Social media has brought us closer in many ways. Where else could you have found a long-lost high school friend or a former neighbor from across the seas? Besides connecting people, these channels offer entertaining content for different hobbies and interests. In this glitter, you can easily find time flying ahead of you.
Research shows that 98% of Americans aged 18-29 have smartphones. Social media is a prime activity for much of this population; youngsters may spend hours perusing feeds, reels, and stories. Lately, though, more parents have realized that uncapped social media use can be harmful to mental and physical wellness.
If you have tracked any of the social media addiction lawsuits, you’ll know of its alleged connections to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. It’s easy to get swayed by idealistic vacation pictures of ‘perfect’ people. Social media feels intrinsically engaging for many, which can make youngsters cut back on outdoor activities and other hobbies.
Fortunately, the legal action taken by some parents has encouraged renowned tech companies to take proactive measures. One of the most prominent steps is empowering users to manage their time on social media platforms. Here are three practical solutions to let you find a balance.
#1 Track Your Time on Facebook from the Mobile App
Facebook has launched a helpful provision to control your time on the platform. You will need the app version on an Android or Apple phone.
From any page on Facebook, access the Settings and Privacy option (the three lines or hamburger menu). You will see ‘Your Time on Facebook.’ Voila! It shows you the time you have spent on the app. You can also see a visual of the usage from the past week.
The hallmark of this option is the possibility of regaining active control of your time. You can set a daily reminder to announce when your scheduled time for the day is up. That way, you’ll feel less tempted to carry on doom-scrolling and move on to other activities.
Beware that this feature works only on the app. So, if you use Facebook on another system, like your laptop, the time tracker cannot consider that usage.
On that note, it may be wise to restrict your social media use to one platform. For example, why not let your laptop be for work and studies? The division may improve the enjoyment you get from different activities.
#2 Regain Focus With Instagram’s Quiet Mode
Instagram possesses a treasure trove of fascinating stories from peers and influencers on diverse subjects like fashion, beauty, and travel. The temptation to keep scrolling through reels can keep you up at night. Meta has launched a ‘Quiet Mode’ feature to tackle this challenge.
While this mode is active, you won’t receive Instagram notifications or DMs. But fret not. Instagram will send an auto-reply to anyone who messages you, letting them know about your spectacular new time-management technique. At first, it might seem prohibitive and isolating. But the platform intends for teens – or anyone else – to see it as an assertive step.
To get started, you have to click your profile picture on Instagram. The hamburger menu will show you the bell icon for notifications. From there, you can activate Quiet Mode. It also lets you pick the days you wish to activate quiet mode. How’s that for taking better control over your time?
#3 Manage Daily Screen Time on TikTok
Another highly engaging social media platform, TikTok, has also taken active steps to let you set limits on your screen time. You can enable the TikTok time limit from Settings and Privacy. It sets a cap on your daily consumption of the platform’s content. Once the time is up, you can exit the app.
Reports of excessive social media use triggering emotional distress have become frequent. TruLaw notes that more parents are opting for legal counsel to hold corporations responsible for the inbuilt addictive elements or hooks in social media platforms. Against this backdrop, time management developments are a positive sign.
TikTok has assumed responsibility for minors on the platform by setting their maximum limit to one hour. If circumstances require anyone to exceed the daily limit, they must enter a passcode.
What’s interesting is that the channel has given this thought. Besides a daily ceiling, you can also find options for screen time breaks and sleep reminders. Every week, you can find reports on the time you’ve given to the platform. TikTok breaks it down into Day and Night Time for further insights into your usage patterns.
Other Benefits of Managing Your Social Media Time
Time management is undeniably tricky, especially when you lead a packed life and see social media as your route to unwinding. However, applying the strategies mentioned can effectively bring you more focus, peace, and balance.
A Pew Research survey sheds light on something unexpected. It found that 72% of teenagers in the US often feel peaceful when their smartphone isn’t around. About 42% of teens say smartphones make it challenging to pick up good social skills.
Since time is precious, you must make the most of it. All indicators point to the likelihood of a more balanced life if you control the time spent on smartphones, in general, and social media, in particular. It’s worth trying anyhow.
