Social media, on the face of it, is hugely popular. Some 69% of the world’s population — that’s more than 5.6 billion people — have an active social media account, and that figure is even higher when focused just on the U.S., where 73% of people actively use social media.
But statistics don’t tell the whole story. While a big portion of people are using social networks, not all of them necessarily enjoy it. What started out as a fun way to connect with friends and family has turned into something else entirely. For many, the downsides of social media have come to outweigh the positives.
The good news is that it’s always possible to wrestle back control and turn social media into something that offers genuine value to your life. We’ve put together a few handy tips that can help to get things back on track.
Be Selective About Who You Follow
It’s easy to get carried away with followers on social media. It’s free to hit the follow button, and the more you do it, the more content you’ll find on your feed.
The issue with this approach is that the accounts you choose to follow will have a direct impact on how the social media platform makes you feel. Follow positive accounts, and it’ll be like a ray of sunshine. Follow negative accounts, and you’ll be much more likely to exit the platform a little less happy than you would like to be.
If things have gotten out of control, then start afresh. Removing all but your most beloved accounts can function as a spring cleaning exercise that helps to more closely align your account with what you want to see.
Try New Platforms
Do you remember how social media platforms used to be great? Alas, nothing lasts forever. Even social media websites that used to be awesome can eventually feel a little dated.
Many people think their social media options are limited to the big platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, but that’s not the case. There are new social media websites that offer all the upsides of these types of platforms, without any of the annoying elements that you’ll find on the larger, corporate social media sites. If you’re looking for an easy way to make social media fun again, then ditch your old accounts and move to a platform that is doing things differently.
Don’t Overthink Posting
You could argue that the early days of social networks were so much more fun because people posted without overthinking. Today, it can all feel too polished — and that can make people hesitant to post. If you want to share something, then do it! You’ll likely find that your followers love your less-than-perfect content.
Take Breaks
Finally, when in doubt, take a break. Social media isn’t going anywhere, and you’re unlikely to miss out on too much if you step back for a week, head into nature, and come back refreshed. You’ll likely interact with social media in a much more engaging way once you’ve taken some time for yourself.