How has social media impacted you?
I think our prefrontal cortex has made us forget that we are biological beings with nervous systems. And our nervous systems are having a hard time with both technology, and social platforms. I think our consciousness has often merged into arrogance, in that we somehow think our being is beyond the need for hugs, touch and in-person connection and community.
Having been a child and a teenager in the 80s and 90s I think a lot about life before the connectivity that social media and smart phones have brought. While I recognize the irony of (also) writing this on social media, for which there have certainly been plenty of amazing benefits, I also consider — are we healthier and happier now because of these platforms?
How radically wild is it to consider that we have to be reminded to immerse ourselves in nature? That forest bathing is “scientifically proven” to improve mental health. Duh. We need to be reminded that we need people physically around us.
We think the sign of success is a million connections on social media when the real predictor of our wellbeing is: Do we have one person to call at 2 am?
The temperature I sense online is that people are overwhelmed. They want gardens and farms and land and village. I want all the same things.
I’d love to hear from you…
How has social media impacted you both positively and negatively? What do you think is possible for your life if you either left social media or dramatically reduced your use? What has been the impact of social media on your health?
Please share by commenting below! Would love to learn more about you!
Much love,
Mark
Initially, I loved social media because it allowed me to reconnect with friends from high school and to see what my cousin was up to thousands of miles away. Over time, I noticed I was less present in the moment because I focused on capturing the best picture to post and seeing how many likes I received. I also noticed that I was reading less, which is something I really enjoy.
My turning point was when I noticed a big uptick in nasty and unnecessarily rude comments on people's posts. As an empath I noticed how much yhe negativity affects me and others, so I took most social media apps off my phone. Now, I limit my time and only on my laptop. This helped me detox from the need to constantly check social media, especially when I'm bored. My daughter and I plan electronic free days and focus on art or nature. Our moods increase substantially on those days.
However, my biggest hurdle now is finding connection with other people. I think between the covid lock down and social media people aren't doing as much around the community as they did in the past. I also noticed people are on edge more often and easily triggered. So there have been less than desirable things happen during the community events.
Because I crave peace, I like many others, I find myself desiring the quiet life, to tend to a beautiful garden, to create a home that is a refuge from negativity.
I miss the days when social
Media was juts about keeping in touch with the people you don’t see often. Sharing personal photos and images. Now it seems that you can’t share anything without thinking about the likes it might get. And everyone is headlining a business with their personal lives. It makes a show out of everything that used to be simple, and beautiful, and shared with the people around you. How often we see people staring at their phones, into a virtual reality rather than looking into the eyes of the person sitting across from them. It’s awful. And it’s impacted me greatly. I think my nervous system is fried from scrolling to stay ‘connected’