We all know that when it comes to our social media feed, the algorithm loves the negativity and the drama. Unfortunately negative videos that focus on another person’s mistakes, a negative restaurant review post or a face-to-face confrontation will go viral and receive over 400K views. Positive posts that focus on uplifting each other, positive memes, quotes or posts that encourage a positive mental health may only receive 100K views or likes.
When a person’s mistakes, a negative restaurant review post or a face-to-face confrontation is posted for the world to see, it gives the opportunity for people to post, troll and give threatening, demeaning and degrading comments, based on their opinion of the situation.
As we navigate through the unfortunate negative pieces of social media trauma and cyberbullying that many of us have gone through, SociaLight Stars would like to provide you with 6 tips and steps towards navigating social media trauma and proceeding towards the healing process.
- Tip 1: Go within the settings of your social media pages and make sure that only those that can comment are your followers that you follow back and those that support your page with positivity.
- Tip 2: Turn your notifications on silent. This will help ease the anxiety of feeling the need to check your social media notifications constantly or the anxiety of feeling the need to argue back and forth with those who have their negative opinion about what they have seen or heard about you on social media.
- Tip 3: Audit your social media followers, your feed and your FYP (For You Page). Make sure you are following accounts/pages who provide positive content and are humorous. Also make sure you are following accounts who encourage positive mental health and ways to improve your digital wellness and digital well-being. Any accounts/pages that do not provide these examples, unfollow them. Delete and block them if you have to as well.
- Tip 4: Limit your screen time by setting a daily screen time goal on your digital devices. If your digital device does not come with a Digital Well-Being app, download Well-Spent, Clear Space or ScreenZen. The maximum screen time we should be absorbing through our digital devices is 4 hours a day. Limiting your screen time will also help with doom-scrolling prevention.
Doom-scrolling is the act of scrolling through your phone because you are bored, while also expecting to see negativity within your feed. - Tip 5: Seek support offline, through counseling and therapy. Find out where to find your local therapist or counseling office in your area, that will provide more tools towards healing from social media trauma and cyberbullying. Many therapists and counselors accept all forms of health insurance and there are a few offices that offer a few, free sessions, depending on the severity of your mental health.
- Tip 6: Taking a social media detox or social media break will help in the healing process. Removing the app from your phone for a specific period of time, we recommend 30-45 days, to help clear your mind and help you understand that you had a purpose in this world before people had an opinion. A social media detox also allows you to take your power back and not feel tied to your digital device.
As we enjoy the positive aspects of social media, such as how-to videos, affirmations and positive podcasts snippets, I encourage each of you to THINK before you post or make that comment:
- T – Is it TRUE?
- H – Is it HELPFUL?
- I – Is in INSPIRING?
- N – Is it NECESSARY?
- K – Is it KIND?
To find out more about SociaLight Stars and our mission please go to www.socialightstars.org or @socialightstars on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Author’s Bio:
From business owner to social media trauma survivor, Raenae Thompson has lived a piece of her adult life leading others into a field of entrepreneurship while under the microscope of public opinion. Spending the majority of her adult life in Charlotte, NC after graduating from North Carolina A&T in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Raenae also has achieved 20 years of experience in the education field, while starting her business SociaLight in 2017.
While leading and thriving in her business, in 2021 a family trauma escalated into social media trauma which caused severe depression, social media anxiety and thoughts of suicide.
She decided to turn her trauma into triumph and create SociaLight Stars, an extension of her current business, SociaLight. In 2024 she unfortunately has continued to deal with cyberbullying from the relative and Raenae continues to press forward with her non-profit, no matter the negativity. SociaLight Stars is a non-profit movement that educates the community and guides those who have been affected by social media trauma and cyberbullying, into a space of healing, through motivational videos, digital citizenship education and the SociaLight Stars podcast on YouTube.
Raenae is a firm believer that her story will help those who have experienced the same trauma she has healed from, while also continuously making the public aware of situations that cause a negative impact from social media.
In her spare time, she enjoys recording her podcast videos, continuing her research on digital wellness and well-being while also spending time with her husband to two wonderful boys.
