The Insult Machine: Why Lowering Your Screen Time Can Help Improve Your Mental Health

  

    In a world where smartphones and social media have become a daily habit, it’s easy to forget a time when life was much simpler, quieter, and less connected. Back in the 90s, when cell phones were rare and the internet was in its infancy, most of our interactions were face-to-face, and social media didn't dominate our lives. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has drastically changed. Now, it’s not uncommon to receive insults or negative comments on social media, something that would have been almost unheard of in the 90s. But is this new normal good for us? More importantly, how is it affecting our mental health?

In this blog post, we’ll explore why reducing your screen time, especially on social media, could be the key to improving your mental well-being and why the online world can often feel like an "insult machine."

A Look Back: The 90s Era and Life Without Constant Connectivity

Before the rise of smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity, the 90s offered a different rhythm of life. If you grew up in that era, you likely remember spending time outdoors, meeting friends face-to-face, and being free from the endless scroll of feeds, notifications, and messages.

Back then, insults and negative interactions were few and far between. Conversations happened in person, where tone, body language, and empathy played a role in moderating the dialogue. Face-to-face interactions created accountability—if someone wanted to say something hurtful, they would have to say it to your face. Most people didn’t insult others because it required courage to confront someone in real life, knowing there could be immediate consequences.

The Rise of Social Media: A New Norm of Insults

With the rise of social media in the 2000s and beyond, the nature of interactions drastically changed. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok now dominate our social lives. It’s easy to see why: social media connects us, keeps us informed, and allows us to share our lives with others.

But with this constant connectivity comes a darker side—the rise of anonymous or distanced insults. It has become disturbingly common to be exposed to harsh criticism, insults, or even online harassment on a daily basis. People can say what they want, with little or no repercussion, simply because they are shielded behind a screen. They don’t have to deal with the emotional fallout of their words, and this has led to an increase in toxic behavior online.

The Insult Machine: Why Social Media Feels So Negative

Social media has created a space where insults can be thrown out casually, with no real consequences. People feel emboldened behind the safety of their screens, often saying things they would never say in person. Think about it: if someone were walking down the street, they wouldn’t stop and insult every person they pass. However, online, this type of behavior has become normalized.

This constant exposure to negativity can take a toll on our mental health. We begin to absorb the toxic energy, feel less confident about ourselves, and become more anxious or stressed. The insults, criticisms, and negative comparisons can leave us feeling drained, depressed, or even angry.

Why Lowering Your Screen Time Can Help Your Mental Health

1. Reduce Exposure to Toxic Behavior: By cutting down on social media, you reduce your exposure to insults, arguments, and negativity that can sap your emotional energy. You’ll find that spending less time on platforms where people freely share harmful comments can create a healthier mental space.

2. Restore Real-Life Interactions: In the 90s, people were more connected in the real world, and social interactions were often more meaningful. Reducing screen time encourages more face-to-face conversations, where empathy and accountability are more present. You’ll likely experience less negativity in real-life interactions because people are less likely to be hurtful in person.

3. Improve Focus and Emotional Well-Being: Social media can be overwhelming, causing stress and anxiety. By stepping away from the constant barrage of notifications, you give yourself space to breathe, think clearly, and focus on activities that genuinely improve your mood—whether it’s going for a walk, reading a book, or spending time with loved ones.

4. Protect Your Self-Esteem: When you’re not constantly comparing yourself to others on social media, your self-esteem and confidence can flourish. The 90s were a time when people lived more in the moment, without the constant pressure to present a perfect image online. By lowering your screen time, you can begin to focus on your own growth, rather than how others perceive you.

5. Interact with Positivity and Follow Positive Accounts: Reducing your screen time doesn’t mean eliminating social media completely; it means using it more mindfully. One way to improve your mental health is to curate a more positive online environment. Start following accounts that inspire, uplift, and promote positivity rather than those that foster negativity. You’ll find that by interacting with more positive content, your mood improves, and your social media experience becomes less draining. Instead of being bombarded by insults or negative comments, you'll engage with messages that reinforce optimism, growth, and well-being.

Conclusion: The Path to a Healthier Mind

Times have changed, and with it, so have the ways we communicate. Social media has many benefits, but it has also normalized insults and negativity in ways that are far from healthy. Lowering your screen time, particularly on social media, can help reduce exposure to the negativity that has become so common online. It can bring you back to a time when conversations were more genuine, interactions more meaningful, and insults far less frequent. In doing so, you’ll give your mental health the chance to recover from the toxic effects of the "insult machine."

Take a step back, disconnect, and give yourself the gift of mental peace. Your mind will thank you.