When Social Media Gets Too Much

Image: Infinity Hub, 2017

As a librarian in the making, I believe that social media is a really great way to keep in contact with the rest of the world. We can keep track of celebrities, our friends, and even Grumpy Cat if we want to. We no longer have to remember birthdays, or anyone's phone numbers. It's all there in one platform.  It's also contributed to a new evolution, where news and magazines are often also read online and through social media applications. 

The Pew Research Center did an interesting study in 2016, which outlined the usage of popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. Approximately 8 in 10 internet users are on Facebook, which only leaves 20% of the population unaccounted for in terms of online presence. 32% of internet users are on Instagram, and 24% of users are utilising Twitter. So its pretty great that everyone is so connected via these social apps, and that there is an abundance of knowledge floating back and forth online, with increased opportunity for learning. 

But how much social media is too much, and where do you draw the line? 

I'm in the age range where the internet wasn't a thing growing up, and then as a teenager was introduced to not only the internet, but MSN Messenger, Myspace and Hotmail. Weren't those the days! This little box was such a relief after a long day at school, and the start of another kind of social life for me and all of my friends. And those emojis! Or emoticons, as they were called! 

Image: Tumblr, 2017

It was also the start of something else for me too. 

It was the start of a constant battle of wondering if I was being accepted amongst my peers, wondering if I came across as 'popular', whether my profile picture was acceptable. There was a whole range of new emotions and feelings that I was experiencing for the first time. 

Are we Spending Too Much Time on Social Media? 

Since those days and the rise of messenger applications such as MSN, we've been introduced to a whole new world of social media. There is a huge list of social networking websites, and there are many great aspects to all of them. I actually agree with most articles that favour their use, but I also have concerns about how much time I individually spend on social media platforms, and how it affects my working and personal life.  

Do we have too many apps, and are we wasting time on the internet chatting when real life is just outside our screens? 

My Battle with Social Media 

Don't get me wrong, I loooooove social media. I spend a lot of time on Pinterest and Instagram, and love a good Twitter Chat. I love it! But every now and then, I start thinking about what people think of my online presence, and it gives me a bit of anxiety, and sometimes I feel very 'crowded' in terms of constant messaging and notifications. Sometimes I feel like I just need a break. In recent years, I've even deleted it completely, which at a young age was not so socially acceptable amongst my peers. So it got me thinking, is this normal? 

Why do I feel this way? 

I wondered for a long time why an overload of social media made me feel this way, so I did some research on the link between heavy use and emotion. 

The Conversation discusses research that links heavy social media use to depression and anxiety, and the risk of this occurring increases the more hours that are spent using the platforms. When we are constantly comparing ourselves to other people's lives, jobs and experiences, our self satisfaction or ego is definitely affected. Forbes also corroborates this research, by suggesting that  “highly idealized representations of peers on social media elicits feelings of envy and the distorted belief that others lead happier, more successful lives" are to blame, in addition to bullying and harrassment.  Pederson states that young adults who use between 7 and 11 platforms are day are three times for likely to become affected than those who use less than 2.

So I think this is where my problem lies- I definitely use more than 2 social applications a day, and find myself flitting between them, until its basically on auto play. Wake up, check Facebook. Have lunch, check it again but with Instagram this time. Tweet about that random article you just read. Pinterest because there's pretty things on there, and then someone's messaging me on Messenger. Lately, it is all a bit too much and I need to do something about it. 

Digital Detoxing

I need a break. 

Sometimes I feel like I could break away entirely, and I've spoken to many people who feel the same. If you are looking at breaking away from social media entirely, there are some really inspiring articles here,  here and here. 

I have left social media before and have had many digital detoxes, and I found it really good. I had a lot of time on my hands, and I got a lot done. I saw the world in a new perspective, and I found that I was more positive.  

I've learned that its okay to step away, you don't have to be online all the time, and you're never missing out on anything spectacular. I've logged out of my Instagram and changed my Facebook password, closed down everything and I feel so much better already. I'm ready to take on the new university semester, and due to my lack of internet-ing, I will be able to make more blog posts full of new and exciting things that I will be learning. 

For all of my social media pals, see you in a while! 

Image: Jostons Renaissance, 2017