How to make social media a safe place for yourself.
Be the change you want to see but also curate your social media to fit into your life in a healthy + healing way.
Social media can be a not so great place, but here’s the thing; we’re all responsible for that.
We actually have a lot of control over how social media looks + if we change our own actions on these platforms, the platforms themselves will change.
In efforts to change social media as a whole, what matters is that we’re mindful of what we’re putting out there.
Here is a list of 5 ways you can help make social media a kinder, more inclusive place for yourself + others.
Post more positive things
We all know how easy it is to leap on social media to complain about bad service, a bad day or to vent about the latest news cycle. I’m not going to tell you to stop doing that, but I do want to suggest you make an effort to also share the good things that have happened.
Whether you commit to sharing positive climate news regularly, or you just try to remember to post about your lovely day hanging out with a much-loved friend, making your own posts more balanced has an impact on the balance of posts on social media more generally.
Engage with compassion
Those infuriating, hateful posts are written by humans. Often by very scared humans who are acting from fear + a desperate desire to protect themselves + their loved ones. Does that make it OK that they’re posting awful things on social media? No, but choosing to show them compassion can change how any discussion goes dramatically.
If you’re unable to have a useful discussion about the issue, because of your own state of mind, the fact it directly impacts you, or for any other reason, don’t respond at all. Engagement tells the social media algorithms to push a post out even more – if you engage on things that are awful, it will go further (the Katie Hopkins effect).
Use the block + report options instead.
Go out of your way to be kind
Instead of spending your downtime doing some mindless scrolling, consider actively seeking out some posts to leave lovely comments on. Hop into some groups + leave some advice or support, scroll some hashtags and tell people how awesome they are, reply to some Tweets just to gas someone up.
Opting to spread some kindness while at the same time ignoring the trolls has the combined effect of amplifying the good + reducing the bad on social platforms, making it a better experience for everyone.
Think about your words
When you’re sharing something, consider the words you’re using.
Words are powerful + many of us are in the habit of using ableist language without even realizing. Choosing the words we use with more care often has a double effect of both making our speech more inclusive + clearer.
Think about what assumptions you’re making through your word choice + challenge yourself to find alternative words + phrases to make your posts more inclusive.
Simple switches from “men + women” to “people,” “parents” to “folks with children,” or “husbands + wives” to “spouses + partners” makes more people feel welcome in your online space.
Be the change you want to see
As with all the important things in life, we have to be willing to make changes ourselves to take a step closer to the world [virtual or otherwise] that we want to live in.
If we want a kinder, more inclusive social media landscape, we have to combine signing petitions, writing to politicians + other ways of putting pressure on the social media giants with a change in our own behavior.
Algorithms are designed to show you what you want more of – show them you want positivity, kindness + inclusivity.
Make your social media a healthy place for you to spend time.
Here are 7 tips for making better use of social media + how to curate your social media to align with your healing journey.
Follow self-growth + healing accounts
Make sure everyone you are following on social media is good for your self-growth + healing path. Tons of therapists, healers + healthy influencers are out there making + sharing content daily, you just need to find them. When you make your social media a place that is helpful + healing, the entire vibe changes.
Unfollow or mute accounts that done make you feel good
You don’t need to follow or see posts from people or accounts that make you feel like crap. Sometimes we join certain groups that are helpful but then we grow, shift or change + realize that maybe this group isn’t for us. This can be especially true in adoptee groups.
Make sure that you utilize the unfollow, snooze or mute buttons on social media!
Support local + support artists
Supporting local might seem like a no brainier but it isn’t. Generally, local business are smaller + don’t pay to boost social media advertising, if they even have a social media presence to begin with. Make sure that you follow, like + support local businesses, I promise, it goes a long way!
Supporting local artists can help you find more flow + rhythm with your creativity. Find artists that work speaks to you. Being around anything creatively inclined is always good for healing.
Follow niche accounts + interact with like minded individuals
Did you know that on social media there is literally a group for everyone? Name your weird obsession + I guarantee there is an entire community of people dying to talk about the same thing. Use your special interests to find, follow + interact with like-minded individuals.
If you are considering taking up a new hobby or exercise, join groups or follow like-minded people + experts. You’ll learn the etiquette, lingo + what the community is like. On social media you can follow + show support without being too involved while you are learning. Take advantage.
Follow accounts that reflect your life vision [like a manifestation board]
What a fun idea, to make your social media a manifestation board. Can you imagine opening up Instagram everyday + feeling the raw energy of pure motivation, creativity + healthy healing.
Find influencers, creatives + content makers that resonate deeply with you + your healing journey. What do you want your future life to look like?
Use your page to help + inspire yourself + others
Turn your social media page into a place you’d want to go for support, help or inspiration. Create the place you wish existed.
This is also a good way to find out who your people are.
Limit or track your social media time- enjoy your in person life
Be mindful of how much time + effort you put into each social media platform + which ones are beneficial, less beneficial or harmful.
In most phone settings you can track your time on each app + set limits + goals for yourself. This isn’t meant to add a new stressful component to your life, but to remind you of what is really important, what is right in front of you.
