What once started out as a platform to connect with friends, probably with Orkut has now become an obsession for people. Putting up a post to tell the world what they are up to, checking every hour on the number of people who liked and commented and the worst is complaining to a friend on why he/she didn’t react on the post. Gosh this is going crazy by the day!
In fact I feel I am also going mad looking at Instagram multiple times a day, and the funny part is, I’m not even putting up a post myself; it’s just to see what’s happening around me…basically gossip and unwanted information that I am feeding on to.
Social media has indeed become an integral part of our lives and it’s actually not bad till its helping you connect with friends, family, entertaining you, helping you in your work/business, giving you news updates etc., but my friend, there is a thin line between using it and getting obsessed with it.
There is psychology behind this obsession which is complex and involves various factors – we are always looking at third party validation in everything we do, we don’t want to be the odd one out from our “circle” and always have the FOMO (fear of missing out) feeling, and of course there is a constant comparison and social pressure to be a certain way, which by the way leads to depression and this is not restricted to the millennials or Gen Z. All this affects our behaviour, our emotions, and most importantly our mental health.
You end up scrolling for hours and are immersed in this virtual world – first thing in the morning or last thing in the night and then we claim that work keeps us so busy that “we don’t have any time left” to do other things like focusing on fitness, reading a book, listening to music, writing a journal etc.
This has become an addiction and its algorithms create such a personalized feed that takes you down the rabbit hole of different content that you cannot resist.
I’m not denying the fact that social media is important and is helpful too but draw the line! When you see the life of someone on a social media platform with happy family pictures, exotic travels, grand parties etc., don’t get carried away or feel depressed. It is just an illusion created for the external world.
It’s time to get a grip on yourself – get out of this virtual world and look around. Use social media to your advantage, don’t be a slave to it. Don’t get pressurized. Don’t depend on external validation
Listen to the birds chirping, take a walk in the park, feel the breeze, hear the waves on a beach, meet real friends, do something special for someone, spend time with your parents and siblings. The time once gone, people once gone never come back so enjoy every moment and make the most of it.
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