Setting Yourself Up For Social Media Success

Growing up has never been easy, but growing up digital brings a whole new set of challenges. Technology is such a huge part of our everyday lives. Social media, in particular, has become a place many of us turn to for information, entertainment, advice, and support. It’s a great way to stay connected to family and friends and can be a fun outlet for creativity.

If you’re not on social media yet, there’s a pretty good chance you will be one day soon. So, it’s important to think about how to use social media in a healthy way. Because while it can be a positive and uplifting influence, it can also have the opposite effect. Research has found that social media can lead to increased feelings of depression and anxiety, especially in girls.

Here are some tips for how to enjoy social media while protecting your mental health

• Remember that much of what you see is filtered, and a lot is downright fake. Social media accounts are manipulated to project a certain (and often unrealistic!) image. Influencers rely on social media to make money; in a way, they are paid actors. We all compare ourselves to others at times but what we see online isn’t always real.

• Be mindful of how you interact with content. Social media pushes out content based on our online habits. Here’s a personal example. I recently followed some new accounts after adopting a rabbit. Suddenly my social media feed is filled with bunnies. Instagram picked up on my new interest (hey, look, she likes bunnies!) and responded by giving me more. Our social media feeds can easily become full of content that leaves us feeling bad, if we’re not careful.

• What does your ideal social media feed look like? What kind of content will motivate you? Who or what inspires you to dream big? Follow people and accounts that speak to these positive emotions and interact with their content so you see more of it. Just for fun, create your ideal news feed on the opposite page! Think about words, images, people, places, etc. that you’d like to see as soon as you open a social media app.

• You probably wouldn’t be friends with a bunch of jerks, so don’t welcome them on your social media page either! Who you follow on social media is important. Avoid accounts that are triggering or encourage unhealthy behaviors or mindsets. Delete, block, and/or unfollow accounts that make you feel worried, uncomfortable, or sad.

• Social media can enrich our lies, but shouldn’t be a replacement for actually living life. It’s important that we give time and attention to building positive relationships with people off-screen. Ask an adult to help you set healthy limits if you’re struggling to disconnect.

• Your value as a person has nothing to do with how many followers you have or how many likes your post receives. Social media should not define your self-worth. You are amazing! Continue to be your own cheerleader and celebrate all of the inner qualities that make you a gift to the world.

Social media will continue to grow and change, just as you’ll continue to grow and change. Hopefully some of these tips will help you develop a positive relationship with social media from the start. Please reach out to a trusted adult for help if you are experiencing confusing or strong emotions, or if something online makes you uncomfortable. One final note: Please make sure you have permission from your parent or guardian before joining any social media platform. All families have different rules and comfort levels when it comes to online activity. Social media isn’t going anywhere; it will be there waiting for when the time is right.