Social Media Side Effects
Active ingredients:
Connection, community, good feels, humor, information, fake news, cruelty, insults, emotional turmoil.
Uses:
■ Connect with friends, family ■ Communicate ■ Offer and gain support ■ Build relationships ■Share inspiring stories ■ Find community ■ Plan together ■ Gain information ■ Share photos, videos ■Promote work ■ Create
Warnings — may cause:
■ Sleep disruption, daytime drowsiness ■ Inattentiveness ■ Diminished feelings of accomplishment ■ Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) ■ Feelings of inadequacy ■ Feelings of exclusion ■ Decreased face-to-face interaction ■ Unrealistic appearance standards ■ Screen addiction ■ Feelings of anxiety ■ Chest or stomach pain ■ Lost motivation ■ Delays in learning ■ Increased risk-taking ■ Bullying ■ Isolating behaviors ■ Decreased physical activity ■ Depressive symptoms ■Compromised eye health ■ Unrealistic views of self ■ Increased self-absorption ■ Relationship discord
When using this product — keep in mind:
Short clips (posts, videos, stories) do not truly represent real life. Photoshop edits, filters, and retouching apps intensify unrealistic beauty standards.
Directions: not recommended for ages 13 yrs and under.
For Ages 14 yrs and up:
■ Note which active ingredients you’re consuming and various effects.
■ Be aware of associated thoughts and feelings during use.
■ Curate your feed to experience positive feelings during use.
■ Do not use a minimum of thirty minutes prior to bedtime.
Keep out of reach:
■ When feeling down, alone, or isolated – can cause a negative downward spiral.
■ During breakups – can increase difficult feelings, excessive app checking, and hinder ability to let go.
■ When use prevents RL interactions – opting out of in-person events, use limits eye contact.
■ If drinking alcohol – may cause excessive messaging; increase embarrassment the following day.
■ If receiving unwanted advances, nude pics, or scams. If instincts say “this feels off.”
■ Following a crisis or trauma–seek professional help and in-person connections.
Possible negative interactions — do not mix with:
■ Insecurities–can increase current or create new self-doubts.
■ Boredom or infatuation–may cause binge scrolling.
■ Feelings of depression or anxiety–may heighten negative emotions.
Stop use or seek support if:
■ Use causes obsessive behavior and excessive app checking.
■ Use exceeds more than two hours per day.
■ Confusion occurs between reality vs. non-reality.
■ You feel yourself being sucked into the illusion of perfection.
■ Comparisons cause destructive thoughts and feelings.
■ Difficult feelings worsen.
