By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--August 31, 2018
Cover Story | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
“That is the warning issued by the Royal Society of Public Heath (RSPC), which is encouraging people to participate in the first ever 'Scroll Free September' in a bid to stop the negative mental health impacts caused by these online services. (Daily Mail) “Previous research has found social media use is linked to heightened feelings of anxiety and depression, poor sleep and body images issues. “It hopes those who take part will not use the services as frequently after the month. "It follows similar campaigns like 'Dry January', which aims to break people's habits around alcohol by challenging them to stay sober for the month, and smoking-free 'Stoptober', which is held in October each year. “Getting young people to cut down on social media is as important to public health as campaigns to curb smoking and drinking, according to the Royal Society of Public Heath. “The Royal Society for Public Health announced that three times more women than men were expected to participate. "This is because social media makes them feel particularly inadequate and they are also more likely to have been trolled.
“Being 'on' all the time can have a serious effect on our mind and our bodies, which is why a world-famous personal trainer and health author has shared his tips on how to do a digital detox. “Adelaide-born PT, James Duigan, 42, is the former personal trainer of Elle Macpherson and his words are often treated as gospel as he has also worked with the likes of Emilia Clarke, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Lara Stone. “Although many of us communicate with people online and check into social media, Mr Duigan believes we've never been lonelier: 'Even a quick scroll before bed can keep you awake at night or send your self-esteem plummeting as you're barraged with Insta bums and impossible abs.’ “Mr Duigan explained that social media platforms have been purposefully built to be addictive as each notification brings along the 'happy hormone' with it.The ‘happy hormone’ seems to have disappeared in North America where millions are coming down with TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome).
“In a blog post on his website Bodyism, James revealed what his top three tips for a digital detox are. (Daily Mail) “As with any cold turkey experience, it can be hard to wean yourself off social media - but the trick is to replace the addiction with something else. 'Use an app called Freedom to block your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter apps for as long as you need – or can bear,' Mr Duigan suggested.
“His second step is simple: just log out. (Daily Mail) 'Creating that extra step between you and your 'feed' will help you resist the lure of mindless scrolling when your resolve is wearing thin,' he said. ‘Mr Duigan's third and final step is to be in the moment and make sure you're tuned in on what is going on around you. 'No pictures. No selfies. No boomerangs. No Snapchats. For one day at least. Don't lose the moment by trying to capture it,' he said. 'Live in the moment and it will live long in the memory.' 'That knowledge could help us build a healthier, more balanced relationship with social media. 'We know this will be a challenge because of the addictive nature of social media technology, which is why we need to work closely with the Government and the social media industry to create an online environment that is more conducive to positive mental health and wellbeing.’”Good luck with that! SOS to the UK websites who ran with this story, including The independent, Sky News, Telegraph, The Guardian. BBC, ITV, Irish Examiner, Youtube, PRC Online Any ideas how folk can stop social media from forcing the election and re-election of Democrats down the throats of the masses? Didn’t think so.
View Comments