This is part one in our four-part series about the impact of social media on mental health.
Part one – When is social media too much?
Social media has dramatically changed the way that we communicate. It helps us to connect with the outside world, find like minded people and get access to information 24 hours a day, but is this always a good thing? And when is social media too much?
Scroll Free September is an initiative set up by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) following a study that found links between excessive social media and poor mental health.
An estimated 300,000 people will decide to log off social media for some or all of September.
So how do you know when social media is becoming too much and a problem in your life or the lives of the people around you, such as your children?
Alone time
An increase in time spent alone and feeling irritable or anxious when not on social media and rushing to get back to it.
Work or academic performance
For adults, a drop in work performance due to the distraction of the phone. For children, a drop in academic performance: lowering of grades, rushing homework (or not doing it at all) to get more time on social media.
Attention
Being distracted by your phone, even at mealtimes and in social situations.
Irritability
Feeling increasingly irritable and becoming more and more tired.
Friendships
For children, a change in friendship groups. For all of us, a change in the amount of face to face social contact with friends.
Validation
Being overly concerned and obsessed about the amount of likes a social media posting has or the number of followers you have.
Oversharing
Being unable to enjoy activities without sharing them across the various social media platforms.
Interest
Losing interest in hobbies or interests that you previously enjoyed.
Sleep
Your social media account is the last thing you look at before you go to bed and the 1st thing you look at when you wake up in the morning. You may even wake up in the night to check it.
If you have any concerns about your mental health or the mental health of your family and would like further advice you can book in for a free consultation.