The Toxic Side of Social Media

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 
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