18 Mar Managing news and social media – Tip 2
In the first tip in this series, I encouraged you to consider setting limits to your use of and time spent on social media and news sites.
Consistent with this, and extending this idea, I want to remind you and emphasise in other ways that you almost certainly have more control over the content you see and consume than you might realise.
A simple but oft overlooked strategy is based on the notion that you can (and probably should) curate your feed.
What does that mean?
Well, quite simple, it means that although the algorithms designed by the “powers that be” are powerful and can seem overwhelming, they’re not “all powerful” and you can have quite a large say in what shows up on your screen.
How?
Well, to begin with …
- Make a conscious effort to follow reliable sources: prioritise credible news outlets including those that only include fact-checked information
- Unfollow triggering accounts: this will mean different things to different people but remember, always, that you can at any time remove accounts that consistently post content you find upsetting or generate negative emotions for whatever reason
- Block negativity: utilise features to block specific keywords or users related to triggering topics
- Celebrate positivity: there’s no reason to stop with the previous tip. Don’t just block negativity but savour and celebrate positivity. There are far more positive and inspiring people and pages out there than we often realise. Find them and enjoy them and share them!
Like almost everything in life, social media and news sites have pros and cons. Do all you can to make your use of these resources as positive and uplifting as possible!