Social Media Hygiene is important and any time, but especially of in a time of crisis.

What do I mean by Social Media Hygiene? 

I mean taking a deliberate and considered approach to how you interact with social media, so that you can get the best out of it while avoiding some of it’s less helpful aspects. 

Social Media is an amazing thing. It helps us connect with others, keep up to date with family and friends and helps us reconnect with old acquaintances.

Unfortunately there is another side to social media.

While it helps us keep informed, the sheer about of information available can be overwhelming and a lot of that information is option, unverified and conflicting. Conflicting information can be very difficult for us to process, and be very confusing. One source is saying this while another is saying the opposite and friends and family are expressing their, sometimes differing, views and opinions. This is especially difficult in a time of crisis where the correct information becomes even more important.

Managing Social Media

Time

Limit the amount of time you spend on social media platforms. Be deliberate and decide how much time you are going to spend there and stick to it. Many devices and apps now have features to help mange screen time and limit the use of some apps, this can help us mange the time we spend on them.

Information

There is a lot of information on social media and unfortunately not of if it is helpful or even true.

Pick trusted news sources to get your information from, this is especially important for medical advice. Only take medical advice from Medical Professionals. Here in the UK the NHS is a good source for medical information. 

Fact versus Opinion

Facts are things that are objective true. Opinions are someones subjective feelings on a subject.

Try to discern the difference between Facts and opinions. Ask your self is this just someone’s opinion or is it a fact. Where is this information coming from? If its a friend, where did they get their information from?

Facts have sources for where the information comes from, opinions don’t. 

Here’s an example- Radiohead is the best band in the world! (Opinion)

Radiohead is a band formed in Oxfordshire in 1985 (Fact, source wikipedia)

An issue can be that opinions create an emotional response. Some of you will agree with the above opinion some of you won’t. This emotional response makes us more engaged in options whereas facts can leave us cold. Try to remember this as you scroll through social media and check sources before acting on information.

Filter

It can be a good idea to filter the information you receive, by muting, unfollowing and unfriending sources that are unreliable, purely option and that make you feel overwhelmed and anxious. 

Posting

Remember that when you post anything on social media you are publishing it to a wide group of people and possibly the world. Publishing laws can apply.

Ask yourself why you are posting? Is it your opinion? If so make that clear. Is it a fact? If so state your sources. Is it offensive or harmful to others? Is it helpful?

Take a moment to consider thees things before you post.

Step Away

If you do find yourself becoming overwhelmed, confused or anxious while using social media, remember you can step away, close the app and do something else. It is ok to disengage from social media, if it is causing distress. It is your choice. 

Social Media is a tool. It is neither good not bad. It is up to you how you use it.