Reaping the Benefits of Social Media

Staring at a phone screen for hours a day and scrolling mindlessly through the depths of trending apps such as TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube while taking in the endless loop of toxic content is how an average person spends 2 hours and 27 minutes of their day. Viewing hundreds of stories, liking countless posts, and scrolling through more TikTok videos than one can imagine -- the list goes on and on.

Now more than ever, the world has been so immersed in social media that it has become an entire, full-fledged lifestyle. More and more people find themselves increasing their social media time while consequently reducing the amount of time they spend on physical, social, or work-related activities. While social media is, without a doubt, a beneficial resource that has led to a high amount of productivity in certain areas, it’s conversely leading to a lack of productivity in others. Obviously, social media has its pros and cons, but what most people don’t realize is that there is a right and a potentially wrong way to use social media.

The world needs to know that, indeed, there are more than just a few ways to utilize these apps in a productive, useful way -- we must put social media to good use.

First of all, the preliminary cause of the unproductive time spent on social media must be eliminated: unlimited scrolling. Scrolling requires a single swipe up across the phone screen without any effort, making it an addictive process where one can view as much content as one would like. However, putting a stop to the excessive amount of scrolling will indeed reduce the unproductive use of these apps. Setting a time limit will definitely set boundaries for social media use and give a perfect chance to do something productive away from the phone screen. Using the iPhone-provided Screen Time feature in the phone’s settings works like magic; just setting an hour limit each day can go a long way.

Spending too much time on social media also has some negative health effects associated with it too, particularly the unhealthy drop in self-esteem and confidence. There’s no surprise that social media is full of perfect lives and perfect influencers. The more that a person looks at these often exaggerated lifestyles and influencers, the more they start feeling unhappiness within themselves after going through hours' worth of content. But to get rid of this lingering unhappiness, first, one has to realize, don’t ever feel inferior to someone who you’re only seeing on the surface. Second, remove any influencers or accounts that make you feel unhappy or worthless. Without any toxic feed on your page, everything on these apps will be so much simpler.

Something that will undoubtedly put social media to its greatest use will be putting out a business, non-profit, or purposeful account that can help build a greater community. Virtually any social media app can be used to promote an account that benefits others or spreads meaningful messages. Doing so is definitely spreading positivity around the globe, and following other positive accounts will increase the positivity in your life. Following and supporting other small businesses is another bonus that makes social media very helpful.

Lastly, not only are apps such as Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube apps sources of entertainment, but they are also learning destinations. They contain unlimited resources on how to learn new skills, hobbies, or just general knowledge. For example, reliable news sources help shed light on important topics that need to be spread to educate others. Millions of videos surface these depths with tutorials, DIYs, and academic knowledge. Instead of watching and scrolling through the same content every day, try taking time to learn a new hobby such as playing an instrument or making a project.

While social media is a great tool for socializing and entertainment, these apps can definitely be used for a variety of productive purposes that help make our lives easier and more beneficial. Scrolling through a jungle of content without any purpose has an endless amount of alternatives that ensure social media can be used productively. Without a doubt, once we all realize its possibilities, the world will be putting social media to its full potential.

Works Cited

How Much Time Does the Average Person Spend on Social Media? (2022). Oberlo.com. https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-much-time-does-the-average-person-spend-on-social-media