Do you enjoy connecting with friends and other like-minded individuals on social media? Sharing important life events and photos can be a great way to stay in touch with friends. But is there a cost to sharing so much of your personal life online? Most research points to the answer being a solid, “yes.” We’ll tell you why and show you how to correct the issue in the article below.
Spending your free time on social media is fun, but it can also be harmful. From sabotaging your dream job to making the wrong first impression, and even limiting your ability to have meaningful relationships, moderation matters. Without being overly dramatic, we’ll help you get to the bottom of it so you can enjoy social media the right way – no angry defriending or lost jobs involved.
Here’s How Social Media is Killing YOUR Ability to Succeed in the Future:
Obtaining Gainful Employment
Considering switching jobs? Maybe you’re applying for a higher position at work. Either way, you need to be extra-cautious about what you post on social media, because the wrong post or photo could give the wrong impression.
Most employers do background checks before they hire a potential employee. Part of the review process may include taking a close look at your Facebook page – and they may not even tell you they’re doing it. Sure, it’s questionably ethical, but employers do do it, so the best you can do is avoid posting the wrong things.
Pages you like and who you associate with may also be an issue, especially if they are publically displayed for anyone to see. Associating with the business’s competition, criminals, or questionable organizations? All bad news.
To fix this issue, think of what you would want grandma to post. Clean up your social media page or at least make it private so you don’t run the risk of ruining your business reputation.
Seeking Meaningful Relationships
Social media can be deceiving. If you’ve met someone online and not in person, they may not be exactly who they seem. It’s easy to add a friend who looks great and appears to have a stellar personality, at least digitally.
Here’s the issue with that: by altering photos and refusing to engage in face-to-face conversation, you limit your ability to connect with the real person. It’s hard to read someone without seeing their body language, and that could expose you to real risks (it’s all fun and games until someone buys a plane ticket and you realize you can’t stand each other in real-life).
Look – we aren’t saying people never find meaningful, lasting relationships online. Heck, some of the best relationships you’ll ever make will be online friends. It’s just harder to establish something real without direct contact. To avoid the disappointment and mystery, engage in a real-life date once in a while.
Affecting Your Inner Wellbeing
Scrolling through your friends’ social media accounts and seeing pictures from vacation, parties, and exciting opportunities? That’s a real downer when you’re struggling yourself. In fact, it can even trigger feelings of Depression and isolation. If you’re feeling left-out, you aren’t alone. It happens to the best of us.
Without being physically present or having interaction with them, you can still feel a strong emotion brought on by simply looking at a post or photo. Social media can trigger feelings of sadness, jealousy, anger and uncertainty. It can ultimately affect your mental health and overall mood for the day. Some people can turn the feelings off, while others can’t. It’s a cycle that can’t be broken until you cut back on social media platforms.
Risking Your Safety
There are times when sharing on social media can be a risk to your safety. Applications like Snapchat may use GPS tracking from your smartphone; if you have your settings adjusted for others to see your location, anyone can track your movement. This isn’t good if you wish to go incognito or don’t want people knowing your whereabouts.
Checking in to your favorite restaurant? They may see that. Saying that you’re at work? They might be able to see that, too. With a little sleuthing, employers and even criminals can track you and learn your schedule – and that could lead to the loss of a job or even falling victim to a crime.
Social media has many benefits, but it can also be destructive toward your future and even harmful to your overall well-being. Stay safe online by having protective measures in place at all times, and remember that moderation is key. Know when to fold ‘em and walk away when the chips are down. You’re more than your online persona!
~Here’s to Your Success!
