Is Social Media... Good Or Bad For You?

Love it or hate it, social media now makes its presence felt in many areas of modern life.

For some, it's a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, to keep connected and establish their own community. For others, they view it as a free, effective way of building an online profile, developing business contacts and promoting their goods or services.

We cannot completely ignore it, even if we do get exasperated with the numerous selfies, pictures of restaurant meals and cat videos! Social media is an established part of everyday life for many of us. Statistics report that we check our devices every 12 minutes and spend an average of 3 hours 15 minutes every day online, often on sites owned by Google and Facebook.

Whilst there's merit in being aware of what's happening in the world at large, we can't ignore some worrying aspects of the internet and social media. Concern is frequently expressed about its impact on our lives and our relationships with others. Social media can be seen as both good or bad. Certainly chat rooms and forums can be a great place to find company if we're feeling friendless and isolated, with no one to talk to about how we're feeling. Finding reassurance, answers to questions from people experiencing similar issues can help us feel connected, supported and less alone.

It can also help us reach people we would never have been able to meet otherwise and, consequently, their friends too. Using social media we have the potential to speak to a vast audience, to a community of like-minded people.

But there are others aspects of social media which are not so rosy. How many of us see groups of people not talking to each other, sharing a meal whilst preoccupied with their phones? Or parents on their devices, ignoring their children, or even using them as a babysitter for their children? Living in a virtual world where we're constantly checking our phones can have us believing that online is the real world, where the things we see and hear are the truth.

Which is why it's important to:

● Manage your time online, and set aside specific windows for checking, posting and interacting. Become more productive by starting to use your day more efficiently. Of course, caring, understanding relationships are available online but real life, human interactions are important too. As many of us spend increasing time at home, working, shopping, banking and doing key tasks online, it's important not to become too detached from connecting with real people in the real world too.

● Manage your social media content and choose not to spread negativity, gossip, contentious opinions or excessive behaviour on your feed. Anything you post remains forever on your account. Ask yourself how you'd feel if years later it was revealed; a present or future employer, university admissions, professional body you've applied to join researched you and uncovered some indiscreet postings? Even content that's been deleted can be found. Manage your image and commit to sharing positivity, good results and happiness.

● Be cautious who you follow. Do a little research into a potential follower or 'friend's' back story and remember that not everyone is who they claim to be. By accepting them, they gain access to your life and possibly your contacts list. But they may be 'grooming' you for ulterior purposes, wanting to tell you a 'sob story' so you send them money or gradually go along with their suggestions. They may have failed to disclose that their enthusiastic comments about products and places are paid for by their clients and that they're essentially running an advertising campaign. Step back and weigh up what their agenda may be.

● Remember, you can unfollow if you want to. If you don't like the tone of someone's page, are unhappy about the content you're seeing, you can unfollow, report, block or elect to stop seeing further posts.

● Step out of your comfort zone and meet others in person. Grow in confidence by working on important communication skills. Walking into an interview, a network meeting, a social gathering can be a daunting prospect at first but it's a key adult life skill, even if sometimes things don't go too well. You may fluff your lines, make a mistake, be rejected, look silly, but it's all part and parcel of evolving and growing as a person. The more you practise the better you get!

● Use your time offline well. When you're not at work go to places where you'll potentially meet people with similar interests and gradually form relationships, like a class, gym or group. When you attend regularly you're likely to see the same faces. Practise conversing casually, make an effort, look after yourself and enjoy the challenge of doing something new and different.

Choose to be in control and allow your social media to add value to your life.

Article By Susan Leigh

Susan Leigh, Altrincham Counsellor and Hypnotherapist, has published her third book, 101 Days of Inspiration #tipoftheday (ISBN 9781910275160) based on her social media series. A glossy, pocket-sized book, it's full of inspirational quotes & pictures, a treat to give or simply keep for yourself. For more information visit: www.lifestyletherapy.net