JAKARTA - Maintaining mental health in the midst of the heavy flow of social media is a challenge in itself in the current digital era. Exposure to information that is constantly, the demand to always be connected, and the culture of comparing oneself often affects the psychological condition without realizing it.
Therefore, special awareness and strategies are needed so that the use of social media does not have a negative impact on mental health.
Anti-aging care doctor and health content creator, dr. Clarin Hayes, M.Biomed (AAM), revealed a number of steps that can be taken to protect mental health from the negative effects of excessive social media.
According to Clarin, the development of digital technology has brought quite complex psychological consequences. Some of them are addiction to social media, the emergence of fear of missing out (FOMO) or fear of being left behind from the current trend, to anxiety due to the habit of comparing personal lives with what others show in cyberspace.
"Various studies also show that excessive use of social media is related to increased risk of anxiety, depression, and loneliness," said Clarin as quoted by ANTARA.
He explained that a number of studies have found that online social interactions are not entirely able to replace face-to-face relationships. According to him, communication through the screen tends to be more shallow and less able to build strong emotional attachment compared to face-to-face meetings.
Not only that, the rapid flow of information on social media can also trigger a condition called cognitive overload. This situation makes it easy for someone to lose focus, get distracted quickly, and have difficulty completing work or making decisions.
Clarin also reminded of the dangers of chronic digital stress. Chronic stress, he explained, has been scientifically proven to accelerate the aging process while lowering overall health quality.
To minimize the impact, he suggested some practical steps. One of them is to provide a special time that is completely free from gadgets, such as reading books, doing light exercise, or spending quality time with family and loved ones.
In addition, he considers it important to review the types of content consumed daily. Clarin advocates that social media users are more selective and prioritize content that is educational, inspiring, and has a positive impact on self-development.
He also emphasized the importance of intentional connection, namely using digital devices with a clear purpose so as not to be trapped by following the algorithm flow alone.
"When opening a gadget, we need to be aware of what our goals are. Don't just scroll without direction because of the algorithm. Use digital media with full awareness and intensity," he explained.
In addition, Clarin suggested the implementation of content diet, namely limiting the consumption of content that does not provide benefits for mental and cognitive health.
"Digital health is very important because it has a direct impact on emotions and mental health. In the end, mental health also contributes to the quality of life and longevity of a person," he concluded.
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