“You don’t need to renounce technology to live a healthy and happy life, you just need to reorganize its purpose in your life.” ― Abhijit Naskar, Mucize Insan
The above quote holds true for social media, which we are going to discuss today.
Before that, I would like to quote noted author Chetan Bhagat, “You need to set screen time on your phone. I set mine and came to know that I spent nearly 5 hours on the phone. In 24 hours, we have sleep time, eating time, working time, entertainment time, and every other work and we are left with only 15 hours in a day to do all this. Now that we have spent 5 hours on the phone, our 1/3rd life is gone. Can you imagine how much time you are left with? So, curtail this time, do not make it zero, you cannot do that. You can make it 3 hours and then 2 hours subsequently. See what a phenomenal change it will bring in your life.”
How apt is this? Whether we admit it or not, we are all social media addicts. We start scrolling our screens as soon as we wake up in the morning and do it through the day till the time, we fall asleep. Right from a toddler to a super senior citizen, mobile is our constant companion. Life looks incomplete without our mobile phones. Recently, somebody on social media ironically expressed the scenario: We sleep to give rest to our phones!
My family thinks I am also in the same category whereas I do not think so as I check those things which are relevant to me. Now all of you will have the same argument thus making the scenario true. We are becoming a nation of mobile addicts and there is no remedy for it besides your willpower to cut the screen time.
Our other argument would be: With our mobile phones we are connected to the outer world which includes our family and friends – the world over. It does not matter that they are in different time zones on different continents. It has become easier to remain connected with them as it is nearly impossible to visit them. Mobile is the tool that facilitates this connectivity. So far, so good. Technology is an aid to better connectivity. But we have become distant from our nearby family by not visiting them or talking to them. We are not aware of what is going on in their lives, and forget, what is going on in our own homes. That is the disconnect and the situation is alarming, we are becoming a society of morons.
The more social media we have, the more we think we connect, yet we are disconnecting from each other.
No doubt, there is a danger in the internet and social media. The notion that information is enough, that more and more information is enough, that you do not have to think, you just have to get more involved.
Besides, there are health hazards too, like scrolling screens to watch reels, posts, and news, etc. you are eyes are under constant strain, your neck is stressed, your brain is wired to absorb social media and as you are sitting maximum time, you tend to get obese. Can it get worse than this? By social media, I mean scrolling and constantly checking posts on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and the like.
Why do we say social media is a distraction? Suppose you are a retired professional, worked through your life and now have ample free time, hence, you spend substantial time on social media. Fair enough! You are not sacrificing your goals in life as you have achieved most of these.
But if you have certain goals to achieve in life then social media is a giant distraction to the aim, which you need to hone. Suppose you want to become a famous songwriter. It would help if you worked hard at it by devoting time to thinking, writing, and marketing. And you are hooked to social media instead of working towards your goal of becoming a songwriter. You are using your talent to comment on others’ posts. Is it going to help you in the future? Certainly not!
Certain people are exceptional at it, however, and if you can do both things, then that is fantastic, but if you are a writer, the time is better spent on a clever lyric than a clever tweet.
What are the 5 dangers of social media?
- Cyberbullying (bullying using digital technology)
- Invasion of privacy.
- Identity theft.
- Your child sees offensive images and messages.
- The presence of strangers who may be there to ‘groom’ other members.
Besides, these, other negative effects include cyberbullying, the spread of misinformation, addiction, the decline in face-to-face communication, self-esteem issues, social isolation, polarization, echo chambers, cyberstalking and harassment, a decrease in privacy, and comparison and envy.
“Social media is not just an activity; it is an investment of valuable time and resources. Surround yourself with people who do not just support you and stay with you but inform your thinking about ways to WOW your online presence.” – Sean Gardner, Forbes #1 social media power influencer
Hence, there is a need to assess the scenario, calculate your screen time control yourself with your phone usage and be HappyHO!
