Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. We use it to keep in touch with friends and family, share pictures, videos, and news articles, and find answers to questions. But, it can also have a negative side of your life if you are constantly exposed to it.
Social media is designed to make us check it every few seconds in the hopes that someone might post about something interesting or new. This urge to scroll is one such manifestation of the dark side of social media that has crept into our private lives.
If you constantly see posts from people you don’t know and don’t care about on a regular basis, eventually, you will want to spend more time scrolling through their pages instead of reading their posts. Here are some tips on how you can stop the urge to scroll so much and quit social media:
Stay Active In Social Media
Suffering from excessive scrolling can be a symptom of a social media- and life adventure that is stuck in the past. If you’re scrolling because you’re in a constant state of longing for a life that you lost, then it’s time to bust out of that rut. Look for ways to get active on social media and stay present in present.
When you’re scrolling, don’t just read the headline, but actually read the post. Pay attention to the images and videos included with the post so you can get the full experience. When you’re actively scrolling, you’re absorbing more information and, therefore, you’re staying in the present. Be sure to also engage with your followers. Comment on posts and join conversations.
Find People You Care About
Social media is a fantastic tool for networking, but if we’re constantly scrolling through it, we’re not going to build any real relationships.
Find people you want to connect with on social media and actively seek to be their friends. Connect with people on social media who are interested in the same things you are and interact with them often. If you see someone you care about in the news, write a quick comment about how you feel about it and see if your friend wants to talk about it.
Social media isn’t a space for debating politics, but it’s an amazing place to unload on friends about what’s going on in your life and let them know how they make you feel. When you’re scrolling, look for people you care about and follow them. When you see a post you like, comment on it and start a conversation.
Don’t Let The News Distract You
While you want to be informed, increased scrolling can lead us to become more informed about the wrong things. If you constantly see the news stories shared by your friends and family on social media, your scrolling urges are likely to lead you to news headlines that are negative and full of sadness, anger, and frustration.
If you read all the news that triggers your scrolling urges, you’re not going to have a lot of space in your brain for more positive things. When you’re scrolling, try to actively look out for posts that you can comment on and start conversations instead of just scrolling through them.
Next time you see a post that you can comment on, do it. If you see a post that you know your friend or family member would like to see, let them know.
Get Out Of The Box
Social media is a great platform for networking and building relationships, but if we constantly hit the refresh button, we’re not going to have any real friends. Try to limit your time on social media and spend more time interacting with the people in your life in real life.
Real-life relationships take time and effort, but they’re more rewarding than any social media relationship you’re going to find. When you’re scrolling, try to look out for posts that you can comment on and start conversations instead of just scrolling through them.
Next time you see a post that you can comment on, do it. If you see a post that your real-life friend or family member would like to see, let them know.
Conclusion
Social media can be a helpful tool in your life, but it can also have a negative side if you are constantly scrolling. To combat the urge to scroll, try staying active in social media, finding people you care about, don’t let the news distract you, and getting out of the box. When you do these things, you’ll find that social media is more helpful than harmful.