Circles.LifeIt's Time We Talk About Social Media Consumption
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4 min read
We all know that social media plays a big part in our lives, connecting us with our friends and family and keeping us up-to-date with the latest news and trends. But have you ever stopped to think about how it might be affecting us?
From decreased face-to-face communication skills to anxiety and depression to being a victim of cyberbullying and online harassment, these are just a few ways that social media is affecting us negatively.
It's not all doom and gloom, though, as there are some simple, practical tips you can follow to help manage social media consumption and ensure it adds value to your life instead of causing you a headache.
How many people use social media
When you see the numbers in black and white, the global social media usage statistics are huge.
Globally there are over three billion users on Facebook and Instagram, two billion users on Twitter, and one billion users on TikTok.
That's before you even get to other social media platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, WhatsApp, WeChat, and YouTube (which has 2.6 billion monthly users alone). These numbers are also set to rise thanks to how easily accessible smartphones, wifi, and affordable data are.
Need affordable data? Find out if postpaid or prepaid is the way forward for you (hint: prepaid has a limit on data meaning you can stop that mindless scrolling in its tracks).
Need affordable data? Find out if postpaid or prepaid is the way forward for you (hint: prepaid has a limit on data meaning you can stop that mindless scrolling in its tracks).
Australian social media usage
Aussies just can't get enough of scrolling, posting, and liking. A massive 83% of us are now on social media, with a whopping million people jumping on the bandwagon just last year.
The average Australian spends a mind-bending 6 hours and 13 minutes per day on the internet, and social media accounts for 1 hour 57 minutes per day of that.
Social media platform usage by age
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released two reports examining social media usage statistics and digital habits of younger (18-34) and older (65+) Australians. In the past few years, since the pandemic, more people than ever joined social media or increased their social media usage to stay connected with loved ones during lockdowns.
Facebook reigns supreme across both age brackets as the most popular social channel, with YouTube coming in second. Instagram is the third most popular for the younger generation, who also uses extra platforms, such as TikTok and Twitter, that older Aussies aren't. Personally, though, we'd love to see Aussie grannies cracking out the viral Wednesday dance on TikTok.
What are the negative impacts of excessive social media usage?
Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney uncovered 46 wild side-effects that can come with being hooked on scrolling through our feeds. Experts have been shouting from the rooftops about the classic symptoms like stress, depression, guilt, jealousy, loneliness, and anxiety for what seems like forever.
But the study uncovered some lesser-known risks, including feeling overwhelmed with information, poor job and academic performance, being more inclined to take wild financial risks and even suicidal thoughts.
Is it time to step back and re-evaluate our relationship with our screens? Let's look deeper at some of the most common negative impacts of excessive social media usage.
Decreased face-to-face communication skills
The more we scroll on our screens, the less we communicate face-to-face. It's like our social skills are taking a permanent vacation. And, as the saying goes, 'out of sight, out of mind'. If we keep relying on technology for communication, we might struggle to connect with others in real life.
Increase in anxiety, depression and other mental health problems
Aussie mental health charity Headspace shared some pretty scary stats recently, with 57% of young people saying their mental health is worsening, with 42% saying social media is the main reason.
It's easy to see why when you think about it. On social media, we see the highlight reels of others' lives and compare ourselves, leading to insecurity and low self-esteem. But it's not just the content on social media that's impacting our mental health either.
The blue light emitted from our phones can impact the body's natural circadian rhythm, resulting in patchy sleep or even full-blown insomnia, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
The blue light emitted from our phones can impact the body's natural circadian rhythm, resulting in patchy sleep or even full-blown insomnia, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
Cyberbullying and online harassment
Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that involves the use of social media and technology to harass, humiliate, or threaten someone, often repeatedly. This can take many forms, including spreading rumours or false information online, posting embarrassing photos or videos, threatening or insulting messages, or excluding someone from online groups or communities.
Cyberbullying can have severe and long-lasting effects on a person's mental health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, an alarming number of Aussies have experienced cyberbullying or online harassment. In addition, 1 in 5 young Aussies has reported being socially excluded, threatened, or abused online.
How to deal with Cyberbullying:
Mental Health Charity Way Ahead has some important tips for how to deal with cyberbullying and online harassment:
Addiction and distractions from real-life responsibilities
Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media for hours, only to realise that you've lost track of time and haven't accomplished anything on your to-do list? Well, you're not alone. Social media addiction can distract us from our daily responsibilities, causing us to lose focus on what's important.
How to Control Social Media Consumption
Set boundaries and limit the amount of time spent on social media
Easier said than done, right? But we're here to say 'IT'S NOT YOU'. Social media has literally been designed to keep you scrolling, swiping, and staring. As a result, social media platforms have entire teams dedicated to increasing their daily users and time spent.
They have been designed so that for every like, comment or share we get, we're rewarded with a huge dopamine hit. Yep, that feel-good hormone makes you want more (and more).
So don't feel bad if you need a little helping hand to stop falling down the Insta rabbit hole. There are plenty of ways to set boundaries and limit the amount of time spent on social media:
Take regular breaks and engage in other activities
While there are downsides to social media, there are upsides, too, such as staying connected and informed with loved ones across the globe, discovering new relationships and social groups, and connecting with individuals who share similar passions or goals.
Removing social media entirely isn't necessarily the answer to overconsumption, but taking regular breaks and engaging in other activities is a great tactic.
That could be having specific periods of the day without social media to go for a walk or another activity or simply being disciplined enough to leave your phone alone when having dinner or catching up with friends.
Avoid comparing yourself to others on social media
As the saying goes, 'comparison is the thief of joy'. Most of the time, people share their highlight reels only. Those influencers who share photos of their Thai beach vacays? They're probably not sharing their lost luggage fiascos and bouts of gastro. Likewise, the gym-goers with the perfect abs aren't sharing their post-weekend bloat. So stop comparing yourself by spending less time on social media in the first place and taking what you see with (more than) a pinch of salt.
Use social media mindfully and critically
We live in the era of fake news and absorb most of it from social media. Anyone in the world can publish and share content now, meaning it's more important than ever to use social media mindfully and critically. Question the information/images presented and remember that everything shown on social media results from a carefully crafted algorithm based on your likes and interests and those in your network. This means you're unlikely to be presented with balanced views from multiple perspectives.
Encourage actual human interaction
Social media can be an incredible way to expand your networks and connect with other like-minded people. But nothing can beat actual In-Real-Life (IRL) human interaction.
In a Facebook group for your fav hobby? Arrange a meet-up in your area. Always chat with your mates on Instagram because they live too far away to see regularly. Choose a weekend and meet halfway. Take online, offline.
We're in this together
While social media is great for staying connected with friends and family online, we've all got to work harder to ensure it doesn't interfere with our real-life responsibilities and human connections. By setting limits and finding a healthy balance, we can enjoy all social media offers whilst still living life to the full. We've got this!
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Published Date 2023-06-06
Written by Circles.Life
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