Be Smart With Your Smartphone! 10 Ways To Use Social Media Sensibly

Despite the dangers and disadvantages of social media, I think it's one of the most positive developments of our age. The key is to use it sensibly.

And here are 10 suggestions for doing that.

1. Allocate specific break times to engage in social media and catch up on messages. Outside those times, put your phone on silent (or in another room) while you're working. One way of doing this is to use an online timer, like Pomodoro Timer. The "pomodoro technique" is to work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break.

2. Turn off social media notifications in your browser. When you're trying to focus on your work, and a popup suddenly appears, saying "Lou replied to your comment" it can be very distracting.

3. Try not to use your phone when you're out walking. If you do feel the need to use it, find a place to stop for a few minutes. Don't try to walk and text at the same time.

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If you have to use your phone when out and about, find a place to stop for a few minutes.

1. If you do feel the need to immediately respond to every single "ping" no matter what you're doing, ask yourself why. Is that person really more important than your time? Letting the other person wait a few moments till you finish what you're doing is a good discipline – and in any case, they won't even notice it. It might mean that they get to finish what they're doing too.

2. NEVER look at your phone while crossing the road! And NEVER use it while driving.

3. When you are using social media, try to focus on things that are funny or uplifting. Take note of people and/or pages on social media who often post things that make you laugh. When you're feeling a bit fragile or down in the dumps, look at their news feed. Notice how various types of posts make you feel, and if they inspire negative feelings, mute or unfollow them.

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1. Post funny stuff. If you feel depressed or have low self-esteem, resolve to post something funny on social media every day. The effort of trying to find or think of something funny to post will make you feel better.

2. In the evening, think of non screen-time activities to do – sports, games, reading, dog walking, conversations with friends. Maybe just try it for a week or two, and then see how you feel.

Why not do something non-screen based for a change? Source

1. At night, if you must have your phone in your bedroom, put it on "silent" mode between the hours of 11pm and 8am.

2. If someone you don't know friends you on Facebook, do some detective work. Check out their profile page. See how many friends they have, and if you have any friends in common.
   Look at their posts. Are they pushing a product? Are there photos of them engaging in various activities? If their profile pic is the only photo of them, or if all other photos look "posed", it could be a fake profile. And teach your children to do the same.

This is the third of three posts I've published about the dangers and advantages of social media. The other two posts are here:

Part 1: Can social media ruin your mental health?

Part 2: Friendship at your fingertips: can social media be good for your health?