The Guardian recently reported that the average American has 47 unread text messages and 1,602 unopened emails. These figures still somehow seem rather low when our inboxes are flooded with not just focused content but also promotions, social updates and group chats; the messaging never stops and what is more worrying is that we can be reached at all times.
Naturally this has amounted to increased levels of stress as a direct consequence of text messages and constant communication which makes it seem like you can never quite get on top of everything. The concept of text anxiety stems from this, where users become afraid and daunted by the prospect of responding to messages. There is a social burnout that is an obvious consequence of a build up messages with the immediate response to be to ignore these incoming messages and to go on a mini social media hiatus to save your brain. However, this solution is short term and only increases anxiety levels once the social media detox is over and you have to return to the intricate web of messaging.
A study “analysing the effects of information overload on online conversation dynamics” in 2020, found that “responsiveness is sensitive to information overload” and that an ‘”over-exposure to information” reduces the ‘likelihood of response”. Considering we live a life that relies upon active social media usage to structure our livelihoods, we are simultaneously placing ourselves, businesses, and our mental health in grave danger of collapse due to our inability to effectively handle social media.
And yet, this is unsurprising. As we enter a world that demands a social media presence, there is a lack of education surrounding how to appropriately use socials in a way that is not damaging to our health. If the millennial generation is being described as the burnout generation, appropriate action needs to be taken in order to stem this. Schools need to be educating young adults on how to appropriately manage social media; this would also hopefully limit issues such as cyberflashing, cyber bullying and trolling.
The events of the pandemic have only fast-forwarded our transition into a completely technological world. According to Kantar’s global study in 2020, web browsing increased by 70% and social media participation increased by 61%. However, by analysing these figures we can also recognise that 73% of users experienced negative side effects following this increase.
According to a 2021 study, the average consumer spends 4.2 hours on their phone per day. That’s 1,612 hours per year, which translates to 67 days a year. Even when we are faced with issues of text anxiety, social media is a platform we keep returning to. It is a vicious cycle with no means to an end.
So, if we cannot distance ourselves from it, how can we combat the rising text anxiety? How can we reduce our anxiety and find a healthy balance with our social media usage? Associate professor of psychology at NYU, Emily Balcetis, suggests that the way to tackle this is by implementing boundaries. She advises investing in old school methods such as an alarm clock, or charging your phone in another room. She also recommends curfews, to limit your exposure to online communication and allow yourself some relaxation time before bed. She describes this as ensuring “your brain gets a break”.
Balcetis comments on the competitive nature of response time to emails which can pressure people into feeling they must remain attached to their phone all times of the day, even outside of work hours. She suggests creating a window of availability and including this on email signatures to manage the expectations of your contacts. Balcetis concludes by adding that whilst we enjoy communicating on social media and staying up to date with the world, we are no longer searching for new ways to connect but rather how to effectively manage what we have. We are no longer reaching for the new Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat but prioritising asking ourselves: how can we manage our text anxiety and how can we create a healthy relationship with social media so we can also remain present in visceral life?
This challenge will be difficult but one that is imperative as we enter a post-COVID world that is still dependent on remote working; we must strive to understand how we can control our anxiety and strengthen our mental health.
For more social media news that highlights how we are now more concerned with how we manage current social media platforms, rather than looking for newer apps, follow this article.
