Social media’s impact on our health, with Chris Martin (S5 E11)

Last Updated on June 26, 2023 by Michelle

In this episode of the Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy podcast we’re talking with Chris Martin, the author of a new book, The Wolf in Their Pockets. Chris has been studying and writing about social media for over half a decade and I think you’ll enjoy his insights and practical encouraging insights.

Table of Contents

Where to Listen or Watch

Listen on Apple Podcasts here: Social Media’s Impact on Your Health, Season 5 Episode 11 of the Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy Podcast

Or listen here:

And watch here:

Social media’s impact on our health, with Chris Martin

In this episode:

Does Social Media actually impact our health?
The average person is using social media for 2 1/2 hours every day and multiple studies have linked social media use to depression, anxiety, loneliness and suicide.
Social Media use leads to feelings of inadequacy, self-absorption, distraction, sleep disruption, and keeps us from developing real-life relationships.
So whether we want to admit it or not, our social media usage DOES impact our health.
95% of young people use social media and devoting a huge amount of time to it
How studies have shown that teens face double the risk of mental health issues because of social media use and habits
3 ways to look at social media (and why 2 are wrong)
The connection between TV of the 60s and today’s social media platforms
How entertainment went from a 1-way street to a 2-way one
Why social media is not simply a teenager problem
The most common thing kids want to be today when they grow up
Practical suggestions to limit the impacts of social media

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Wolf in Their Pockets

Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman

Techwise Family, by Andy Crouch

To snag Michelle’s Master Class on DIY kombucha at less than HALF PRICE

Ways to spend less time on social media:

Show yourself that the unpredictable (therefore addicting) results of social media are pretty predictable on your mood: For 1 week, 1x a day write down how you feel (from 1 to 10) before scrolling social media and again after.
Plan a real-life gathering with friends.
Make time to get outside.
Make exercise a “have to” and put it on the calendar.
Find a place you’d love to volunteer a few hours a week.
Spend time, face to face, with one friend every week.

Follow Today’s Guest:

twitter: @chrismartin17