Pressure from Social Media – How to Cope

Social media offers a way to stay connected with friends. But sometimes, it can lead you to compare your life to others’ or feel like you have to be constantly online. Social media can impact our mental health and self-image. The pressure from social media is very real and affects all of us.

Here are some tips to help you handle the pressure from social media:

Check in with Yourself
If you’re unsure about posting a certain photo or update, ask yourself why. Are you doing it to create a certain impression of yourself online? If your post is mainly about impressing a specific group, it might be better not to share it.

Remember Social Media Isn’t Real Life
Be critical of what you see online—most posts aren’t entirely real. Many are “staged,” with the same photo taken from different angles or edited several times.

Unfollow Pages That Make You Feel Bad
Look through the pages and groups you follow and ask yourself which ones make you feel positive or negative. Then, simply unfollow any accounts that put you in a bad mood.

Turn Off Notifications and Try a “No-Phone” Day
If you feel like you’re spending too much time scrolling through social media and feel trapped by it, try taking a break or turning off your phone for a while.

Talk to Someone
The pressure from social media can make you feel isolated, as if everyone else is living their best life—even if that’s not true. Talk to someone and share your feelings with a friend, parent, or someone you trust.