The never-ending scroll. Spam comments. Threatening messages. Yes, these are all related to that infinite beast, social media.  

Nearly 80% of Australians and over 80% of New Zealanders use social media – that’s a lot of online time. We watch, read, like, share and comment on it daily. But the platforms that connect us also carry risks.  

Social media can negatively influence mental health, and with the meteoric rise of scams, spam, and cyberbullying, it can significantly impact individuals and businesses. That’s why protecting yourself online is more important than ever… 

How can social media impact mental health? 

We love social media – after all, we’re in the business of social media records archiving and insights. But it’s no secret that it can affect mental health.  

Ever found yourself scrolling, and suddenly 30 minutes have passed? Excessive time on socials, combined with the comparison trap – unrealistic portrayals of others’ appearances or lifestyles – can create feelings of anxiety, depression, or inadequacy. 

For organisations, it can affect your social media team’s wellbeing as well as your corporate reputation and trust. 

Here are a few other ways social media can impact mental health: 

1. Information overload and loss of productivity: we live in an age of constant information and this level of interaction can lead to stress and decision fatigue. 

2. Cyberbullying and negative comments: anyone can be targeted with harmful and hurtful content, and one negative comment can escalate quickly.

3. Scams and spam: these are becoming more sophisticated. Falling victim can result in financial loss and tarnish your brand’s reputation. It’s a real issue that’s not going away… 

Australia’s growing problem: spams, scam, and cyberbullying 

Australians are losing billions to scams. In 2023, over 600,000 scams were reported, with losses of $2.74 billion. But these aren’t just personal problems, they affect businesses too. 

They can make you appear unprofessional and undermine trust in your brand. If you don’t have the tools to protect your organisation against scams and spam, you could lose a lot of time and resources addressing the fallout. 

The Federal Government recently introduced a Scams Prevention Framework to address these growing threats and stop them before they start.  

But you don’t need to wait for legislative change to protect yourself. One way to take control and safeguard your space online is to adopt solutions like Brolly Protect, a real-time, 24/7 social media monitoring solution.  The sooner you act, the safer your online environment will be. 

4 ways to safeguard your mental health on social media 

1. Set clear boundaries 
   Establish social media limits to avoid being sucked into the never-ending scroll. Set an alarm, avoid screen time before bed, silence notifications, or put your phone on airplane mode. If you use social media for work, take regular breaks and limit access outside work hours. You can use tools to automate account monitoring, minimising the pressure of needing to be immediately responsive.  

2. Unfollow or mute toxic accounts
   Whether it’s a spam account harassing you personally or an overly negative follower on your business account, don’t be afraid to block, mute, or unfollow. You deserve to have a supportive digital space. Tools like Brolly Protect can help by filtering harmful content before it reaches your feed. Remember, your feed should lift you up, not bring you down.

3. Prioritise connection, not scrolling
   Fewer scrolls, more messages, comments and likes! Instead of getting caught in the ‘doom scroll’, focus on engaging with accounts or followers who contribute positively to your life or brand. The more positive your online space becomes, the more likely you are to foster genuine, lasting connections – it makes a big difference to mental health. 

4. Safety first, even on social media
   Create a social space that is safe and stigma-free. One that makes you and your followers feel optimistic, positive, and confident. Seek content that aligns with your values and follow accounts that uplift you.  

Take control and protect your social media 

Social media isn’t going anywhere, but with the right approach, you can take back control, protect your mental health, safeguard your brand, and foster a healthier online community. Because safety should never be an afterthought. 

Get more info on Brolly Protect, the 24/7 social media monitoring tool that guards against harmful content and protects personal information to keep your social spaces safe.