We spend an average of 2 hours and 27 minutes a day on social media (Photo: Getty/)

Sharing everything online is a hassle.

Today, more than half (58.4%) or 4.62 billion people in the world use social networks, spending an average of 2 hours and 27 minutes a day.

According to Datareportal’s January 2022 Global Digital Survey, 424 million new users have entered the Internet in the last 12 months.

More and more people are joining platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter to keep up with the latest trends and follow favorite celebrities online.

While apps like BeReal promote a more realistic approach to social media, Gen Z avoids social media due to its “toxic” effects.

ქი Mental health

Carefully edited Instagram channels, heavily edited images, and perfectly crafted lives make these platforms fun.

It can also have a negative impact on mental health and put unreasonable pressure on people who don’t have the funds or the best photographic equipment to create high-quality content.

According to social media expert Georgia Aldridge, some people quit social media after noticing its ill effects.

“He is away from his work, business and family life,” he said. “Some people are far from the platform, spoiled and trusted, and they don’t feel as far away as they should be in life.”

This is because many people use Instagram to share the “victory” of life or to misrepresent perfection. “

Pandemic

Pandemics also have an impact. “When the pandemic started, I stopped posting,” said Mumbai-based freelance writer Juvaria Merchant.

“At that point, it just became our conscience. You couldn’t meet anyone, you couldn’t go anywhere, what did you intend to post about?”

For the first five years, Juvaria has been on Instagram and Snapchat. She posted everything on the internet. She shares all the places she went, all the food she ate, and the friends she met.

However, after Covid restrictions cut publication short for a few months, Juvaria began to enjoy keeping her personal life.

“For now, I haven’t intentionally posted anything, even if the restrictions have been lifted,” he told me.

“The pressure to take perfect photos every time I go out is gone. In my opinion, I don’t need to give too much information about my daily life to people I barely know.

“The days of constantly updating my social site are over. I used to upload stories. [on Instagram] Once or twice a week. Recently, I speak once or twice a year.

For others, pandemics have led to increased use of social media.

“The use of social networks was the best of all [during lockdown]And people were spending time looking at how other people’s lives compared to their own,” explains Georgia.

“The pandemic was a time when none of us were happy to be in such a helpless situation, so I think social media is adding to the sense of despondency for many.

“At the end of the pandemic, this overwhelming sense of insecurity has made many people, including celebrities, tend to take a break from social media or ‘detox’.

safety

Online posting can also threaten personal safety.

Laura Taylor, founder of the social media agency SocialFlow Collective, said:

“I’ve also seen stalker horror stories. Some people take their dogs for a walk every day, but the place is easy to find and they get chased.”

“I don’t want to share a particular place too much.”

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Tom Burlett, social media expert and marketing manager at fizzbox, cites lack of organic access and reduced engagement as reasons people leave these platforms.

According to a 2021 survey of schools in the UK, 18% of students say they want to be influential. Since then, many have created Instagram and YouTube accounts, but Tom explains that it is very difficult to get a loyal following.

“Many people understand what happens under the influence. Most ‘influencer’ accounts last less than six months.

But the lack of involvement is not the only problem affected.

“10 years ago, everyone was posting vacation photos on Facebook, while friends and family left comments about how great the photos were,” explains Tommy.

“But these days, the average Facebook news feed is filled with ads and page posts, which means family and friends are posting less and less.

“This has reduced the need to upload photos to Facebook.”

Create memories for you

Monetizing everything has made many happy, including Twitter user Mia. Mia is currently storing her content.

“You have to keep taking these photos for your own memories,” says Mia.

“You look back and miss the memories of years of your life. I did not stop recording videos. I stopped posting on social media.

Now I send all the photos to my family or keep them to myself. I love those memories. “

Will the use of social networks increase when the summer begins, returning to life before the pandemic? Მ Only the time is known.

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