Rabat – Across the globe, people actively use social media platforms, whether it be to share some parts of their lives, promote their businesses, or sneakily spy on other people’s journeys. 

Impacting the lives of many, these platforms can be extremely helpful to connect with other individuals, network smoothly, and build a community. However, social media also has a tendency for spreading toxic emotions like envy and jealousy.

Commonly known for promoting a picture-perfect false reality where people only share the positive highlights of their lives, these platforms can create unhealthy expectations and lead to unrealistic comparisons that can have damaging mental health effects.

According to data from Kepios, the main reason people use social media is to connect with family and friends, with others using it to read news stories and find other forms of content.

Others use it to find shopping inspiration, watch live streams, and build professional connections.

Top uses of social media platforms. Source: DataReportal

Traps to avoid

When using popular apps like Instagram or Tiktok, people are increasingly sharing perfectly curated routines and boasting about lavish lifestyles, highlighting their successes and leaving out the realities of daily life stresses. This consequently paints a false reality and promotes an unhealthy platform of lies. 

Many people feel the need to be on social media to stay up to date with their peers and keep up with their interests or general news. A research paper published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs highlights a focus on the fear of missing out (FOMO) as a key determinant of those negative outcomes.

The authors suggest a shift for social media users fromFOMO to “JOMO” (joy of missing out), as well as mindful practices as a remedy to help consumers stray away from the mindless scrolling.

When using social media, gaining a healthy perspective is vital and necessary. Adopting a critical mindset and fully understanding that the feed is only the highlight reel of people’s lives limits some of the negative emotions that the apps can trigger.

It can also be helpful to set a fixed limit of screen time per day, consequently avoiding procrastination and time wasting on such platforms.

Use it to your benefit

Setting its disadvantages aside, social media has a lot to offer if you use it in the right way. 

Social media can serve as a communication channel, an engagement tool, and a collaborative platform when it comes to building bridges between teachers and students, one research paper argues.

The Pew Research Center surveyed more than 700 teenagers, 80% of whom find social media platforms very helpful when connecting with friends. 

Most respondents also reported that social media offered them the ability to interact with a more diverse group of people and provided a sense of security and support during tough times. 

Others claimed that these platforms allowed them to raise awareness and stand up for causes and issues they care about. 

Social media also helps you reach large audiences, which can be very helpful if you are an aspiring entrepreneur. 

If you have a business idea roaming long enough in your mind, social media can help you find a target audience, do research, and advertise more effectively. It allows you to share content across the globe with a wide range of audiences and build connections with them.

It is essential to adopt a healthy perspective on social media content and use it as an educational platform where you can add to your knowledge and connections in a productive way.