What has social media got to do with your mental health?

Niamh McDade, Senior Policy and Communications Executive at the Royal Society for Public Health

There is no denying that social media has revolutionised the way we communicate and share information. Social media has become a space in which we form and build relationships, shape self-identity, express ourselves, and learn about the world around us – so it’s really no surprise that social media is intrinsically linked to mental health!

Social media has huge potential to support good mental health and wellbeing and indeed, in many ways it does. Our Status of Mind report published in May 2017, examined the positive and negative effects of social media on young people’s health and after surveying 1,479 14-24 year olds, we revealed many benefits of social networking. It can provide young people who may be suffering from mental health issues an opportunity to read, watch or listen to, and understand, the health experiences of others – relating them back to their own reality.

We also found nearly seven in 10 teens reported receiving support on social media during tough or challenging times via ‘groups’ or ‘pages’ which allow users to surround themselves with like-minded people and share their thoughts or concerns. Adding to this, social media can act as an effective platform for accurate and positive self-expression, and a place to share creative content and express interests and passions with others.

All in all, it seems great, right? And you are probably asking why a public health organisation would be running a campaign asking users to go Scroll Free this September!

Whilst there are a range of benefits, for many of us, our relationship with social media has become a little complicated. This is understandable in an online world where we are faced with a constant influx of images and videos, unrealistic beauty standards and an endless stream of apparently blissful, happy relationships. Our research has shown social media to contribute to anxiety and depression, poor sleep, negative body image, cyberbulling and FoMO (fear of missing out) – characterised by the need to be constantly connected with what other people are doing, so as not to miss out.

Scroll Free September offers a unique opportunity to take a break from all personal social media accounts for 30 days during September. A good relationship is one of balance, and Scroll Free September is here to help you gain that with social media both on and offline. By going Scroll Free for a month, you’ll have a chance to reflect on your social media use – what you missed, what you didn’t, and what you got to do and enjoy instead!

The idea is that by taking notice of and learning which elements of social media make you feel good and which make you feel bad, participating in Scroll Free September could help you build a healthier, more balanced relationship with social media in the future – a relationship where your use is conscious and mindful, and where you are the one in control.

We know that going cold turkey on social media may seem a bit much of an ask for some, so before you start tweeting your excuses, there are a range of different options to make your participation that bit easier including:

1. The Cold Turkey

Give up all personal social media for 30 days. Looking for #inspo? Emma Stone, Jenifer Lawrence, Elton John and Simon Cowell are all scroll free.

2. The Night Owl

If going cold turkey sounds a bit much, you can choose to take a break from social media at evenings after 6pm.

 

 

3. The Social Butterfly

Why not try taking a break from social media at all social events - talk to your friends, listen to the music, eat your burger without worrying about the insta post – #connect.

4. The Sleeping Dog

Find yourself going to bed at a reasonable time with the best intentions, then spending hours scrolling through your social media accounts? Is the first thing you do in the morning check your newsfeed? Give up social media in the bedroom and improve your sleep.

5. The Busy Bee

Secretly scrolling your way through the working day? Give up social media in school, work or university and maximise your productivity.

Whichever plan you choose is up to you, but the more you disconnect with social media, the more you might get from it. You can still use it for work and of course, still use your device for other purposes. Our hope is that by the end of the month you will be able to reflect back on what you missed, what you didn’t, and use that knowledge to build a healthier relationship with social media which will last into the future.

Why not join almost 5,000 others across the world who have already signed-up. Who knows what you could get up to with all that free time spent Scroll Free!

Take the plunge and sign-up at www.scrollfreeseptember.org

Wishing you the best of luck!