Have you wondered how using social media affects you? Can you imagine your life without Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube? How much time do you spend online? It’s important to reflect on these questions (and more!), so let’s unpack them as an important part of supporting your emotional well-being and mental health. 

Personal reflections

I remember the first time I used a social media platform. I can still see and feel the excitement of building a profile page, adding my quirks to the style, and sharing what I created with friends. I started making connections, discovering new interests, and trying out different ways of presenting myself. I can also remember having a hard time figuring out how much to be ‘on’ versus ‘off’ the platform. This process was complicated because I was afraid I was missing out if I spent too much time away from social media.

Over the years, new platforms, features like continuous scrolling, and more nuanced algorithms led me to feel connection overload at times. Whether it was the number of notifications, the nudge to react to every post, or the pull towards multiple platforms, I have felt what digital stress versus digital peace means for my own life. Let’s explore that difference, together. 

What is digital peace and why is it important?

You are not alone if you notice social media taking up significant space in your life. Studies from the National Institute of Health show that 85% of students spend more than three hours per day on social media. This time on social media has been shown to impact sleep, increase anxiety, and lead to social isolation. In very real ways, this research shows that your approach to social media can shape your mental health and emotional well-being in helpful and harmful ways. 

The good news is that researchers have also found that you can take simple steps to ensure more digital peace in your daily life. Digital peace can be understood as knowing your own relationship with social media well enough to benefit from its most useful parts. On the other hand, digital stress refers to how social media use can lead to challenges in how you think, feel, and experience life both physically and emotionally. 

How can you find your way to digital peace?

Freeing your mind, body, and spirit in the digital age is possible. Digital peace is a process that starts with self-reflection and continues with a few action steps that give you control over your relationship with the social platforms you enjoy. 

At different times in your life, you may find yourself needing different approaches using social media based on your mood and stress levels. Finding your way to digital peace is a journey. The most important commitment you can make is to invest your time and energy in figuring out what you need as your life changes.

 

 

The Takeaway & Closing Reflection

I am still finding my own way towards digital peace. On good days, I feel confident in my relationship with certain platforms. On more challenging days, I judge myself harshly about how much time I spend scrolling through social media. 

I have come to realize that each platform was designed to keep me engaged and emotionally invested. Just like any habit, I have grown to appreciate that it can be changed with the right information, tools, and level of commitment. Like me, you already have what you need to find more peace in your life. 

Try these action steps to support yourself as you move towards the level of well-being you seek and deserve.

  • Know your digital stress patterns. Digital stress can look different for everyone. Do any of these points feel true for you?
  • Some young people notice a fear of missing out.
  • Some experience the pressure of availability stress or connection overload. 
  • Others may find it difficult to go on platforms without comparing themselves to others. 
  • Still others may find themselves seeking approval from their networks. 

No matter the type of digital stress, the impact is real and meaningful. Spending time getting to know your own experience of digital stress is a worthwhile investment in your well-being goals. 

  • Notice what comes up when you log on. Whether you are passively on a social media platform or intentionally using its features, it is important to notice the ways it affects your emotional experience. Do you notice opening social:
  • To seek emotional relief from life…? 
  • To experience an emotion that you didn’t expect…? 

Either way, noticing what comes up can support you in regulating yourself through these emotional experiences with care. 

  • Find the good in your feed. Digital peace can mean finding what works for you. Social media can be a powerful tool for connecting with people you identify with, accessing useful information, and feeling less alone during a difficult time. Finding a healthy relationship with social media is an important part of owning your voice and choice online.

Explore all of the Liberate content about digital peace activities:

References

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    My Digital Sanctuary brings information and creativity together to support soul care, a holistic approach to emotional, physical and spiritual well-being from the Steve Fund. Created by mental health experts who specialize in serving young people of color and their families, My Digital Sanctuary shares the help, hope, and healing we need not just to survive but to thrive.