Social media, shame, and poor mental health are keeping us from living the wholehearted and flourishing life we’ve been made for. I know what a soul-killer the negative and over-use of social media can be, and I want you to have the best life possible.
Here are just three serious realities of social media and its impact on our lives.
1. First, it can steal our joy.
The comparisons of likes, followers, and filtered lifestyles we can make against other women can make us feel like our lives aren’t good enough and leave us with insecurity and envy.
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s timeless words stand true: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” After mindlessly scrolling through social media, how do you feel? Does it make you feel happy and content with your life, or do you think your life is not good enough?
Social media can also rob us of joy because it fosters disconnection, which causes loneliness and isolation. Despite its promise to connect people, heavy social media use is associated with a 66% increased risk of feelings of loneliness in women.
2. Secondly, it hurts our mental health.
We are experiencing an unprecedented and preventable, technologically induced mental health crisis. The onset of social media has coincided with steep increases in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among girls and women but especially girls.
It can cause and worsen body image issues. 88% of women report comparing themselves to images they see on social media, and 50% say it makes them feel worse about their bodies. It can also cause eating disorders and make them worse.
Anxiety has also increased in both girls and adult women since social media became popular, and overwhelming research shows it has caused a severe mental health crisis, especially among teen girls.
It can also expose you to cyberbullying. About 37% of girls and women report experiencing online harassment.
Social media can cause us to be too concerned with people and things and distract us from our own lives. 56% of women report feeling left out or inadequate when they see others’ curated social media posts, which contributes to stress and reduced self-worth.
Additionally, girls and women report feeling societal pressure to present a perfect image online, which correlates with increased stress, perfectionism, and burnout. This also makes us too self-consumed, which makes us unhappy and empty.
3. Lastly, it keeps us from living the life we’re created for.
The world of social media isn’t where we were designed to live. Our best lives will never be found on our phones.
Social media will never satisfy the deepest cravings and desires of our hearts. We’ve been created to live wide awake to the miracle of our lives, to revel in the beauty and wonder all around us, and to find true community and connection in meaningful face-to-face relationships. We’ve been made for genuine connection with others and to live wholehearted and flourishing lives. We’ve been made for beauty, purpose, and adventure and to leave a legacy that makes a lasting mark on the world.
Take my social media quiz to determine how it is affecting your well-being.
If you haven’t already, grab a copy of my new book, Social Media Reset: A 30-Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy. Please pre-order and join the Unplugged and Flourishing Movement (aka my launch team!) to help me get this life-changing book into the hands of girls and women everywhere! I think you will find a social media break to be restorative and help you get more excited about the miracle of your own life!
