At the beginning, I want to say that we all have it set up in our heads a little differently. I just found that social networks take more from me than they give. In short, they don't bring anything very positive to my life.
And how did I find out? A bit pompous I agree Digital Safari with Digiskills he called it "analysis", but basically you just have to answer three questions for yourself:
- Why do you go on social networks?
- What does that give you?
- What does it cost you?
My answers
What it gives me:
- Networking.
- Promotion of my activities.
- The ability to share content that I find useful.
- Ability to experiment with posts and networks.
What it takes me:
- My attention shifts elsewhere. From my life and my activities and what I can control to something else/external/distant that I definitely cannot control. I often lack that attention, time and energy elsewhere.
- It is a source of envy, pressure to perform, frustration and procrastination. Only nice things, right? But that's not how networks are designed - to awaken the worst versions of ourselves in us. It is the most effective way to get us (us users) to come back and spend time there.
The solution I use
- I use social networks for direct contact with people through messaging and sharing (in my opinion) useful content.
- You won't find me photographed in the Bivoj position or on the beach with the hashtag #konecnechillkterysizaslouzim there. If so, please come and slap me in Žižkov so I can recover.
- I only go online in active mode – I do what I set out to do and quickly disappear. Before I'm consumed by an endless stream of content that's tailor-made to keep me engaged. It's hard, but it's possible. I set limits and obstacles. He uninstalled apps from his mobile, has set up content blockers and scheduled blocks, when do i go there
- At the same time, I constantly repeat to myself why and that I don't want to spend time there consuming content, often unimportant to my life, and I remind myself why I go there. I use them actively and for things that make sense to me.
By the way, you can't simply say that they are either good or bad. It's not that simple. Social media can have both positive and negative effects. It's the same with the whole online and technology in general. They are a great servant but a very bad master and it depends on how we use them.
This is well documented by a survey from England. He researched the impact of social networks on our well-being. Below in the table are individual social networks and their negative or positive influence on our lives. The worst is sleep and FoMo. In other words, instead of sleeping, we watch series, google and follow the news so that we don't miss something. On the other hand, self-expression and finding self-identity is the best part.
Source: Royal Society for Public Health, 2017, social media users in England aged 14-24
What to say in conclusion
According to another survey we spend almost 3 hours a day on the networks, that's about 15 hours per working week, that's about two working days.
Can't you think of something more valuable to spend that time with? Maybe go exercise, which you haven't been able to do for a long time? Or read a book that you normally don't have time for? Or create something new at work? Or simply to be with your family and those you love and with whom you are comfortable?
Don't you have time? I know. But we spend nearly 15 hours a week watching the lives of others and being bombarded with ads and incentives. At the same time, that time could be used for everything that we lack for happiness and satisfaction.
How to do it? Try it 7 steps to digital independence.
And if you like details and details, I've written down my habits and the apps I use for you here and here.
Good luck!
Every small step counts.
