6 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Social Media Use

Whether you’re scrolling on Instagram, TikTok, or whatever cool new platform the kids are using these days, social media can be a great space to make connections and share information. But it can also be a place of negative self comparison and procrastination. 

Apps are made to keep us consuming, so it’s easy to get sucked in and lost in the algorithm. That is why it is important to check in with yourself to make sure your social media use feels good to you.  

Here are six questions you can ask yourself when assessing your relationship with social media.

Why do I use social media?

People create and consume content for so many reasons. Some people have to be on social for their job, while some use social purely for pleasure. For others it’s a mix. 

When reflecting on your relationship with social media, think about why you’re there in the first place. You might have originally started your account to keep up with trends, but why do you return to it regularly and invest your time?

• Ask yourself: Am I using social media to… 

• create and maintain relationships?

• share and learn new information?

• find inspiration for fashion, art, travel, etc?

• create a community, brand, or business?

• decompress and giggle over cute animal videos?

How do I feel about my social media experience?

After you think about why you use social media, think about the experience itself.. Sometimes we can end up mindlessly scrolling for hours without checking in with how it is making us feel. 

What is your mood like before, during, and after you interact with your social media? How is your social media use affecting your anxiety, motivation, and self-esteem? Journaling can be very helpful to keep track of these thoughts and emotions.

Also, is your social media  experience what you intended? For example, if you are using Instagram with the intention of sparking your creativity, are you walking away from scrolling your feed feeling more inspired? If you want to use social media to connect with others, do you feel connected after? Are you happy with the amount of time you spend on it? 

Many people spend way more time than they intend to mindlessly consuming content on social media, especially when they are avoiding other tasks. How does it impact your procrastination? These questions can help you reflect on what you want from social media compared to your  actual experience, and help guide you to interact with it more intentionally. 

Should I clean up my social media feed?

Be thoughtful about the online space you create for yourself. Look at what accounts you are following and use that unfollow button. You might not be interested in the same accounts today that you were when you first created your account. It’s okay for your interests to change and to unfollow accounts that you used to like.. 

Having a positive experience on social media often requires sticking to your boundaries, so, make sure to put that block button to use! If someone is leaving comments on your content that upsets you, get them out of your space. You can help curate your experience on social media so you only engage with content that you want to..

During your social media spring cleaning ask yourself: 

• What do I gain from following this account? 

• Maybe its moments of joy from adorable puppy videos, or something less positive, like anxiety about your finances. 

• How does content make me feel?

• Check in with your emotions. What is the impact of this content on your mental health? For example: Does this content trigger negative body image? 

• Do I feel connected to my community?

• Does your feed have content made by people that you share identities with? If not, why? Are there more accounts you can follow to help feel more seen in your social media feed?

• Are there certain subjects that I don’t want in my feed?

• Do you want your feed to include current news or does seeing the headlines stress you out when you’re just trying to relax? There is no shame unfollowing those news sources and staying updated in other ways.

Do I like what I put into the world on social media?

When assessing your social media use, it’s important to look at your own side of things. What content and comments are you putting out into the social media atmosphere? Do they align with your values and identity? 

For some, the anonymity of the internet allows them to be more overtly cruel and critical than they would be in real life. Look at the comments and messages you have sent in the last year. Are they a good reflection of the person you want to be? If not, what would you change? 

Should I take a break from social media?

Do you habitually open the Instagram app on your phone, not thinking about the fact that you're scrolling until a minute in? Many people find breaks from social media helpful in interrupting those habits so that social media isn’t what you mindlessly turn to.

Unplugging can be a time of reflection and restoration. Use this time to find other ways to connect with yourself and others. Try filling the time you spent on social media by working on a hobby, reading, or calling a friend.

Some people can’t take a full break because they use social media for work, and that’s okay too! Try to dedicate specific parts of the day to social media use and set a time limit for when you’re on the app. There are helpful time limit features on phones and apps that can alert you when your time is up so you don’t have to keep track yourself. See what it feels like to have entire evenings when you don’t look at your phone before bed.

Is my social media use something I want to bring up in therapy?

Some people feel embarrassed to share how many hours they spend on TikTok or other social media with their therapist.It’s crucial to know that your therapist is not there to judge you! 

Therapy is a great place to talk about your social media use. It is a safe space to explore your goals for content creation, or the FOMO you felt when you saw pictures of your friend’s wedding. 

Together you and your therapist can analyze if your time on social media aligns with your values. And if not, your therapist can help you make a plan for change. 

Remember that there is no one right way to use social media so take the time to find what feels right for you now. Social media has become a big part of our culture and can be a lot to unpack. Know that you don’t have to do it alone! 

BLOG AUTHORS ALL HOLD POSITIONS AT THE GENDER & SEXUALITY THERAPY CENTER (G&STC). THIS BLOG WAS WRITTEN BY THERAPIST IN TRAINING CAROLINA BATISTA. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR THERAPISTS AND SERVICES PLEASE CONTACT US.