Honestly,
I can not log on to my social media platforms for months at a time which is good in a sense that I am not attached to it however, it doesn’t do well for my brand.
Due to the ongoing pandemic and other personal reasons, I thought it would be best to take a long break.
But remember that social media is a highlight reel of what we want people to see. For some, social media is used to show themselves in the best light possible which at times is not realistic.
What we need to come to terms with is that social media is an app; it is not real. It can disappear tomorrow! In contrast, social media platforms do serve a purpose:
- It enables us to connect with people across the world. I have a friend in Canada and I am grateful that I am still able to contact her especially during the pandemic.
- Get inspiration from others. From outfits to recipes to hairstyles. I created folders and saved countless posts that continue to inspire me. (How Type A personality of me)
- Social media can be a source of income. A lot of influencers use platforms as a source of income which is great. Being able to work with brands when you choose to is a blessing.
- Social media can help businesses expand their audience. Small businesses can use platforms to reach out to potential customers and in turn, grow their audience and get more exposure.
But let’s not forget that for some, social media can be detrimental especially on our self-esteem.
Many young people use social media to see what their favourite celebs are doing, what they are wearing and how they look. It can be difficult to not constantly compare our body image to others, how many followers we have and likes others may have.
In order for influencers to get sponsorships and brand deals, they have to have a substantial following along with consistent engagement. Working hard to achieve this can be daunting at times especially if you feel unnoticed.
Research studies have been conducted over the years showing that social media can cause more harm than good.
Although, we need to take things with a pinch of salt. Some individuals like me use platforms such as Instagram in small doses; I like to see what my friends post, what they are wearing and it helps me to stay in contact with my loved ones.
Hey, what works for some may not work for others as we are all different.
I find that taking breaks from social media is useful as I don’t feel overwhelmed on a daily basis.
With all that’s been going on in the world, posting of things such as #BLM is important and NECESSARY but for me, it can be stressful. It is sad that we have to live in such a chaotic world.
Since my absence, I have noticed that people are more outspoken than ever and for that, I like social media; it enables people to speak about what they are passionate about. And vent too!
Having platforms such as Twitter and Instagram for years has shown me that it is important to take breaks and to not let things consume me. Especially with the effects, social media can have on our wellbeing.
With that being said, I am going to take a deep breath and resume posting on social media.
It can be a bit much at times but now I know what I need to do to reduce my stress and anxiety.
If you need to take breaks in order to protect your mental health go and ahead and do it. Do what is best for you. Always.
Your mental health matters and you matter. And so do Black lives.
Take care and thanks for reading.
In as much as social media can be a source of income, it will be also be wise to limit the time we spend on it doing nothing valuable. Informative post.
Thank you for reading!