GREENSBORO, N.C. — Happy National Social Media Day! We're all glued to our phones these days, scrolling through endless feeds of pictures, posts, and stories. But how exactly does social media affect us?
Social media is a powerful tool for communication and discovery. Social media connects you to other people. You can stay in touch with loved ones both near and far, find new friends with shared interests, and even learn new things like a foreign language, skill, and finances.
There's a dark side to social media. You can get caught up in people's "highlight reels," in which you compare your lives to everyone else's. These highlight reels may not be true. There's also a fear of missing out when you see other people doing things, visiting places, and achieving goals that you haven't. If you feel like you're lacking in some way, you might feel compelled to keep up, which can put you in a dangerous situation like the edge of a cliff to get a better selfie or financial risks to keep up with others.
Here are a couple of tips for using social media in a healthy way. First, be careful what content you watch. Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. Follow accounts that inspire you. Second, take social media breaks. Instead of seeing what others do in their posts, focus on real-life experiences and connections with others.
Share your thoughts on my Facebook page: Blanca Cobb – Body Language Expert. Write a message on my timeline, and I'll get back to you. While you're on my page, I'd appreciate it if you give my page a "like."