There is plenty of talk about the dangers of social media use for kids and teens.
But adults are feeling many of the same things their younger counterparts are. And for some, it’s a double-edged sword.
Many peruse social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and more) for news, entertainment and keeping up with friends and family.
But sometimes, scrolling through these digital platforms can be a downer.
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Madison Chambers, a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Brevard County, spoke about how to deal with those feelings of being not good enough, compared to our digital friends.
Chambers said she’s seen more anxiety and depression in adults who use social media.
“We’re constantly comparing, and we’re constantly striving for these potentially unrealistic expectations and unrealistic goals for ourselves,” Chambers said. “We see these picture-perfect, Norman Rockwell-type things.”
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But remember, people usually put their best face forward on social media.
“You’re not seeing the struggles, the difficulties, the fights,” Chambers said. “You’re seeing that edited and very polished presentation.”
People do not have to get sucked in to the comparison game. Chambers offered some tips on how to ease anxieties in a 24/7 digital world.
Mindfulness focuses on where people are, what their goals are and their individual progress, Chambers said. It’s not about others.
“We don’t all have the same goal,” Chambers added.
Remember, we don’t all have the same perspective, whether it comes to life, personal accomplishments, career, success and relationships.
“So, it’s really kind of being mindful of yourself and your own goals and what it is that you are striving for, for yourself. (Others’ social media posts) might look nice and it might look pretty and polished, but it may not ultimately be what you’re looking for,” Chambers said. “So, you comparing yourself to these things, it’s not the same thing.”
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An article posted in March 2024 by the University of California-Davis noted that in 2023, there were 4.9 billion people across the globe using social media. The piece estimated the average person taps into their social media accounts for 145 minutes every day.
“Social media is often called a ‘highlight reel,’ displaying the best parts of a user’s life,” the UC-Davis report said. “However, having access to others’ highlight reels can increase our own feelings of dissatisfaction with our own day-to-day. This can impact self-esteem, trigger anxiety and make us want to use social media more.”
Chambers suggested social media users should do the following to protect their mental wellbeing:
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“Taking those breaks and being able to step away and disconnect is always good,” Chambers said. “Then, you’re able to kind of ground yourself a little bit more and be more in tune with what it is that you want, versus being influenced and biased by all of these other things that people are portraying that your brain is like, ‘Oh, why not that?’ ”
This reporting is supported by a Journalism Funding Partners grant. Mental Health Reporter Sara Paulson can be reached at spaulson@floridatoday.com.
