Social media makes it easy to discover new things like exotic travel destinations, the latest fashion trends, and the hottest restaurants in town. Too easy, some might say. Nowadays, venturing onto social media means being bombarded with content telling you what to do, what to wear, what to buy, and where to go.
Although the intention is usually to be helpful or inspiring, the result is that social media users are constantly being pressured to covet things. This inadvertent messaging is why social media usage has been linked to issues like anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Fortunately, there’s an emerging movement that’s attempting to reverse the disturbing effects of social media’s impact on mental health.
What is de-influencing?
De-influencing is a simple but powerful concept that promotes resisting impulse purchases or changes; approaching social media with an attitude of healthy skepticism; thoughtful self-reflection; and ultimately, being satisfied with what you have.
Whereas influencers would try to convince you that you need some product or other, de-influencing actively discourages people from giving in to content that attempts to make them buy or do something. Do you really need the newest, pricey home gadget or is it just shinier than what you already have? Would you really save that much more time or energy by upgrading or are you paying for the prestige of a brand name to receive admiration from others?
What does de-influencing look like? Often it’s individuals (de-influencers, as they are sometimes referred to), creating content that directly addresses a trend or viral product. They may point out aspects that are impractical, unrealistic, or harmful, or provide cheaper or better alternatives to whatever you’re considering. It’s also possible to de-influence yourself. All it takes is thinking critically about what’s being pushed online and whether it’s something you actually want or need.
4 benefits of de-influencing on mental health
De-influencing has a host of positive benefits that both directly and indirectly support mental health. From helping people reduce their social media-related anxiety to saving money Here are three key reasons to give de-influencers a moment of your time.
- Less FOMO
The fear of missing out, better known as FOMO, can be a major source of distress. Studies have shown that it has correlations with several negative outcomes like anxiety, depression, self-harm, and even suicide. De-influencing is like a breath of fresh air that can reassure someone that they’re not actually missing out on anything. It also has the potential to reveal how frequently things are misrepresented on social media. By revealing the sometimes ugly truth behind the beautiful people, places, or things seen online, it quickly becomes apparent why it’s unwise (and exhausting) to covet everything you see online.
- Save money
Three in 10 social media users report having purchased something because of a content creator’s post (if they also follow that content creator, that number jumps up to 53% of users) and about 4 in 10 admit that content creators influence what they buy to some degree. If de-influencing can convince you not to buy something, that’s money that’s staying in your wallet — and you save 100% of money you don’t spend. And that’s important since 82% of Americans report being stressed about money, which can have devastating effects on physical and mental health, along with our relationships.
- Reduce clutter
Being successfully de-influenced can slow the rate at which you buy new physical possessions. And since the majority of Americans just have too much stuff, odds are that you didn’t have the space for that new gadget or trinket you would’ve purchased. This matters because clutter and messy spaces can negatively impact mental health and make it difficult to focus.
- Resist immediate gratification
A big part of what makes social media so addicting is all the ways that it provides instant gratification. This tendency has trained us to crave immediate gratification, a mental itch that making impulse purchases can scratch. De-influencing can teach us to pause in these moments and look for reasons not to pull the trigger on an impulse buy.
Struggling with social media?
Social media itself isn’t necessarily the problem. The true culprit is that people are often looking for quick dopamine hits and overestimate the ability of external sources to make them happy. And when your happiness or self-esteem relies on external sources, you’re bound to end up disappointed.
Talking with a mental health professional is one way to learn how to have a positive relationship with social media and protect your mental health. Find a mental health clinic near you today.