What are some best practices for fighting FOMO, loneliness, or anxiety related to social media? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Antigone Davis, Director, Global Head of Safety at Facebook, on Quora:
Scientific research demonstrates that strong relationships are a primary driver of human well-being and satisfaction in people’s lives. More than economic circumstances, career success, or other factors, meaningful relationships determine our feelings of happiness and fulfillment, connect us to loved ones, and unite us with those in our communities.
When people can’t break away from social media or primarily use it passively, their interpersonal relationships can suffer. When people constantly compare their lives to those they see online, it can erode self-esteem. And when people become isolated from their friends, families, and colleagues, it can create feelings of loneliness – the very antithesis of relationship and a serious risk to well-being.
At Facebook, we’ve been working hard to develop products that improve well-being. Our product efforts can be broadly classified into a few key areas:
- Focus on meaningful interactions: Relationships tend to be key drivers of well-being. Interacting one-on-one with with people that you care about is a great first step. Some other things to consider:
- Check out Groups: Interacting with others who share your interests online is often an effective way to feel more connected and to build community.
- Reach out directly: Rather than posting content, if you’re feeling down, it’s often better to reach out individually to friends individually – it’s a great way to catch up and connect with someone one-on-one.
Attend events: Social media platforms provide countless ways for people to organize locally and meet new friends. Try it.
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Source: How To Have A Healthy Relationship With Social Media
