Social media has turned everyone into a (potential) celebrity. The results were disastrous, but it was also a lot of fun, not to mention hugely profitable. – A deadly combination. Everyone, including “real” celebrities, is complicit in this disaster, crying out to become digital celebrities. Pope Francis made history by becoming the first pope to have an official Instagram account. Former US President Donald Trump has claimed to be a “modern president” characterized by his unique brand of midnight tweets. And one of the first things King Charles did after his mother's official mourning period ended was to update his Instagram and Twitter profile pictures. So it's no wonder that even the most present among us can't resist trying out his five minutes of fame online. Social media often intoxicates the youngest users the most, but it can also intoxicate adults. This drunkenness often has far-reaching effects, especially since children are constantly monitoring how we handle our drinks. Here are some precautions to help you drink responsibly.
Curate your feed
In the summer of 2021, the risk of COVID-19 took center stage in our family's decision-making, severely limiting social interactions. Forget about taking vacations, even going out to dinner was literally off the table. I don't know if it was lockdown fatigue or just plain old Instagram envy, but two of my girlfriends were having drinks by the pool while I was calculating vaccine efficacy rates. When I saw them drinking and enjoying #summervibes, something clicked.It seemed rude to unfollow, so I decided to use an old ally – Mute button. When you mute someone on Instagram, you just stop seeing their posts. No, they won't know you muted them. Yes, you can unmute once sangria season is over. And just as you would mute content that brings you down, be sure to follow accounts that uplift you. Find content creators who are focused on creating cool, authentic content and instantly like some of their posts so the algorithm knows what you like. Please do not forget. At this point in the human-AI relationship, we still have some control over the algorithms, so take advantage of this limited-time offer to curate your feed and adjust your happiness.
Taking control back from algorithms is more important than we realize. Big Tech's algorithms constantly create echo chambers around us, feeding us our own meals and amplifying polarization. These are very topic-based, so if you express an interest in, say, gardening or climate change, the algorithm will pick that up and push you into those specific worlds. The algorithm then influences everything by creating a filter bubble where only your voice is heard and everyone else prefers it. Think of it this way. Instead of wandering freely around the bookstore, picking out your favorite titles and reading a little of this or that, an algorithm kicks you out of the store and forces you into the books. A reading list of your choice. Instead of being free to read and explore, you are forced into a one-dimensional marriage. Don't get caught up in the algorithm. Make sure to read content from all sides of the political spectrum. Turn off YouTube autoplay and choose what feeds yourself.
enculate yourself
It's easy to maintain a fantasy version of yourself – The one with the most likes – Live on the Internet. You can filter your photos to airbrush away dirt and reveal just the Instagram-worthy parts of your home. This may seem like playing around in a fun room of mirrors, but performing for likes while trapping yourself inside a carefully chosen projection has real consequences. It’s hard to be satisfied with who you really are when you’re only being judged on digitally-curated fantasies. What if you let go of the idea of perfection and freed yourself from the prison of performance? Unless your business relies on social media traction, consider freeing yourself from panting after a like. please. Post without posing or share your unfinished projects and kitchen failures. Betraying the idea of perfection is the only way to be true to yourself.
Try intermittent fasting
During lockdown 1, when we were still checking each other's veg supplies and panic levels, a friend of mine told me that despite the world falling apart, her 14-year-old son was really I commented that I was fine. “All Arhan needs is her uninterrupted Wi-Fi and a locked door,” she laughed. However, even after the lockdown was lifted, Arhan remained confined to his room and continued to live online. “I know he's feeling down, but he says he spends more time on the phone when he's really down. He rarely sees me now,” she said. 's mother said. he is not alone. Many teenagers use the Internet as a means of escape, until it becomes the problem and the solution. Daad bi aur dava bi.
This addiction is real and widespread. In fact, the problem is big enough to force social media platforms to add tools to limit the amount of time people spend on their platforms. Addiction experts like David Sheff believe that digital addiction is not like alcoholism (trying to be completely abstinent), but rather like food addiction, where moderation is key (you have to eat). ), so acknowledging moderation is a good start. stay alive). You're probably familiar with intermittent fasting, where you abstain from eating for several hours a day. – Digital detox is not that different. The best way to overcome digital addiction is to have balance and boundaries. Start with small, achievable goals, like quitting social media for the weekend, and build from there. If an entire weekend is too much for you, use a productivity app like Freedom to shut yourself off from social media at certain times of the day. Managing your time on these platforms can be tough, but it's worth it in the end. Many studies have shown that the less you use social media, the less depressed and lonely you feel.
Don't scroll down to connect
Remember, it's not how much time you spend on social media that affects your health, but what you do there.If you're scrolling through your destiny without thinking – See photos of strangers on vacation, read devastating headlines, and skim viral videos. – If you do, you will be leading to your own destruction. The social media business model is based on “viewing content from as many people as possible, who you may not know, for as long as possible in a day.''do not contribute to the model – Companies are quite wealthy as of now. – Instead, take back control. Limit your time on social media and use the time you are on social media to actually connect with others. A Facebook study (they know they have a problem!) reveals that people who actively use social media are happier than those who passively consume content. I am. These platforms were originally designed as networks, and our well-being depends on staying true to their original purpose. So instead of passively scrolling through cat videos, leave positive comments, message old friends, and interact with people with the same interests.
live irl
It makes me happy when someone praises me.We all enjoy the thrill of being recognized – When you look good, you get noticed, and when you do a good job you get praise. Receiving feedback is a fundamental part of the human experience. It's part of the reason we buy new clothes, improve our speech, and wear lipstick. But isolated IRL is forced to look for feedback online, look for likes, and confuse them with value, impacting traditional feedback loops. We seek validation online because we live less offline.break the loop – Get out there, engage with people, drive real-world experiences, and get the feedback you're looking for. Studies have shown that face-to-face communication is the best predictor of social and emotional health.research is right – Just as the applause emoji can match the pride of stepping on stage to receive a trophy, the heart emoji can't replace the giddy feeling of a first kiss. Texting “LOL” isn't the same as actually having a laugh across the table with an old friend. You can do digital pujas and put virtual blankets over the dargah, but it cannot replace the communal meditative aspect of prayer. Besides, the only place you can get a decent meal is in the real world.
