education a large presence online may misuse their community outreach by spreading rumours about the origin , symptoms and treatment of the disease , posing health risks , increasing stress , and instigating xenophobic behaviour . In addition , panic consumerism has been largely influenced by the social media portrayal of the situation , leading to excessive fear and negative apprehensions . Despite audiences being alerted about fake news and unreliable sources , certain people still turn to social media for news on the pandemic . According to a study by Flixed , nearly 20 per cent of people in the US use Youtube as their primary information source with Twitter second in line . As a responsible consumer , we must factcheck news and information from medical experts and rely on reputable sources such as the national newspaper or the World Health Organisation . In addition , it is important to refrain from sharing hearsay and forwarding information without the support of reliable sources . According to research , repeated exposure to negative and traumatic events can result in high acute stress as well as activate the fear circuitry in the brain , causing flashbacks and mental disturbance that may lead to PTSD ( post-traumatic stress disorder ). Hence , it is important to disengage and cut off the endless exposure from time to time in order to manage stress levels .
Apart from misinformation , social media often influences our daily lifestyle and in the process leads to social comparative behaviour , diminishing our selfesteem . During this time of increased online activity , people across the globe are sharing their ‘ lockdown lifestyle ’ such as productive morning routines , skincare routines , cooking sessions and workouts . There is impending pressure to be productive or do something creative every minute of this quarantine period , adding to the existing pressures of social media in terms of social comparison and self-enhancement . It ’ s essential to note that every individual is being affected by the situation in different ways and is dealing with different issues . There is no norm for how one must cope or grieve and while activities such as baking and exercising might be relaxing for some , they may not be for others . Activities that were once enjoyed may become associated with stress due to the online social pressure to strive for perfection . It is important to note that social media only offers glimpses of people ’ s lives and not an accurate representation .
While it ’ s a good thing to be proactive , we should also be mindful as we aim to digitally disconnect . For starters , time spent on social media must not replace essential healthy behaviours such as sleep or exercise . If you are experiencing difficulties in unplugging , voice your struggles to a loved one or a friend . It may be helpful to team up with a buddy to set limits on screen time per day and hold one another accountable . It may help to designate screen-free times such as during meal times or bed time or even screen-free places in your home where you may get together with your loved ones to spend quality time . In addition , there are several applications that turn off wifi or block certain apps at predetermined times ( eg : StayFocusd and Forest ). Try charging your devices overnight in a room other than your bedroom in order to avoid nighttime social media use and ensure restful sleep . These measures will help reduce social media exposure as well as establish a routine , inducing a sense of normalcy . If anxiety or stress persists while you disconnect , guided meditation may be useful in achieving a calmer state of mind and feeling grounded . Alternatively , seek one activity that brings you joy or relaxes you and channel your energy into doing that . It could be as simple as sipping on tea on your balcony , reading a book or listening to music .
This article was adapted from a blogpost written for the Coolminds website . Coolminds is a joint initiative between Mind HK and KELY Support Group . Coolminds aims to provide comprehensive programmes for the prevention , early intervention and management of youth mental health .
www . coolmindshk . com / en /
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