In today's episode, I explore the complex impact social media has had on my life. I share how it has helped me stay connected with loved ones 800 miles away while also consuming hours of my day and leaving me feeling desensitized and questioning my identity. I share my struggles with managing my time on various social media platforms and reflect on how this constant content consumption has affected my compassion. Additionally, I ponder the critical question: "How does a child or teenager process this unfiltered content?" Join me as I navigate the highs and lows of our digital age.
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More about this episode "The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media":
Do you think you spend too much time on Social Media? I don’t think I do…I KNOW I DO! Of course I have good reasons to be on platforms like Facebook, Instagram & TikTok…my wife views my “reasons” more like excuses. I originally used Facebook to stay connected with my friends & family back after I moved to NC from CT. I was able to watch the journey of a friend go from taking care of several teenagers to taking care of herself and graduate college – she was in her 40’s when she graduated with honors, I watched another friend live her dream & become a mother to 2 boys, not to mention all of the births, birthdays,Weddings, Anniversaries & other life changing events that took place while I was 800 miles away. As far as Instagram & TikTok well…I’ve got nothing – it became more of a time sucker.
I find the videos posted on Instagram & TikTok to be very entertaining, but 3 hours later the ONLY thing I can think about is the garbage still needs to be taken out, the dishes aren’t going to wash themselves & if I don’t do a load of laundry people are going to see me in the same clothes for the 3rd day in a row!!!
Have you ever ask why we spend so much time on Social Media? Recently, I did just that! I wanted to see when I went on, for how long, & what was I looking at. I realized I went on to distract myself from “life”…it was an escape from having to be a responsible adult. I was on different social media platforms for hours on end & the content I was consuming wasn’t specific – it ranged from watching people get their ear wax removed, to watching cattle get their hooves cleaned & cut, to barbers cutting hair, to dance competition videos, to sports highlights, and on and on and on. The content was NEVER ENDING and it had WHATEVER YOU WERE LOOKING FOR AT THAT MOMENT!!! Before TikTok I wasn’t interested in ear wax removal…but I am FACINATED BY IT NOW!!!
The videos I mentioned are light hearted, but there is a never ending amount of videos that contains footage of things, in my opinion, the general public shouldn’t have access to. For example, a video showing a man being suffocated to death when an officer had his knee on the neck of the victim for 8 min & 46 seconds…of which 2 minutes & 53 seconds of that time the victim was non-responsive. I’m not looking to start a debate about what happened leading up to that incident – my point is focused on the fact that anyone with cable, internet access or a smartphone could see the footage of this man’s eventual death. What effect does this have on our society? How does a child, a teenager, a mother, a brother, a father, process this info – I’ve shared my experiences with death and the effect I believe they have on me 30+ years later. The combination of curiosity & accessibility appears to be a dangerous combination. Just the other day I was eating lunch and decided to distract myself by watching some videos online – when I read a caption that lead me to believe I really don’t want to watch this video…but I didn’t have the discipline not to hit play. The caption reads “Laughing Teens Intentionally Drive Car Into Cyclist, KILLING HIM” – (PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUSE) After watching the video there were a few things that went through my mind: How? Why? & WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
The how was directed at how was this so easily accessible
The why was about the thought process of these teenagers
Finally, the what is wrong with me was specific to the fact I just witnessed a man being murdered and it was as if I had watched this happen a dozen times before. I was sympathetic and felt terrible thinking about this man, his family, etc. But why wasn’t I crying, sick to my stomach, SOMETHING MORE! Am I numb to this behavior? I don’t know with 100% certainty, but I do know it follows a similar pattern in my life as I track down the root of my depression. There is no question that ones’ personal experience will have a greater effect on that individual in comparison to learning or witnessing what they experienced, but for me hearing about someones traumatic experience or watching a video of it has had an effect on my mental health. It’s like watching a scary movie – lets say specifically about ghosts…I might not have had a personal encounter with a ghost, heck I might not even “believe” ghosts exist, but you better believe if I find myself in a similar setting where the fog is rising from the ground late at night and the only sound I hear is that of an owl…I am confident my mind will recall the movie I watched & how it made me feel. So is it far fetched that watching a video of a man taking his last breath or a bicyclist being mowed down by a car could have an impact on our mental health?
I can't believe I just saw that happen... The feeling of shock and disbelief lingered in my mind long after I had closed the social media app. It was a video, one of those disturbing ones that seem to surface on your feed when you least expect it. It wasn't a scene from a horror movie or some fictional gore, but a stark, real-life incident that left me questioning not only my online habits but also the impact of such content on our mental health.
"Do you think you spend too much time on Social Media?" my wife had asked me once, and though I initially brushed it off, I couldn't help but wonder if she had a point. It's true; social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have their merits. They connect us with friends and family, allowing us to witness the milestones and joys of their lives, even when we're miles apart. But lately, it seemed like I was drowning in an endless sea of content, scrolling past countless videos that ranged from amusing to outright bizarre.
I decided to investigate my own habits. I tracked when I went online, how long I stayed, and what I was looking at. The results were eye-opening. Social media had become an escape, a distraction from the responsibilities of adult life. Hours melted away as I watched everything from oddly satisfying earwax removals to the mesmerizing artistry of barbers cutting hair. It was a never-ending stream of content, tailored to whatever fleeting interest I had at the moment.
However, there was a darker side to this endless content stream. Among the light-hearted and entertaining videos, there lurked videos that exposed the harsh realities of the world. I stumbled upon a video showing a man being suffocated to death, pinned down by an officer's knee for agonizing minutes. The sheer accessibility of such traumatic content was disturbing. Anyone with an internet connection could witness this man's tragic demise, and I couldn't help but wonder about the impact it had on our society.
The effects were profound. Children, teenagers, mothers, fathers – we all processed this information differently. I reflected on my own experiences with death and how they had left lasting marks on my psyche. The combination of curiosity and accessibility seemed to be a dangerous mix, leading us to witness and absorb traumatic events that were far removed from our own lives.
One day, as I mindlessly scrolled through my feed, a caption caught my attention: "Laughing Teens Intentionally Drive Car Into Cyclist, KILLING HIM." I hesitated, knowing that I didn't want to watch such a gruesome video, but I lacked the discipline to resist hitting play. As the horrifying scene unfolded before my eyes, a flood of emotions and questions overwhelmed me. How could this happen? Why did those teenagers do it? And perhaps most troubling of all, why wasn't I more affected by it?
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had become desensitized to violence and trauma. It was as if I had watched similar incidents unfold countless times before. I felt sympathy for the victim and his family, but there was a disconnect between my emotions and what I had just witnessed. It made me question the state of my own mental health and whether my repeated exposure to such disturbing content was taking a toll on me.
It dawned on me that the impact of traumatic videos on social media is not to be underestimated. Just like watching a scary movie can make you jump at shadows in real life, repeatedly witnessing real-life horrors on your screen can numb your emotions and desensitize you to violence and suffering. It was a wake-up call to reassess my online habits and protect my mental well-being.
In the end, I couldn't deny the profound effect that watching these traumatic videos had on my mental health. It wasn't just about personal experiences; it was about the relentless exposure to distressing content that left an indelible mark on my psyche. The question remained: is it far-fetched to believe that watching such videos could have a long-term impact on our mental health? The answer, I concluded, was a resounding no. We must be vigilant and mindful of what we consume on social media, for our mental well-being depends on it.
What is Dancing With Depression?
Welcome to Dancing With Depression. This is a podcast dedicated to opening up the conversation about mental health, focusing specifically on depression. I was diagnosed with depression in 2015.
I've realized how crucial it is to talk openly about this topic, breaking its stigma. Like taboo subjects such as income, politics, or religion, depression should not be off-limits.
Through sharing my journey, from my upbringing to my personal experiences and moments of vulnerability, I aim to convey that it's okay to feel this way. We are not alone, and most importantly, we did nothing wrong. Depression doesn't confine itself to a specific upbringing, socio-economic status, or background. I hope my stories encourage others to share their own experiences, highlighting how depression affects not just individuals but their loved ones as well.
Every day with depression is different for me. Some days, it's a mild waltz; other days, it can start with a tap dance, shift into a Salsa, and by noon, I’m a Ballet dancer – leaping, bending, lifting (the weight of my depression), and balancing myself on the tips of my toes all while spinning rapidly.
I invite you to join me as we navigate the complex dance with depression together, all while striving to Take The Lead!