Well-Being Beyond Measure: Navigating Social Media [Session 7]

The seventh session of the Well-Being Beyond Measure series focuses on the implications of social media and technology. Whitney explores the effects of social media burnout, mental health impacts, addiction to the constant infusion of content, 'Influencer Creep', and the subconscious challenge of always striving to do more. Drawing from published articles and studies, she emphasizes the strategic psychological designs of these platforms and their potential to incite polarity and unrest. The importance of understanding the platforms, setting solid boundaries, and diligent introspection of one's behavior while using social media is advised. Whitney advocates for personal authenticity and selective attention to elements that bring individual joy and meaning, prolonging wellbeing beyond numerical measures or social media validations.Resources mentioned:Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now: https://amzn.to/4336fs4 Your Guide to Creating a Healthier Relationship with Social Media: https://www.healthline.com/health/social-media-and-mental-health?cmid=23304fe5-b3ae-4884-931a-0902fa32188d The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people: https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0001091 Social media polarized America by making a big mistake: It introduced us to each other: https://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-twitter-facebook-political-polarization-mechanism-2022-10 Influencer Creep: https://reallifemag.com/influencer-creep/04:23 The Magic and Loss of Digital World05:15 Whitney's Personal Journey with Social Media07:00 Understanding the Mechanism of Social Media09:08 The Dark Side09:47 The Influence on Body Image11:14 Social Media Addiction15:50 The Polarizing Effect of Social Media17:38 The Impact on Career and Self-Esteem19:52 The Decision to Step Away 30:59 The Power of Selective Attention