Over 2 billion people use Facebook every month while WhatsApp is being used by over a billion users across the globe. Similarly other social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn and Snapchat also account for a vast user base. These apps not only let us send text messages but also exchange images, audio-video files, share news, co-ordinate our work etc. making us highly dependent on them for the most part of daily life.
While these platforms bring the world right at our finger tips, they need to be used sensibly. Studies have shown that over one third of the employees consider engaging on social media as a break from work. A lot of people have complained that they are addicted to social media. Over 70% of the youth have reported that they are present on more than one social media platform and are highly dependent on these apps for communication.
Overuse of social media can be linked to health issues like lack of sleep, depression, eye strain, and headache. It is also known to be a cause of other issues like addiction, loss of productivity, stress, anxiety and social isolation. So, if you are someone who can relate to the issues mentioned above, here are some simple tips that can help you gain some more control on your social media life.
Limit the number of platforms: The first and foremost step is to stop using too many social media accounts. These apps and sites are designed in a way that they keep you engaged and scrolling for more information. Limiting the number of accounts will directly help in reducing your time spent on these sites.
Turn off the notifications: Our phones keep buzzing throughout the day though we receive fewer calls, comparatively. Turning off the notifications and muting the groups on WhatsApp will ensure that you are not reminded often to check your feed.
Set a time limit: Most of the phones these days help you analyse how much time you’ve spent on a certain app. Simply tracking this data will give you an idea about which app needs to be controlled. If your phones doesn’t do that already, you can download a third party app from the app store to help you track your time spent on each application.
Call instead of texting: While sending a message on WhatsApp or Facebook messenger is fairly quick and easy, try to make a voice call instead. This ensures less misunderstanding and complete information is exchanged. Calls also add a human touch to the entire communication. Also, you’d realise listening to someone’s voice is always better than reading a text.
Keep the charging point away from the bed: Using the phone while in bed or charging the phone near your bed should be avoided. Keeping the phone as far as possible during the night will help you get a sound sleep and means less unwanted distractions.
Socialise more: Most of the social media apps have an unending feed which keeps the user engaged within the app. Rather than spending time scrolling through the social media feed, we must try to meet people personally. This keeps you busy, healthy and is most fulfilling.
Social media is a dual edged sword, if not used responsibly it can ruin our lives easily. We are already spending a lot of time on our smartphones trying to juggle between different responsibilities, it really makes sense to spend the valuable time with family and friends rather than wasting it by scrolling through the feed on different social media platforms.