Ideally, your social media feeds would be filled with things you would like to see. That might include thoughts and photos from your friends, updates from folks you went to school with, birthday wishes, and engaging content about things that interest or inspire you.
All of those things are available on social media, of course. But unfortunately, they are not the only things one encounters when scrolling on their favorite social media site. Almost everyone encounters negative and problematic content in their feed. If you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, however, the content you encounter on social media can undermine the hard work you have done to leave drugs and alcohol behind you.
Let’s take a look at some social media content that might be a problem for your recovery efforts.
The Highlight Reel
Most of us know that the people in our feeds are generally only posting the highlights of their lives. But knowing that might not always keep you from comparing your day-to-day life to the lives represented on social media.
As a result, you might find yourself experiencing feelings of jealousy or inadequacy because it appears your life does not measure up to those of the friends (and also the strangers) you see online.
You can flip the script on the highlight reel content you encounter by shifting your focus from yourself to the person who made the post. Liking a comment or image about an accomplishment or leaving a positive comment is an easy way to show someone a little kindness—and as we have written elsewhere, kindness is a kind of superpower in recovery.
The Endless Advertising and Clickbait
Our social media feeds are filled with ads for all kinds of things as the various algorithms work to figure out what we like and then to serve us ads related to those things. Sometimes that might be helpful, but it can also be dangerous if it leads to too much spending beyond your budget (or even to a substitute addiction).
Meanwhile, various kinds of clickbait tempt users to click on a sensational headline, take a quiz, or learn some juicy gossip by following the link. These sorts of things almost always lead to sketchy content. Their main purpose is to keep you online so that you can be exposed to more advertising—and ever more clickbait.
The various social media channels allow users some control over the ads and other content they will encounter while scrolling. Taking a proactive approach to limiting your exposure to dubious links and aggressive advertising is a good way to protect your time, your money, and your recovery.
Bid the Bots Goodbye
Do you ever wonder how many of the “people” you interact with online are actually AI bots? One study suggests that when a global issue—elections, natural disasters, etc.—is discussed on a social media platform, 20 percent of the chatter comes from bots rather than actual people. Bots can be used to stir up controversy, promote false narratives, and more.
When you are scrolling through comments and find one that makes you upset, it is worth asking yourself if the comment may have come from a bot. Again, oftentimes someone is using bots to elicit strong emotions and to muddy up any issue under discussion. If you suspect “someone” is a bot, ignore anything they post.
Of course, sometimes real people you know will post things that upset you. When you encounter that sort of post, ask yourself if social media is really the best place to hash out a disagreement. You might find that you feel better if you let the comment slide. If the post is truly troubling, it can be a good idea to snooze or block the poster. Protecting yourself from upsetting content is a good way to firm up the foundations of your recovery.
So, Should You Delete All Your Social Media Accounts?
Reading all that we have written here, you might find yourself wondering if the best way to support your ongoing recovery is to delete all of your social media accounts. As we noted at the beginning of this post, social media offers plenty of good things along with the bad. It is up to you to determine whether the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa. At the very least, consider adjusting your preferences and options on each social media site you use so that you are exposed to less content that could chip away at your recovery efforts.
We Are Here to Help in Real Life
If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, you definitely will not find the help you need on social media platforms. A far better choice is to get yourself into treatment.
At French Creek Recovery Center, located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, we provide personalized treatment plans to address substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. We will see you through medically supervised detoxification and follow that up with a robust rehabilitation program designed to give you the strategies and confidence you need as your recovery journey gets underway. When your time in treatment comes to an end, you can count on French Creek for continuing support.
You can reclaim your life—your real life—and we can help.