Social media is a huge part of life in 2019. I mean, somehow using it is now my job!
It can be an amazing thing; a vehicle for social change, a medium for long distance, a space where creatives and independent businesses can thrive, etc.
But, like everything, it has a dark side. It can create an illusion of perfection that can be so detrimental to the person scrolling down their feed.
We are bombarded with ‘perfect’ bodies, ‘perfect’ homes, ‘perfect’ relationships, ‘perfect’ jobs etc. and, I am speaking from experience when I say that it can leave you feeling rubbish about your own life.
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme for this year is Body Image - how we think and feel about our bodies.
I believe social media has a huge effect on how we think and feel about our bodies so I thought that, as a professional social media user (whatever that is), I would share some tips that have helped me navigate the social realm.
1. Unfollow people who make you feel inadequate, unworthy, low, ugly, etc.
You’re none of the above. It is very important to surround yourself with positivity in everyday life and this applies to social media too. If you find yourself wishing you looked like/were like/lived like somebody else, remove them from your feed and take time to appreciate all of the great things about yourself or reflect on everything you’re grateful for.
2. Limit the time you spend on social media apps
It is so important not to get lost in the false reality of social media. On most smartphones you can set a ‘timer’ that sends you an alert when you have spent a set time on certain apps. For example with Instagram, I have set a 35 minute limit per day. I’d be lying if I said I stuck to that every day but it helps because I reflect on how much time I am wasting mindlessly scrolling!
3. Remember, 99% of what you see does not reflect reality so try not to compare
Social media is a place to show off the good times, the good days and general good stuff happening in people’s lives. People use angles, photoshop, filters etc. to make themselves look better. Most users will not post when they’re having a bad day, if anything goes wrong or if they are having a negative body image day. Do you? Exactly!
4. Follow body positive/generally positive accounts
I follow a lot of accounts that promote loving yourself and your body and I have learned a lot from them. They’re courageous in showing their - what we are told are - ‘flaws’ on a platform built upon perfection. They take the hateful comments and love themselves unapologetically. Again, use social media as a source of inspiration, not as a comparison site.
I struggle with my mental health and my body image daily and I know social media is a major reason why. But I still try (and more often than not, fail) to detach myself from it.
One of my favourite poems by feminist poet Rupi Kaur comes to mind when I think about this topic:
we are all born
so beautiful
the greatest tragedy is
being convinced that we are not