This week’s Mental Sunshine is all about working with tech.
I know I’ve sent emails before suggesting we might benefit from limiting screen time…
But I’m a realist and I know you were probably on a social media app this morning before you’d even had breakfast!
The problem with social media is that some very well-paid people have spent a very long time cultivating an algorithm that’s designed to make you spend longer (and longer, and longer) on their app.
And the best way to do this is usually to show you things that will make you angry.
So angry, you want to comment on the post and perhaps share it with your friends with your own added commentary about how bad it is.
We’ve all done it.
The problem with this, of course, is that the thing that made you angry (let’s be honest, it might not even have been real) –
It leaves you feeling angry for a while afterwards.
It affects your day and your mood negatively.
Here’s the thing though – if you are very strict with yourself, you can amend the algorithm.
You can teach it that actually, you only like positive stories.
Teach it you mainly comment on funny cat videos, and it will show you more funny cat videos.
Teach it that the content you share the most is workout videos – it will show you more workout videos.
Teach it that you spend the most time watching videos of positive affirmations… you guessed it! You’ll get more of that!
The thing is, you have to be really strict.
Because it will keep showing you the anger-inducing stories to begin with.
And if it sees that you’ve stopped scrolling to read it – or worse, commented on it – that’s what it will keep showing you.
Over time though, you can teach your social media algorithm to show you mainly positive, uplifting stories.
And funny cat videos, obviously.
Give it a try – let me know how you get on!