Same, Same but Different: Social Media Fatigue in 2020
By Emma Wright
Social media fatigue is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s characterized by feelings of exhaustion and overwhelm after using social media, and it often prompts users to “pull back,” according to a 2016 study from Yonsei University. And although the first reports of social media fatigue appeared in 2011, there’s something about 2020 that feels different.
There’s already a ton of pressure associated with social media, particularly on the more visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Body image, follower counts, post engagement and desires to have a perfectly curated and styled feed all contribute to the heightened rates of anxiety and depression that recent studies have discovered, particularly among younger generations. When “The Social Dilemma” - the Netflix documentary that highlights the ethical concerns of social platforms from big names in the tech industry - came out, we were confronted with the stark reality of what many of us already knew; social media is designed to be addictive. The way developers have designed these apps relies on algorithms and something known as “positive intermittent reinforcement” to keep us coming back for more. Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist, described it as being just like the slot machines in Vegas - every time you refresh your feed, something new appears. It brings us back for more every single time as our subconscious craves the excitement of the unknown.
On top of the usual social media content - sporadic opinions shared memories, and memes - 2020 has brought us a global pandemic, climate crises and countries torn apart, civil unrest in the United States among a tense election year, and so much more. The darker parts of humanity have become more present on our social media feeds and for good reasons. We need to enhance awareness of issues that happen daily, share resources, and be informed. There are so many issues in this world that need our attention and care, but the information is often presented to us without our permission and often needs additional fact-checking. Now, there’s an expectation among social platforms to consistently be a source of information and participate in the news cycle. Regarding the election coverage, Cristine Boyd of the University of Akron referred to the issue as “unwanted and unsolicited political coverage and commentary” - even if you want to avoid it, you can’t. I personally have been getting bogged down and moody after spending time on social media, particularly over the last few months, and that seems to be the general consensus among friends and family.
The strong message that staying quiet about racism in America only perpetuates the issue at hand - and it’s true. (Thomas de Luze)
So why haven’t we all logged off and taken a break? This year, pulling back from social media when the overwhelm begins to set in is being met with backlash. The concept that “silence is violence” had a surge this year surrounding the George Floyd protests that erupted in late May and June, with the strong message that staying quiet about racism in America only perpetuates the issue at hand - and it’s true. To turn a blind eye to the discord in our world and continue life as “normal” is privileged in and of itself. Here, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Log off to regain sanity, or push through the discomfort to be activists, allies, and educators?
Believe me, my tone here isn’t intended to be dismissive. These are very real issues that demand our awareness and attention - war, climate disasters, human rights violations - and they don’t go away when we log out of Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. But I don’t believe we just have to care about them on social media. I think we’ve all forgotten how to talk to each other face to face and make a difference in-person. Social media has provided us with the benefit of connection in ways we could hardly fathom half a century ago, yet it is simultaneously destructive to our mental health and perception. It’s hard to say how the scale tips and balances itself out while we’re still relatively young in the age of information.
So we’ve determined that posting lighthearted or “normal” content during a humanitarian crisis is insensitive and privileged. However, in light of this, I believe we’ve forgotten that reality exists where we share information, our personal lives, and take breaks as needed. I’ve personally taken a loose break from my socials over the past 6 weeks or so, and although at first, I felt guilt and shame for “removing” myself from important conversations, I’ve noticed my mental space has dramatically improved. I really didn’t “remove” myself in the way that I thought. Now, I feel more ready and able to have tough conversations with friends and family members in person because I’ve given my mind the break it needed from the constant stimulus.
Social media has shifted this year and so has the fatigue that can be experienced from information overload. But as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup, and it’s alright that everyone’s cup looks a little different.
Emma is a lifestyle writer for La Tonique.
