As many of you know I really love using social media for my blog. I find it so beneficial to use and have shared the positives I’ve found from using Instagram for blogging. But with most positives there comes negatives, especially where social media is concerned. I find its such a blessing and a curse. It can be used for so much good but so much bad too. There is such a fine line between the good and bad though, that sometimes you don’t even realise that the bad is there.
I’ve been lucky enough to have mainly positive experiences when it comes to social media but have had my fair share of negatives too. But I know thats not alot of peoples experiences online.
Social media can be toxic and can be bad for you if you allow it to. Remember that you are in control of what you allow into your life. There should always be a line between your personal life and what you share online.
In todays post I want to share just a few points and experiences of where social media can be toxic for us. In hopes that you stop and think about what it is you’re choosing to share online.
PEOPLE THINK THEY KNOW YOU
One thing I really don’t like about social media is when people think they know you and know your life from what you share online. People forget that social media accounts are basically highlight reels of peoples lives. The happiest looking people online usually turn out to be the least happy.
People assume they know you, and know your life from what they see on your Instagram story. Which we all know is not the case. This one in particular really annoys me. Mostly because the people who claim to ‘know’ you, actually know you the least.
YOU CAN BECOME BRAIN WASHED
Social media brain washing is a thing, believe me! It happened to me. A few years ago I started following so many fashion bloggers and fashion influencers. I become obsessed with needing all of the new, trendy clothes that they were wearing. I probably spent hundreds of pounds trying to keep up with their fashion. It really was an unhealthy addiction.
Without me knowing it, they were brainwashing me. Now, I’m not blaming the influencers for this, I’m kind of blaming myself. They didn’t tell me I needed to buy the stuff they were wearing. I decided that myself. The same thing can happen if you follow alot of fitness accounts. I’d say that this one is a little more serious. You can start comparing yourself to others and thinking you are inferior because you don’t look like them. I believe it can cause such body dysmorphia, which can be so damaging to your mental health.
We really do need to be careful at what we allow ourselves to digest online.
YOUR PRIVACY CAN BECOME INVADED
I spoke about why its important to keep your private life private and I am echoing that on this point. So many times I’ve had random people try to follow my personal Instagram and Facebook accounts that I don’t know. I am always so weary of letting strangers into my online personal space. You really don’t ever know a strangers intentions.
The last thing I want is some weirdo finding pictures of me and my family on my social media accounts and sharing them in the wrong places. Be mindful of what you share online and be mindful of the privacy settings you have on your accounts.
IT ALLOWS UNWANTED ATTENTION
I have lost count the amount of times creepy old guys have sent me disgusting messages to me online. It’s really uncalled for and its something I don’t enjoy about being present on social media. I hate how accessible it makes me to others. There is almost this expectation that you should be available to speak and reply whenever someone messages you, and I don’t like it.
There needs to be boundaries, like anything in life. I’m sure that creepy old guy wouldn’t come up to me in person and say those gross things to me [or maybe he would]. People seem to have the confidence because we aren’t stood in-front of each other.
What has your experience been with social media? Has your social media experience been mostly positive or negative?
I think posts like these are important so that you can become aware of the negative side of online life. Not everything is positive, and it’s important to talk about.
Olivia x
• Instagram • Twitter • Pinterest
I agree totally. Social media can be a great tool in the correct hands. But in the wrong hands it can destroy lives.
Hi Liv, my experience has been a mixture of good and bad. For the good I’ve met some awesome people and tailored my space into something wholesome. The moment I feel it’s going left I unfollow ( in the case of an influencers etc) and the bad people trying to police your thoughts and what I actually share. The block button is my bestfriend I block and I also delete. We have to be extremely cautious about our interactions on this space. It can be both bad and good for our mental space. It’s always good every once in awhile to take a sabbatical from social media and focus on what really matters and is real. Thanks for sharing always I look forward to your posts 😄.
I agree! Taking time away from social media and remembering that reality is a real place is so important! Its easy to get sucked into online life and forget about the things going on around us! Thanks so much for sharing that!
At least the internet allows communication. A vital protection against tyranny. Although given the spy charters of governments around the world such freedom is becoming increasingly illusory.
It does! And for that I am grateful. This post is more about the other side of social media, the not so pleasant side! You are right though, were being watched constantly!
That’s so true👏👏
So glad you think so!
All very true points! I also use social media for my blog, but I do share some stuff on my private Instagram page. It’s interesting to see random people pop or as they say “slide in your DMs” assuming they can say whatever they want to you because you shared a few pictures. What scares me the most is that they can use those pictures for crazy things!
Yes! There are so many weirdos out there! You have to be careful about your privacy settings and what you share.
My experience has been mostly positive. I love that social media helps me stay connected with friends and family who live a long way away. I have also “met” some wonderful people in the blogging community through social media.
I don’t hesitate to use the Unfollow option if people get political, threatening or just generally negative.
Me too! The positives almost out weigh the negatives I have personally faced! So glad the internet is a thing, but we have to be careful in what we do and share on here!
If you can filter through junk and find what you are looking for, you are one in a million.
So many people drown in social media bin and can’t get out
You’re right they do! Sometimes its hard to get out once you’re in!
What webhosting company do you use or recommend Olivia
I don’t use a web hosting company! I use WordPress! Sorry I couldn’t be of any help.
You are right on point about social media having a toxic side. While it is a great platform for getting your content and ideas out there, it also leaves you vulnerable to, literally, the entire world. We want to look for the good in people, but there are always those who choose the low road.
Keep it up, love your work.
Social Media for me is a double-edged sword. More and more, I’m finding myself backing away from it from it because of inflammatory content, ever changing algorithms, and toxicity of unhealthy comparison to others.
However, I’ve met and connected with some of the most wonderful people around the world on social media. The sense of community with those near and far has been a pleasure. I also use it to encourage and minister as a Christian to those who need it.
It’s a powerful too when used correctly. I think it’s important to exercise wisdom on how you use it and what you’re using it for.
You got it Lindsey! You’re so right. You really have to be guarded and hide yourself from the bad and negative stuff online. Which isn’t hard to do, it just the act of doing it which is difficult.
Social media has its pros and cons. And sometimes the pros out weigh the cons.
So thankful to have people like you who are using social media for good!
My experience has been positive for the most part. I don’t let it consume my life and sometimes I take breaks from social media by deleting the app so I won’t be tempted to go on there lol.
Thats great👏🏼 I need some of your will power!
I agree with people thinking they know you. The worst part is they think they know you to the point that when you say they’ve misunderstood something you wrote, they say you’re just changing your story. It’s so hard to communicate over text, it can be misinterpreted in so many ways. I try not to comment on something that has a lot of people I don’t know in the comments.
You’re so right. I was talking with a friend about this not too long ago. The way you intend for something to come across, doesnt mean the receiver reads it the same way. Which is why social media and texts etc can be so damaging!
I joined Facebook in college and at that time you could only be friends with other college students so it was basically a way to interact with all of my friends on campus and stay in touch with my sister who was at a different university. As I got older and had kids I felt like it was more of a time waster and it pulled me away from what was important. I deleted my account not long after I had my third child and I don’t regret it at all. I stay in touch with all the important people in my life through phone calls, text messages, emails, and most importantly face to face interaction (not so much in 2020☹️).
I bet you felt so good deactivating that account. Im sure it was weird at first though! You did an amazing thing, and something I know you wont have ever regretted doing!
I agree with you. Even you have a good cause people will still say bad things. Right now, my family drove across Canada to raise money for the Food Bank. And people on FB have negative comments about us travelling. 😕 we can’t please everybody
For a fact you wont please everyone. Everyone will always have something to say about everything you do. I think as long as you know who you are and you know your own intentions, nobody can say anything. You guys are doing an amazing thing!
Thanks! 🙂
This is so true! I was thinking about this today so I’m so glad you’ve written about it. It’s so easy to get carried away. Knowing how much to share is a challenge as you don’t know who will come across what you share and what they will do with the information. I wonder how celebrities feel. Privacy is out the window for them.
I wonder how they feel too. I cant even image having so many people think they know you from a few pictures you post online. Its no wonder that so many celebs suffer with mental illnesses!
I have found that social media, along with other technology use, has truly re-wired my brain– and not in a good way. It’s one thing to hear scientists claim it re-wires your brain, it’s another thing to see its effect on your attention span and ability to focus. For authors, the ability to focus is SO CRUCIAL to our writing! And yet, for today’s authors, growing/maintaining a social media presence is almost as important. I am struggling to find the balance between these two!
Well said, and you know what I’m with you on this one. We claim that it hasn’t re-wired us, but it for sure has. I struggle to watch a whole tv show without checking my phone. I take it with me when I have a bath and so many other things. We almost have to train ourselves to not do these things now. Which is scary!
Double edged sword , old voice – 🙂 science a good servant bad master now same for social media
Agreed!
Glad to see this post on social media and I completely agree with you. I also think you may like this book “The Hype Machine” by Sinan Aral. I have seen him speak about his book on insta and it sounds very interesting. Its all about Social media and how our lives are being so influenced by it and weighing the pros and cons. (unfortunately I have not been able to get hold of this book as yet from my side of the world) – I am glad I came across your blog and it seems very interesting. I will check it out leisurely. Cheers.
I’ll take a look at that! Thanks for sharing🤗
Agreed totally✌️✌️
I’m still trying to enforce self control on social media. I need it for my blogging and youtube but I have found that Scheduling posts has been a huge positive and it decreases the need to be on social media all the time.
Very well written… Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much!
100% agree
👏🏼
My social media has been good thus far. I only share a limited amount of myself for the very reason that some people can be cruel. Great post!
So glad to hear! You’re smart for being careful with what you share!
I hate how social media can truly affect how you view things. I hate how I once let myself believe in toxic positivity that I see a lot on social media, it really affects your mental health.
It really does and its quite scary how it can happen so quickly too, and before you know it!
I agree with this completely, especially with IG. It has been a double edged sword since I use it to promote my blog and podcast. But for all the creepy messages I’ve gotten, it made me share much less about my private life and strictly my business. I’ve recently taken a detox from it and it’s refreshing to just scroll and feel no pressure. Great post!!
You’re so right. We need it but it’s not the best place to be. A healthy balance is important 🤗
I like to go on a detox every now and then to reset myself.
This is such a great idea!
I’m sorry you had to go through that.
I love social media when it is positive. I try to stay away from anything political or negative. Those old guys trying to get lucky are a bummer. I’ve avoided Facebook because I got hacked. I always try to leave something positive
I agree, I like to think social media is mainly positive! And tend to stay away from the negative side if I can!
Beautiful!! It’s the need of the hour
Thanks!
I love social media but I do find I need to take breaks from it sometimes. I realise that people only share their highlights and make their lives look perfect, but when I’m having a down day and eating my feelings, it makes me feel one hundred times worse if I see photos of people on a sunny beach living their best life!
I’ve also been facing the same issues too… It’s very important to talk about the negative side as well… Thanks, you did!!
I agree!
Great
I recently have seen a lot of things I don’t like on it from people I respected. Then yesterday Instagram changed their policy on use. It definitely should be read. After I read what you are agreeing to and allowing them access to by having an Instagram, I deleted it forever. No thanks. I do not want to give them access to my phone, my photos and to be able to track my history and location.
I’ve experienced good and bad on social media. I’m in a good space now because I only focus on things that are of interest to me. I’ve crossed soap operas and primetime tv shows off my list. People who are fans of tv shows can become totally unhinged. Especially the fans of the soap opera characters and the actors/actresses who portray them. I try to share things that deal with the real world and will hopefully help someone. I’m no saint mind you but I’ve come to realize that a lot of people on social media like drama and craziness. But if it’s something beneficial and intelligent then they’re not interested. Excellent article by you.
You’re so right. I used to watch so much reality tv and it really can warp your mindset! Thanks for sharing this!
You are so right about reality tv. Stay safe Olivia.
You too!