How Social Media Is Hurting Mental Health & Causing Us To Disconnect From One Another (Solutions)

The latest research is pretty clear of the negative impact that social media and cell phones are having on our mental health and relationships. We just don't feel as close and connected to one another as we used to feel anymore. We use our phones to ignore one another versus stay connected.

How many times have you been in conversation with someone who looks at their phone and misses an opportunity to truly bond and connect with you? It is really affecting our kids because they were not raised to rely on playing outside, girlfriend get togethers without phones, and having fun with one another without distraction.

Here are the problems that it is causing per the latest research and data:

Problems:

- Loneliness is at an all time high even for families and couples.

- The average person is reporting feeling more disconnected from loved ones.

- Kids are building their self-esteem based on social media interactions but failing to have genuine connection with peers.

- Adults are losing self-esteem due to negative social comparisons to others who are only posting their best lives.

- Social media addictions where the average person can check their phone 8-10 times an hour for no set reason.

Solutions:

1) Dock cell phones during family dinner, family time and especially holiday time to build connection and relationship with the ones you love.

2) Seek connection versus comparison. Use social media to connect with others versus just scrolling and watching. Compare yourself to people who are only 1-2 steps ahead of you to benefit from upward comparison versus unrealistic comparisons (Elon Musk, Will Smith, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, etc.)

3) Show thanksgiving by having a daily or ritualized gratitude journal that allows you to focus on what you have versus what you lack.

Psalm 100:4- Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his court with praise, give thanks to him and praise his name.

So, focus on the things that you have versus what you lack to truly develop a heart of joy and avoid holiday sadness.