Missing Out), contribute to a decline in users’ mental health.