Social Media has created a world of opportunity - we can connect, share, and entertain all because we have access to the a mobile device connected to the Internet. Along with the filters, poses, and carefully crafted messages, we get to share the most perfect aspect of ourselves. So much so, that social media becomes like looking in a mirror to spot imperfections and adjust anything that does not align with the latest trend.
This generation, is for the first time, having to interact with people of all age groups, from different backgrounds and beliefs, all in a short space of time. And with that, comes an even greater pressure to be accepted and deemed desirable by all these groups.
We all want to belong.
SAFIGI, in their blueprint on Holistic Safety, describes it as follows:
‘Societal safety is measures taken to protect from harm or injury the psychological and physical being of another person. Societal Safety is rooted in the healthy relationships between individuals living in a shared society. This includes appropriate measures to provide support to others for their safety.’
When we use social media, we are not necessarily thinking about ‘safety’ in a sense. We are thinking about how others will perceive our online presence. The more we receive likes and comments, the better we may feel about ourselves. In cases when we don’t receive positive comments, sometimes we can delete what was posted or even double-down by saying we dont care what other people think. And yet, we are still affected by how others perceive us and what they say - whether it is positive, negative, or neutral. Imagine looking in the mirror (your phone) nearly every moment you are awake, to see what is happening, what others look like, and what you can do to be seen by others.
We become addicted to the approval of others.
Human beings are social beings, meaning that we need one another to survive. How we relate to others, and vice versa, is the foundation of the type of societal safety we can experience. Social media and our digital health can have impact on our self-image, and indeed, how realistically we view others.
How can one respond in the age of peer pressure online? Here are 5 tips to achieve societal safety and orotect your mental health online.
1. Disconnect from your phone and digital devices. If you are looking for a sign to do a social media detox, this is your sign. It is okay to go a full day without your phone - not because you are busy but simply because you decide to give yourself a break.
2. Identify which one are your thoughts and which ones are from social media: It is easy to start identifying with movements or ideas you see online without really thinking through why you believe something or support a certain cause. Give yourself grace to find out what you really believe, even if it doesn’t completely align with the trending culture.
3. Build a safe community. Be sure that you can find a safe and loving community, so that when you are online, you feel supported for who you truly are. There are multiple communities online, some can be good for you whilst others may make you feel pressured. Take your time to find a good supportive group, and be supportive to others as well.
4. Make the algorithm your friend. Social media algorithms will show you what you engage with the most. If seeing friends posts makes you feel bad about your body or your own life, mute those posts. You can also start following posts on things that give you joy such as nature or a certain subject or entertainment that does not leave you feeling worthless.
5. Be kind to yourself. Remember, it is okay to struggle. And sometimes, it is too difficult to not look into the mirror (your phone) every waking hour. It is normal to want to love and be loved.
As most of our lives have gone online, such as school, education, and health, it can be difficult to disconnect from interacting with what other people are doing, repeatedly seeing people who we think are more beautiful or more successful than us and wanting to fit in. Remember, it is difficult to fit in into a big changing world.
The best thing we can do is fit into the skin in our body and realize that that is enough.
You are enough.
Written by Hadassah Louis
Hadassah Louis (Esther) is the founder and lead administrator at SAFIGI Outreach Foundation. She is an artist and activist who started blogging about girls safety at 17 years old in 2012.
Hadassah loves to spend her time gardening, reading, swimming, and fantasizing. You can read her collection of short stories: Bow to Enter Heaven and other stories.
amazing amazing piece of work, this is so true we are going through a real epidemic and we need to be more aware to fight it off, this is great work.