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A Growing Influence

This is a picture of me at a shoot I had this summer in Los Angeles. 

(Photo Taken by Caleb Thal In Los Angeles)

Hi everyone! My name is Christen Rhule and I am a junior studying Advertising with a concentration in psychology at the University of Florida. I will be blogging about the influence social media has on our generation and its strong relationship with mental health.

Alongside being a full-time student at UF, I am a signed model and social media influencer. Over the past 3 years, I have accumulated over 121,000 followers on Instagram by showcasing my personality, fashion, and work as a model. Having this platform has landed me some of the most amazing experiences of my life including working with brands like Marc Jacobs and Chanel Beauty. 

I chose this topic because I have witnessed first hand the influence social media has on individuals. It has been a huge asset in my career and through analyzing my own analytics, I understand how one post can reach hundreds of thousands of people from all ages around the world. My agents are also always stressing the importance of my platform because it is a way I market myself, my own brand and influence purchase behaviors for brands I collaborate with.

I am also studying advertising and psychology and these topics have very strong correlations, especially in our generation and younger. Almost everyone now has some form of social media platform as it is becoming an essential asset in society. While uses vary, we can all agree that we are the most influenced generation and that is due to the overload of the content we are exposed to every day.

Social media has given our generation a voice and freedom to express ourselves in this digital age. While this is revolutionary and has its benefits, it can also be detrimental if not consumed consciously. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube give the world access to the lives of strangers and some people don’t fully know how to distinguish what is real and what is curated specifically for these platforms. 

Social media has definitely created feelings of anxiety and depression within me despite my following and influence. I have access to content that allows me to constantly compare my life to others whether I know I am doing it or not. I’ve seen how its use can suck me out of the present moment and can turn into a habit that leads to major detriments on my own overall mental health and self-growth journey.

I realized that this feeling is not uncommon. It is actually quite natural but there are solutions to use social media in a beneficial way that does not take away from one’s sense of self. Through this blog, I hope to spread the message that it is normal to have feelings of anxiety from social media but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to spot feelings of underlying mental illness early and change the way we consume content to better our mental health.

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Why We Use It

The photographic depicted displays all the different ways we use social networking sites.

Photo Credit: https://www.simplilearn.com/real-impact-social-media-article

Social media has become an essential asset in today’s society and its rapid growth has curated an entirely new form of human interaction. Platforms such as Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter allows people all over the world to connect and share information online 24/7. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center discovered that nearly two-thirds of American adults, roughly 65% of the population use social networking sites (Perrin, 2018). From that statistic alone, it is clear that social media plays an integral role in today’s society.

There are multiple ways to use social networking platforms. The first is very simple- to connect with people. Social networks like Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook give individuals the ability to share information and ideas family, friends, strangers, and brands via the internet. These channels have become information hubs that offer a free space to showcase photos, videos and other media-related information that anyone can access. 

Through these platforms, relationships can be made based on what we share that arent 100% personal. The emergence of the “influencer” is a great example of this. People connect to other online personas that lead them to want to keep up with the lives and gain inspiration on style, lifestyle activities and even what to eat based on these platforms.

There has been a shift in the way we are influenced by the incorporation of social media. We are now leveraging away from traditional advertisements to buying things from people we think we relate to or have internet relationships with. There is a form of intimacy and trust that can be formed from sharing one’s life online that has become one of the most effective ways to advertise to the public.

This introduces the second way we use social media- to discover, save and share new content. This can also be divided into a leisure basis or for business purposes. A lot of the content on social media can be seen as organic content curated for entertainment purposes that friends, family or anyone interested in viewing can see. However, as the monetization of these platforms was introduced, a lot of the content we view is curated for marketing and advertising purposes.

Essentially, social media has shifted the way we communicate and consume as a whole. It is an open space to share yourself with the world. However, it is important to distinguish what role you play when using social media. There are specific questions one should ask themselves when hopping online. Good questions to ask are “Am I here for entertainment or educational reasons?” or “Am I here to create content to build something for myself?” Being able to distinguish where you stand between those questions will better shape your experience with these platforms.

Perrin, Andrew, and Monica Anderson. “Share of U.S. Adults Using Social Media, Including Facebook, Is Mostly Unchanged since 2018.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 10 Apr. 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/04/10/share-of-u-s-adults-using-social-media-including-facebook-is-mostly-unchanged-since-2018/.

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FOMO and The Psychology Behind Social Media

The graphic depicted above is a great illustration of what FOMO can look like.

Photo Credit: https://online.king.edu/news/psychology-of-fomo/

Now we that understand the integral role social media plays in our lives as well as its different uses, we can now dive deeper into its psychological influence. I’m sure the term FOMO is a familiar one, especially as young adults living in a very social society.

FOMO stands for “Fear of Missing Out” and this feeling is heavily influenced through social media and its addictive characteristics. When going on these platforms and having access to the content of all forms, we can psychologically create expectations for ourselves that are not always healthy or realistic. The aspect of likes and views is a subtle way our generation validates itself.

It’s like working really hard to go to university but thinking you’re not doing enough because you see influencers all over Instagram traveling the world and getting paid to wear clothes amongst getting millions of likes. Or even watching friends Snap Chat stories from your bed, wishing you were at the party all your friends are posting about. 

Social media creates a need for instant gratification in all we do. Author and motivational speaker Simon Seik highlights the addictive nature of social media due to this constant search for validation and gratification whether we are conscious of it or not. 

He says “The desire for a ‘hit’ of dopamine, coupled with a failure to gain instant gratification, may prompt users to perpetually refresh their social media feeds.” Constantly refreshing one’s media feed thus creates feelings of anxiety because we are now able to stay up to date with the social activities of celebrities and our own social circles.

Essentially, social media and it’s content overflow increase our awareness of everything we’re not doing or could be doing. As humans, we desire human interaction so these feelings are completely natural. However, it is essential to know how to manage these perceived exclusions so we don’t hinder ourselves psychologically. 

Blog, Interactive Schools. “Dopamine: How Does This ‘Digital Heroin’ Impact Our Tech Lives?” Interactive Schools, Interactive Schools, 15 Feb. 2018, https://blog.interactiveschools.com/blog/dopamine-how-does-this-digital-heroine-impact-our-tech-lives.

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Identifying Unhealthy Patterns Within Yourself

The graphic depicted above shows the significant signs of mental illness that individuals should be mindful of experiencing.

Photo Credit: https://www.verywellmind.com/definition-of-mental-illness-4587855

A lot of times we are unaware that we are creating unhealthy patterns for ourselves when using social media. Do you go on Instagram first thing in the morning? Do you find yourself getting anxious before posting a picture or getting upset when you don’t get the amount of desired likes?

Again, these feelings are completely normal and the first way to change these patterns is to identify them within yourself. A great tool to identify negative mental patters is to create a short mental health questionnaire for yourself. This is an easy way to really sit with yourself and understand the way you are using social media and how it’s impacting your psychological well being.

The first question you should ask is “Do I find myself feeling dissatisfied when I cant use social media?” If yes, this can be a sign of having withdrawal symptoms. Professor Stefan Stieger of the Department of Psychology and Psychodynamics at KL Krems identifies social media withdrawal symptoms as increased urges to use social media. These are feelings of heightened boredom when not using social media as well as bad moods after not being able to access social media. These symptoms are very similar to the withdrawal symptoms of narcotics!

Another question you can ask yourself is “Do I regularly get into arguments with others over social media?” If yes, this can indicate conflict within yourself and the environment you create around social media. These conflicts of course trickle into deep psychological conditioning social media has the power to induce. Dig deeper and ask why you’re arguing as well.

Another great question to ask is “How do I feel after using social media?”

I suggest putting a lot of thought into this one, even tho the question is quite simple. If the answer is anxious or depressed, that is a clear enough indicator that there are patterns that need to be changed in the way your consuming content online.

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions but if we cant answer them clearly for ourselves, we risk our mental health over the illusions social media can present to us. It is important to really value yourself and your mental health because that is the real reality at the end of the day.

Landsteiner, Karl “Even Brief Abstinence from Social Media Causes Withdrawal Symptoms.” Medical Xpress - Medical Research Advances and Health News, Medical Xpress, 14 Nov. 2018, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-abstinence-social-media-symptoms.html.

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Have A Better Experience

The photo depicted above is a great list of questions to ask yourself in order to navigate through social media in healthier ways.

Photo Credit: https://www.hercampus.com/school/st-johns/guide-building-healthy-relationship-social-media

Social media does not need to be used in a way that is detrimental to your health. If you have identified unhealthy usage patterns within yourself, it can be fixed so social media can become a pleasant and beneficial experience.

The first key in doing this defining what social media means to you. In order to change how we consume it, we must be able to identify our own personal reasons for using it. Ask yourself more questions like -

What is this social media appearance to me? 

Do I want it to be a public or private presentation of myself? 

How much do I actually want to share with the world?

After answering these questions, begin to incorporate things in your routine that also change the way you use social media. This includes not scrolling first thing in the morning. It is good to be mindful of what we look at, especially at a sensitive time like the morning. 

Not scrolling in the morning also creates more time for healthier habits like yoga and meditation that are great ways to improve overall mental and psychical health. 

Another way to not let social media hinder your mental health is to follow accounts that are encouraging and supportive! If you feel like you always feel worse after using social media, try creating a feed for yourself that won’t make you feel bad about yourself. There are thousands of accounts filled with motivation and support.

Another great way is going on a social media detox. While challenging, the time away from social media can be used to engage in other activities that you find passionate and useful. The overload of stimuli social media elicits can be detrimental to one's overall mental health, so staying away from it for a period of time is a great way to get your mind back on track.

Kelsey Smith, a mental health course coordinator at SkyTrail suggests that learning to set boundaries when it comes to the time spent on social media is also key. This is easier now more than ever with our phones' ability to have screen time usage features.

If you think that you could use your platforms as a way to grow, get support, and feel better – try it! Encourage yourself to find what feels right: True connection to the people you care about. Mere likes alone won’t make us happy, especially when battling any form of mental illness. Only you have the power to change your relationship with social media and make decisions that will better yourself and your mental health.

“Mindful Social Media Use For Mental Health Recovery.” Skyland Trail, 20 May 2019, https://www.skylandtrail.org/mindful-social-media-use-for-mental-health-recovery/.

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Alachua Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival: The Perfect Start to Fall

First United Methodist Church hosted it’s annual Alachua Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival on October 20th, 2019. Families and students all over Alachua county gathered together to enjoy a day filled with fall festivities and fun!

This event was a perfect way to start the fall season as well as give back to the community. Those in attendance were able to participate in pumpkin picking, themed photo options, tractor rides and more!

All the proceeds from the pumpkin patch also went to the Appalachia Service Project trip the youth of the church attend every summer, and Camp Hands of Joy, the Dominican Republic mission trip to support a school for Deaf children.

“This is a great event for the season and a great place for community, celebration, and love,” says Rebecca Douglas, a youth leader and volunteer for the event.

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People gather around to search for the best spot to take pictures. The fall festival is adorned with over 300 pumpkins of all different shapes and sizes.

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When first entering the Alachua Pumpkin Patch Festival, guests are greeted under a largely decorated tent. Here, there are a lot of opportunities to take pictures as well as purchase fall-themed treats and crafts. Baked goods like banana bread and pumpkin bread were sold and donations were also taken to help children battling hunger.

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Giovanna Genta, a 21-year-old student at the University of Florida poses next to one of the pumpkin patches outside the tent. Genta purchased a pumpkin along with pumpkin bread to support the church’s mission.

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The Alachua Pumpkin Patch Festival is a great place to enjoy the fall season with friends, family and loved ones. Alejandro Rios, a 21-year-old USF student and his girlfriend Andrea Catalano, a 21-year-old UF student pose together holding pumpkins they picked out. “We’re going to carve our pumpkins we chose and use the leftover pumpkin seeds to bake as a snack!” said Andrea.   

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The Alachua County Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival had various haystacks and pumpkins all around. There were decorative bible verses the members of the church placed around the pumpkins as well.