Building Self-Esteem in a Social Media World
There is a link between self-esteem and social media. Studies have shown that rates of depression and suicidal thoughts have increased over the last several years, especially in teenagers. The teen years are a time when a child’s self-esteem is growing, and social media influences can destroy what confidence they have gained. However, building self-esteem is important not only during adolescence but also throughout adulthood. For example, a woman who has recently given birth may find herself comparing her body to the fitness models and influencers on social media, leading her to feel depressed. Men who struggle to balance family and work may see the highlights of their friends and become resentful, jealous, angry, or depressed. But not all is lost. You can still manage a social media presence without sacrificing your self-esteem. Building self-esteem: How to protect your progress Building self-esteem and protecting your progress is imperative to maintaining mental health. Social media is a tool. However, most people spend so much time scrolling through and admiring the highlights of others’ lives that it becomes easy to spiral downward. The following are tips for building and protecting your self-esteem while staying up to date on your socials. Limit social media time. You do not have to avoid social media entirely. Check your settings on your phone or in the app and note how much time you average on the platform daily, weekly, and monthly. Next, aim to limit your social media time. Maybe save your social media scrolling and notifications while you wait for dinner to finish cooking. Assign a specific time to return messages; do not feel obligated to answer people immediately. Limit your accessibility for peace of mind. Know why you want a social media account. What is the reason you want a social media account? [...]