A social media craze is happening. People share 350,000 tweets per minute. In 2017 it was recorded that 8.95 million photos and videos are shared on Instagram. So, the question arises as to how many users get to the information that really matters?

Social Media

Almost half of the world’s population (3.48 billion people) use social networks, a survey done in 2019 showed this. On average, people spend 145 minutes a day on social media. This makes the use of social networks the second most frequent activity in their free time, right after watching TV, and the results of the SocialMediaToday analysis.

We Are Addicted

As many as 2.85 billion people have Facebook accounts. As well as over one billion people use Instagram.

The development of social media and the digital sphere also influenced the amount of information that users of the internet are exposed to.

Roughly 67% of people use social media to interact with their friends. This is the most common reason for using social networks. Knowing about current news and events is another reason for using social media, while spending free time comes in last.

Also, people use social networks to find humorous content, share photos and videos, but also to find the products and services they need.

Invaluable but Risky

Social media has become a necessity in this day and age. It offers many qualities of life improvements for everyone. Regardless of your age group and interests. There is always something worthwhile to see. Social networks allow us to get in touch with friends and family around the world effortlessly. You can follow up on the news and the latest trending events without ever having to search for information. They are also great for starting and managing a business without immediately having to worry about managing a website.

However, despite the many obvious benefits, they are designed to attract and maintain users. Most design trends in the background of all social media apps you’re using are precisely engineered to be addictive as possible. Their interface layouts, the like/dislike system, notifications to never let you ignore what’s happening. In addition to many others designing decisions that all revolve around keeping users active on that platform.

This is especially a problem when it comes to children, as they are more likely to develop an addiction than any other demographic. Therefore, it’s mandatory to carefully manage the time we spend looking at screens and being on social networks. Here are some of the techniques you can use:

Use Apps to Limit Your Time Online

Since the main device through which we usually visit social networks is our phone. The first piece of advice would be to practice using time limits. This works best if you’re the type of person who prefers to function within predefined limits and boundaries. Although most of today’s smartphones have these features integrated into their system, some do not and you will need to download a new app for it.

Android and Apple have different ways of enabling this, but it’s easy and possible on both. On iPhone’s with iOS 12 or later, you can follow these steps to limit your time in specific apps, while on Android you can use an app like SocialX.

Digital Detoxification

The next thing you can do is try a digital detox. This is an old and effective way for people to overcome addictions such as workaholism, and dedicate themselves to their families. The principle is the same and it comes down to completely avoiding the use of social networks during the weekend. For a start force yourself to spend time on other hobbies and with people you care about during that period.

The most effective way would be to physically distance yourself from technology, and surround yourself with nature. Being away from electronics will be a great benefit both physically for your eyes and body, and mentally as a break. If the strategy starts working, you can then extend the weekend break period to as long as you need. If you are using social media for business, you can try this approach during the slower months when there isn’t a lot of work waiting for you.

Disable the Unnecessary Notifications

Another very simple and useful solution would be to turn off notifications. Everyone knows that this is beneficial but few people actually go through with it. Notifications are easily one of the worst offenders that keep us hooked to social networks. Because of the dopamine factor we never know what kind of message is coming whenever we hear a notification. Therefore it builds our excitement. This can work subconsciously too, even if you don’t really care about the subject of the message.

Add to that the desire to “clean up notifications” so that they do not clutter the screen and we end up constantly checking for notifications. You can select a few applications that you consider crucial and leave their notifications on, while disabling all the others. You can also leave the sound on only for instant messages while ignoring those about likes, comments and similar information.

Take Breaks Whenever You Can

If you work from home, which is a very likely scenario nowadays, you are likely spending hours in front of a screen every day. This can get very taxing if you’re also spending your spare time online, as then you have no breaks in-between. There are still ways to reduce the time you spend online by forming a routine. Try to introduce active breaks, get up and stretch at least once an hour. Even if you have limited opportunities for movement, you can try to get into chair yoga. There are many exercises you can do while sitting down which would benefit with longer work sessions.

Many in this situation spend more time in front of screens while in between work sessions, catching up with the news and checking Twitter or Facebook. Try to be aware of how much time you spend in front of the screen and what content you’re consuming, and then gradually reduce it. Look for online exercises that will help you achieve the recommended amounts of physical activity.

Remember to dedicate time to family activities every day. Play family board games, read books, involve adolescents in household chores, and find common creative hobbies, etc. If you manage to get your social network addiction in check, it will be easier to help others as well. Be a positive example and limit your time in front of the screen.

Social Media For Business

It is clear that social networks now have the role of classic media. They provide everything that interests us. That’s why they have become a favourite communication media in the business world.

For this reason, it’s imperative that you have a presence on the networks to promote your product or business.

Computer Coach Australia will teach you one-on-one in your office or at home as well as online training and give information on exactly what you need to know when it comes to social media for business.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about what we can offer you. It’s best to learn from an experienced teacher! You can call us on 0407 956 071 and have a chat about your needs.