The Impact of Social Media
At a time of continued advisory to distance ourselves from social grouping and community activities, we are experiencing stress, anxiety, and loneliness in ways we have not had to deal with before. We are now responsible for and responsive to new needs we are experiencing.
Two of our greatest needs are for love and connection
Currently, most of us are not allowed to build love and connection with others the way that we were able to last year. Being confined to our homes, with the exception of necessities, has put a physical distance in many of our relationships. One of the ways that we are still able to have relationship with many of our friends is through social media.
Social media has been able to connect us in ways that we never did before its creation. Even though there are some positive benefits, over the past several years there has been an increased awareness and concern for the negative psychological and physiological effects of excessive use of social media.
Time spent on social media in a lifetime
In 2020, the WHO estimates the average global lifespan is 72 years, and if we assume that many people now start using social media as young as 10 years old, that means the average person will spend a total of 3,462,390 minutes using social media over their whole lifetime. That’s over six and a half years! www.broadbandsearch.net › blog › average-daily-time-on-social-media
Social Media is connected with anxiety, loneliness, and fear. https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/blog/centre-mental-health-blog/anxiety-loneliness-fear-missing-out-social-media
Our needs for love and connection are being challenged in ways we never imagined a month ago. We need each other. No one needs negativity, pessimism, hatred, criticism, and foul language.
Commitment to positivity
If we are limited in our ability to come together in person, let’s come together with positive, uplifting, encouraging and life-giving words. We challenge you to make a commitment to use words of kindness, forgiveness, faith, family, and friendship.
When we are on social media we can run into many examples of complaints, criticism, and negativity. Imagine what it would be like to scroll through social media and see it filled with kind words that encourage and build others up. Imagine being able to read about the goodness flowing out of people and making a positive impact in our communities. This change starts with each one of us doing our part to impart words of hope. What kind of positive and encouraging words can you post today?
