In the age of technology and easy accessibility to the online world, it’s hardly surprising we’re becoming addicted to being online. The ‘Fear Of Missing Out’ (FOMO) and the addiction to how many Instagram likes you have, it is no wonder that Social Media is simply taking over our lives and our mental health…

There are various different social media platforms that millions are using, including Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. Personally, I use social media a lot and I am continuously scrolling for hours down the different and addictive apps to make sure I haven’t missed anything on that day’s content. It is imperative that I have made sure I have kept up to date with what is going on in the world. You don’t tend to think about what this can do your mental state whilst you’re glancing at photos from the night before, or hilarious memes that can keep you giggling for hours. But are these ‘wonderful communicative’ apps causing more hassle than its worth?

Social networks are certainly a great chapter in the book of the Internet. As technology has developed dramatically, social media platforms have also developed and been used by millions and millions everyday.  Social media facilitates your communication with friends, promotes new acquaintances and facilitates the access to information scattered on the Internet by collecting it all in one place. Social networks are of course, undeniably convenient and practical, but can also cause huge problems for certain people – in various different ways. It has become an obsessive need for everyone. The Human mind is indeed extremely powerful, but is social media crippling the way it works?

 

So, what are the common signs that Social Media can be having a physical or mental affect on your well-being?

• Low self-esteem – feeling low and conscious about yourself?
• Feeling low when you see other people’s images and lifestyle – do you compare yourself to other people’s posts?
• Envy of other people’s lives – do they have more followers or likes? Do you wish what they have?
• Not being able to do anything in your life without posting it online – do you take at least 40 pictures of your food before your main course to get the ‘insta-worthy’ snap?
• Finding social media as your first and only choice of activity throughout the day – do you sit in all day reading over social media instead of going out with friends or exercising?
• Not having many face to face conversations and interactions with friends and family – do you sit in your room disconnected from the outside and ‘real’ world?

 

Do any of the above apply to you?