New technology always brings about a new era of hope. Hope for faster, more reliable information. Hope for the answers to our various global problems. And above all else, hope for a better world. But as more and more pieces of new and “convenient” tech continue to creep into and invade nearly every aspect of our daily lives, people are beginning to question just what kind of implications all this reliance on such consuming possessions will have on our lives and health.
Many experts are already researching and discovering concrete evidence of the various ways social media affects the brain, and the dangers of social media addiction for users of all ages such as:
- A diminished ability to maintain a healthy personal life and/or interpersonal relationships;
- Depression and/or anxiety, and increased feelings of sadness, anger, jealousy, or rage;
- An imbalanced circadian rhythm resulting in insomnia or poor sleep quality;
- An overall feeling of dissatisfaction;
- Body dysmorphia, or other insecurities related to appearance;
- General lack of self-esteem or confidence.
The evidence of these dangers has been around since long before there were computers in homes and cell phones with Wi-Fi. In fact, long before the internet even existed, in 1954, a social psychologist name Leon Festinger was making waves in the mental health community with his Social Comparison Theory, which essentially revolves around the idea that “we determine our own social and personal worth based on how we stack up against others we perceive as somehow faring better or worse,” and that “people who regularly compare themselves to others often experience negative feelings of deep dissatisfaction, guilt and remorse, and engage in destructive behaviors like lying and disordered eating.” See the connection?
So, if this has been a problem for so many years – there must be an age-old solution, right? Well, for social media addiction, the best solution is a social media detox. Now don’t worry, detoxing for a better life doesn’t mean you necessarily have to give up your precious smart phone or forgo your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account forever, but there are many benefits to simply making a more conscious effort to set your phone aside a little more often and live more in the moment with those you love. Often enough, people who choose to give up or take a break from their devices and social media even claim to experience:
- A greater sense of connection to other people/friends/family;
- More affirmative thoughts;
- Better sleep;
- Less anxiety, depression, fear, and/or other negative feelings;
- And more!
In fact, while you’re not checking your news feed for the thousandth time or updating your status to let the world know what you had for lunch, you may just turn into the person your were so jealous of in the first place! If you need personal assistant help in any way, please call Good Neighbor Concierge at 617.209.9311 or fill in the form in the sidebar to schedule a no-obligation needs assessment at a time that is convenient for you.
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