Commentary: Social media use and poor well-being feed into each other in a vicious cycle

So be mindful about how and why you use social media, and how it makes you feel. If most of your use falls under the “harmful” category, that’s a sign to change or cut down your use, or even take a break.

One 2015 experiment with more than 1,000 participants found taking a break from Facebook for just one week increased life satisfaction.

DON’T LET SOCIAL MEDIA DISPLACE OTHER ACTIVITIES

Life is all about balance, so make sure you’re still doing important activities away from your phone that support your well-being. Research suggests time spent outdoors, on hobbies or crafts, and engaging in physical activity can help improve your well-being.

So put your phone down and organise a picnic with friends, join a new class, or find an enjoyable way to move your body.

According to our findings, it may be useful to think of your own habitual social media use as a symptom of how you’re feeling. If your use suggests you aren’t in a good place, perhaps you need to identify and address what’s getting you down.

The first, very crucial step is getting help. A great place to start is talking to a health professional such as your general practitioner or a therapist. You can also reach out to mental health organisations for evidence-based support.

Hannah Jarman is Research Fellow in the School of Psychology at Deakin University. This commentary first appeared on The Conversation.