According to a global study, 67.8 million people in Russia have social media accounts. We are constantly scrolling through the Instagram feed, distracted by notifications on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. They have many advantages; you are always in touch; you can communicate with loved ones who are hundreds of kilometers away. However, experts believe that hanging on social media can negatively affect our mental health in some cases.
1. You are subject to loss of profit syndrome
Lost profits syndrome is a psychological phenomenon characterized by the dread of missing out on something significant and interesting. Social media can make it stronger.
Fear of not learning about the latest trends or not being social enough can affect a person's sense of their own worth.
Lauren Ramos, Physician, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Founder, She is Strong and Mindful Psychological Center
Constantly updating a page in the hope of keeping up with life can be a sign of lost profits syndrome. Try different meditation techniques to get rid of your obsession.
Read also: How to Use Social Media to Find a Job
2. You watch out for accounts that negatively affect your self-esteem
It's a bad habit to follow people who make us feel insecure, experts say.
For example, the accounts of travelers staying in luxury hotels make you want to go there too. And the bodies of bodybuilders are envy.
Alanna Harvey, CMO and co-founder of Flipd, a digital service that helps you control your time in the digital world
It is better to subscribe to specific people but useful pages, such as nutritional advice or travel directions.
3. You compare yourself to others all the time.
When you follow someone's life on social media, it's hard not to be tempted to compare it to yours. But this is an unhealthy habit.
The subconscious tendency to compare ourselves to others leads to dissatisfaction with our daily and social life or work. This can lead to low self-esteem, sadness and stress.
Lauren Ramos
It's important to remember that many people spend a lot of time editing posts and choosing the best angles. People post the most beautiful shots on the Web, reduce their nose, or even out their skin tone - in general, they imitate a beautiful life. If you find yourself comparing yourself to others more often, stop and close the page to thank life for what you have.
4. You swear on social networks
For example, many probably entered into a verbal skirmish, defended their opinions in the comments to the post under discussion. It's enjoyable, but you have to wage your internet battles wisely to maintain your mental health.
Even if you are not arguing with someone online, any negative contact with the person or aggressive comment on an annoying topic is usually not worth it.
Alanna Harvey
If it helps you express your emotions, write a message, but don't send it. You will give vent to feelings but avoid negative consequences. And you don't have to be even more upset when someone writes back to you.
5. You get upset about bad news.
In America, headline stress disorder is common, which can be translated as "headline stress disorder." It denotes the increased anxiety that people experience after reading the news.
68% of Americans follow news through social networks. In Russia, 56% of young people (from 18 to 24 years old) also read the news on social media. The total percentage of people who follow current events in social networks in Russia is 39%.
To not let unnecessary stress into life, turn off notifications, and do not read the news 24/7.
6. You are subscribed to too many accounts
If, because of this, you spend hours leafing through the news feed, it's time to click on the "Unsubscribe" button.
Watching hundreds of pages, you get an endless stream of content. But most of it is irrelevant to your life and not important at all. Is it imperative to keep an eye on the person you once saw at a party? Most likely no. Observing how others live should not be a priority.
Alanna Harvey
Also read: Ways How to Be Social at Work
7. You are obsessed with likes
How many times after you publish a photo or post do you check who rated it? If you're obsessed with the number of likes, comments, or reposts on your posts, that's not normal. Indifference from other users can affect your mood and self-esteem. And constant page checks take away your attention and do not allow you to enjoy the moment here and now.
Social media itself is not a mental health hazard. But our behavior in them and our feelings when watching the news feed can play a cruel joke. Watch your habits and benefit, not harm, from humanity's ingenious invention - the Internet.
Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff
Sources: Life hacker
