iThought: I am a Social Media Addict

          Have you ever been in a routine where you wake up checking your phone for notifications, eating while scrolling through your news feed and watching videos on YouTube, and finally, ended up updating your profile or feed before you sleep?

        If you do, I can relate to you. And unfortunately, we can be considered as Social Media Addicts.

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        A Social Media Addict has been describe by Tanya Goodin as an individual who compulsively and excessively using Social Media, may it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. In the year 2018, the number of internet users has grown to 4.39 billion and 3.48 billion of that population were using Social Media. The global average of Social Media usage in time is at 2 hours & 16 minutes. Whereas, in the Philippines, Filipinos use Social Media for 4 hours & 12 minutes, in average. Imagine, 17.17% of the day has been occupied by using this.       

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          However, these numbers equate to negative effect to us, users. We are being deprived physically, socially, mentally, and even emotionally. It is not good and right to continue to this routine for it will destroy every aspects of our personal lives. In that sense, here are some ways to properly use Social Media:

         1. Set boundaries on the time you will access your Social Media accounts - you need to have proper schedule on when you are going to use Social Media. For example, for this day, you are only going to check your accounts for 30 minutes in the morning, 1 hour in the afternoon, and 20 minutes in the evening. Your schedule might vary depending on your plan or tasks for that day.
           2. Turn off 'push' notifications - every device has their notifications setting in every application. Turn off this option especially to those Social Media applications that may tempt you to open it. However, notifications are important to some applications like Gmail for it is where you read and write your mails significant to your school and/or work.
             3. Have a regular Social Media detox - it is essential for every user to have his/her own break on using Social Media in order to use the time for yourself to rest or other activities. For instance, you will have a 1-day or 3-day break every month. This will help you lessen your exposure to those digital devices, stress, toxicity, bad/fake news caused by Social Media.
         4. Invest your time for some recreational activities and have some quality time for yourself and others - in relation to number 3, you must have a free time for yourself, family, friends, and other activities. You can have some time to walk outside, go to the gym, bond with your family and friends, pamper yourself, or in any recreational activities. It is advisable to establish meaningful, genuine, and lasting connections to all the people rather than in digital world.
     5. Follow and manifest these 10 Commandments in using Social Media

          Last reminder: it is not yet late to change your ways and routines. There are a lot of opportunities to improve yourself through simple things.