With as much critical and cautionary information that says social media is bad for mental heath, social media and online content has become an integral part of many social, commercial and human interactions. In behavioral psychology, we know that the more we pathologize and make taboo any given behavior or construct by prohibiting it, the less we are able to provide harm reduction strategies and even to help others to adopt ways of using social media which are socially and psychologically enhancing.

The average American user of social media spends 2 hours and 4 minutes per day interacting with social platforms, with that in mind, it is safe to say that social media is here to stay. Here are therapist recommendations for how to use social media in a way that supports wellbeing.

Beware of ‘All or ‘Nothing’ Thinking

Let go of the notion that it is all bad. All or nothing thinking is a cognitive distortion which imagines that by fully using social media platforms, you are engaging in something unhealthy or bad. The truth is, whether it is Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook, most people who use social media are not addicted or spending endless hours of their day engaging with this platform. According to American Society of Addiction Medicine, Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences. Many people are using social media in their spare time to learn, interact, and engage with others and their content.

30 Minutes is a Good Aspirational Goal

Social media use varies by country and by generation with more social media use consumed by younger generations. Users in the Philipines rank the top of social media use with 3 hours and 43 minutes of use per day and Americans at about 2 hours and 4 minutes per day. Mental health researchers have long cited that too much social media consumption also is correlated to poorer mental health outcomes. But let us realize that there is a ‘sweet spot’ using social media for 30 minutes per day is a sign of healthy amount consumption. Whether you are checking out travel Tik Toks, Recipes, or Fit life or Mom life, there is a lot to see and even learn on the web when done with a well balanced perspective!

Social Media is a Complement to a Social Life

There are many ways that social interactions and friendships can be accelerated, formed, and solidified on social media. Connecting with people from your past, sending a friend request to a friend of a friend who seemed nice, sharing an invitation, are all easy on social media. While provoking new friendships and sharing a pic or a memory to solidify current relationships are all great, social media connections are a complement not a replacement for in person meetings, calls, and time spent connecting with people you can about.

Looking Back on Memories

Remember all of the content, pictures and stories that you share today will be your memories in the future. Make beautiful memories that will allow you to smile and appreciate a moment of nostalgia looking back on them. Pictures and videos do well to be stored on social media in addition to other physical and digital forms. Some people talk about the dangers of sharing pictures without remembering all that can be very beautiful about using social media as it is intended to be used.

The take home point is that social media is a complement to a well balanced life that should be appreciated for its benefits and used reasonably. The next time you feel the need to judge or criticize someone else’s use of social media use, maybe you could spend some time thinking about your own use and what your use says about you. With all things, when you are dug in on a specific topic, there is usually a reason why, and that reason is usually not a healthy one. With most things, moderation and an attitude of appreciation wins. As always, may the memories you create be happy, healthy and full of meaning.

https://www.gosocial.co/how-much-the-average-person-uses-social-media/