Summary

The article discusses the negative impact of excessive social media use on health and relationships, suggesting strategies for moderation and more meaningful interactions.

Abstract

The article "Social Media Can Be the Downfall of your Health and Thriving Relationships" argues that social media consumption is detrimental to one's physical and emotional well-being, as well as to personal relationships. It highlights that individuals often prioritize social media interactions over real-life connections, such as with family members, and may spend a significant portion of their lives on these platforms. The author points out that while social media is integral for some professional and personal endeavors, its use can be streamlined to just a few hours a week through automation and discipline. The article suggests practical steps to reduce social media dependency, such as not using phones during meals or in the bedroom, and emphasizes the importance of face-to-face communication for improving relationships and overall happiness.

Opinions

Social media can consume over 5 years of a person's life, with current usage statistics likely higher than reported.
Excessive social media use can lead to addiction, feelings of inadequacy, and mental and physical health issues.
The author believes that the constant checking of social media and email (more than 100 times a day) is a problematic behavior.
It is possible to manage social media for professional purposes effectively in less than 5 hours per week.
The article promotes the idea of setting boundaries with social media, such as not using it at the dinner table or first thing in the morning.
The author suggests that life outside of social media is richer and more fulfilling, with better personal connections.
There is a call to action for readers to reflect on their social media usage and consider if they would be happier with less screen time.

Social Media Can Be the Downfall of your Health and Thriving Relationships

Spend time where it really matters and be happier

Social media is harming your health and every thriving relationship in your life. You don’t want food, to roll over and kiss your spouse, or hurry to wrap your arms around your kids. You are happy snuggling down in the covers and interacting with electronic relationships on social media before your feet ever touch the floor in the morning. The first thing you wake up craving is social media interaction.

Are you alarmed?

Not yet?

Adweek says you will spend more than 5 years of your life on social media.

No sweat?

It is so last year to only spend 40 minutes on YouTube. When was the last time you only spent 35 minutes on Facebook, 25 minutes on Snapchat, 15 minutes on Instagram or a few minutes on Twitter. The social media platforms have already changed and those time allocations are so laughable they don’t even deserve a citation. No one believes that is all the time you spend on social media.

Teens spend over 9 hours each day on social media. Throw that statistic out the window too.

Let’s see if there’s some realistic news we can share. Maybe our time slips away so quickly there’s no relevant current statistic with respect to our actual usage.

I can’t find a current stat anywhere, making this great evergreen content. We’re not even talking about the more than 100 times a day you check email.

But….

Your blog is on social media and you have to check in. Or, your business is online and you have to be connected to earn money, pay the bills. Yada, yada.

It can be done effectively on less than 5 hours each week.

How in the world does a person do that?

Easy.

ATS — Automate That Stuff! (I have a tween who speaks in acronyms, so I beg your pardon to introduce one here).

Here’s a real question: Were you happier before you were connected by your phone constantly?

Would you ever give it up?

It’s addictive
It triggers sadness / feelings of inadequacy
It’s like a drug with mental health and physical issues

No need to hold your breath that another listicle is coming your way. We all know those bullet points are valid and don’t require explanation.

Psst: More social connections and followers don’t make you more social.

It’s like a drug, a quick fix won’t do… Here’s what you should do instead.

Hold it at arm’s distance. Practice doing without it for periods of time. We’ve been conducting an experiment on our house over the last several weeks. No phones at the dinner table. No phones in the morning. We’re even considering no phones in the bedroom. Because, well, wouldn’t it be great if other things happen in the bedroom?

For now, I still use my phone as my alarm clock, but it is on the dresser across the room, not within reach. I have to get out of bed and pick it up. I can’t snuggle down at the foot of the bed and scroll. It’s a good thing.

My husband can’t engage during a meal. We get to see his face instead of the top of his head and we have great conversation. No one takes a phone to the bathroom, because that’s gross. If there’s a place not to use a phone it has to be the bathroom.

For goodness sake put that thing down while driving. Social media or a text isn’t worth your life or someone else’s. Each day in the United States 9 people are killed by distracted driving, according to the CDC.

Talk to each other

Talk to each other, look around, or be bored for a while.

We all engage more with each other and feel more connected. We thrive on and with each other instead of with people who don’t matter. Our relationships are better. There’s more life to live outside of social media.

Give it a try and see if you agree.

Get my book, Make Money on Medium: Build Your Audience & Grow Your Income, because you owe it to yourself, and let’s stay in touch.