Three ways to use social media to promote resilience
We spend more and more time on social networks. But how does this affect our well-being? Try these tips to increase your happiness and well-being when using social media.
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However, negative experiences do not necessarily lead to negative consequences such as depression or anxiety. Some people Demonstrate resilience– in other words, they claim or improve well-being Manage stress (Want to test your well-being? Take the Well-being quiz). This could (at least partially) explain why social media not DO all feel more negative. So, what do these “resilient” people do differently? And how can the rest of us use social media to promote resilience?
First, here are three science-backed ways to promote resilience on social media.
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1. Reframe your experience
Not only is cognitive reappraisal a useful strategy in real life, but it can also be used in response to the stressful events we experience online. For example, if you are upset, you might ask yourself: What positive consequences could this situation have? In what ways could someone benefit? Or what could I get out of it? By rethinking the experience, you can do it Change your negative emotions to make them a little more positive.
2. Take an Outsider’s Point of View
So the next time you’re upset about something you read online, take a step back and Look at yourself from an outsider’s perspectiveor as if you were a “fly on the wall”. This approach can help you detach a little from your own emotions and look at your experience in a less intense way.
3. Practice time travel
There is so much happening every day, every second, every time you scroll through social media that the present moment can be overwhelming. Therefore, another helpful strategy might be to review your situation at another time. This technique helps calm your emotions and builds your resilience because it allows you to recognize that your current negative emotions are not permanent: they will end, which can make them less intimidating.
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In all
These three strategies can help you manage the negative emotions associated with social media while building your resilience. If you use these strategies regularly, social media can even help you improve your well-being – a kind of training tool that helps us develop skills that improve our lives.
References
Rozin, P. and Royzman, EB (2001). Negativity bias, negativity dominance and contagion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5(4), 296-320.
Rutter, M. (1999). Resilience concepts and outcomes: Implications for family therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 21(2), 119-144.
Rideout, V. and Fox, S. (2018). Digital health practices, social media use, and psychological well-being among adolescents and young adults in the United States.
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