Stay true to yourself online
Social media may give the impression that some people are flawless and living their best life all the time, but remember you are only seeing the highlights rather than the full picture. Real life isn’t always perfect.
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Many of us have embraced the rise of social media platforms and this has provided the opportunity to be more connected than ever before. More than 95 million photos are shared on Instagram every day, but given how easy it is to edit photos, sometimes we can feel under pressure to create the best impression of our lives online.
Don’t be fooled by the filter. Stay true to yourself online.
Top tips for keeping your social media experience positive
Here are a few simple tips to help you keep your social media experience positive.
Be yourself
It can be tempting to create a misleading impression of your life online, because of your perceptions of others’ lives. However, it is more important to be accepted for your true self rather than an idealised version. Create a social media presence that is aligned with your own identity and values.
Keep perspective
Keep in mind that you're not always seeing the full picture when viewing other people’s social media feeds and recognise that nobody’s life is perfect. Often people use filtering and editing tools to enhance their photos. Your value as a person is not reflected in the number of ‘likes’ your posts get or the number of followers.
Take control
Think about who you follow. Do they share your interests and values? Hide or unfollow feeds, users or content that make you feel negative about yourself. Most social media apps have options to report or block unwanted content.
Find the balance
Do you ever start scrolling without even realising it? It is easy to become absorbed by social media and this can have a negative impact on your well-being. Being mindful about your habits can help you recognise when you need to take a break so that you can use social media with purpose.
Be positive
Think before you post, does this make me feel good about myself? Could it be easily misconstrued? Would you express the same opinion offline? Thinking of yourself and others will ensure a positive experience and help you avoid unnecessary drama.
Download a poster of these tips below.
- Top tips for keeping your social media experience positive pdf 605 Kb This file may not be accessible. If you need a more accessible version of this document please email digital@gov.wales. Please tell us the format you need. If you use assistive technology please tell us what this is
Resources
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Teaching resources
Classroom resources around the subject of social media
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Resources for families
A series of resources to start a conversation with your family about using social media.
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A practitioner's guide to body image and social media
This guide outlines the ways social media can affect a child or young person’s attitudes to body image and self-image.
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A practitioner's guide to using social media
This guide discusses how you can use social media in a positive way to keep yourself, your learners and your professional reputation safe.