Reduce Stress by Unplugging

STOP negative news and media

Take your life and time back. Don't let TikTok, X, Face Book and YouTube feed you angry lies, misinformation, and depression! Problematic social media use increases depression and anxiety (Lopes et al. 2022).

Some negative news is true. Right now in the USA we are experiencing an unprecedented attack on our government's systems of checks and balances and on our rights to free speech. It is scary stuff. But you being depressed and mad will not change the world. You need energy for positive activism and change. You also need energy to heal.

One way to protect yourself is to limit the amount of time you spend checking the news. If current events are affecting your mental and/or physical health TURN IT OFF. Seriously, let the rest of us carry the load and turn on a cat video.

Jo O. (29 year old woman): "I yetted Facebook a year ago, and X and Tik Tok 3 months ago. It is hands down the best decision I have made for my mental health.

Not only did I get my time and life back, but my attention span is a lot better. Now I actually read books, take walks, and do my art instead of watching Tik Tok shorts about other people doing 'amazing' art.

I had originally planned just a short break from social media to re-set, but I feel so much better that I don't think I will ever go back. My anxiety to look a certain way, buy the right products, be the right shape or whatever has drastically gone down to zilch. I feel like I can be myself! I still have some anxiety issues but it is a lot more manageable. Plus, no more requests to buy overpriced crap from so called FB friends."

Screen overload negatively influences health

Teens (1,958 people 12-17 years old) who have more screen time are more likely to have poor health. Teenagers who spent 4 hours or more online had more symptoms of anxiety and depression; exercised less; were less well rested and had poor sleep; were more concerned about weight; and had less emotional and social support (Zablotsky et al. 2025).

Being exposed to more than 2-3 hours of electronic media (TV, phones, tablets, laptops, computers) increases the risk of learning and memory impairments; emotional and attention disorders; substance abuse; and changes in the volume of brain cortical gray and white matter (Neophytou et al. 2021).

How to protect yourself

Stop wasting time arguing with social bots, trolls and AI

According to the 2024 Imperva Bad Bot Report, up to 50% of internet traffic is now BOTS!

You may be debating with bots online. That insult that got you so heated may be computer generated.

Social bots post pretend to be regular people and are used to deceive people. Some even have legit looking Instagram, Facebook and Linked In pages. They try to sway people's opinion on controversial topics, share false information, propagate fake news, and exploit users private information (discussion Yan et al. 2023).

Put down that phone and walk away slowly. Genevieve Clark (Thomson) - an American suffragist, journalist and politician uses the latest phone tech from th 1910's.

Don't read the comments section

The comments section of social media and YouTube can be very toxic. This is due to bad bots, perceived anonymity, people dehumanizing others online, no real time feedback or push back, and mob mentality.

Don't read it and if you have a YouTube channel you may need to turn off the comment section (depending on your topics and your viewers).

Stop debating professional trolls from other countries such as Russia, China, and Nigeria (of course)

You are being played by professional trolls and YouTubers who are being paid by Russia and China. Why you ask? Some countries have a vested interest in destabilize our country and economy.

Why pay people to post crap? Because people exposed to negative comments in the online comment sections of articles are more likely to negatively judge the quality of the article and doubt its truthfulness (no matter how good the article is). People who want to manipulate you know that they can do so with bots and trolls spreading conflict and misinformation. At the same time they erode your trust in established news media and information sources (Dobber and Hameleers 2024).

Don't let bad foreign actors tell you what to think. Quit believing lies fed to you from Russian and Chinese bots and paid YouTubers trying to tear our country apart.

You are being played by rich people and corporations

You are being played by rich and angry people who are posting on social media so they can 1) make more money at the expense of your wallet and your mental health 2) pander to religious extremism and/or hate to generate votes and/or 3) protect themselves from exposure from visiting a certain island.

Quit letting millionaires and billionaires with nothing better to do than sh*tposts tell you what to do so they can make another million dollars.

Why are they on social media all the time? Why aren't they using their extra time and money for good; to feed hungry kids, shelter homeless veterans, advance cancer research and adopt shelter pets? Or even using their riches for fun; like buying exotic tropical islands, modeling crazy designer clothing, hanging out with Indie bands, and purchasing impractical mansions with six pools? Why are they so mad all the time?

Why instead are these unhappy people sharing crappy AI political posts punching down on less well heeled people on social media? Why are they trying to divide us by putting us into us vs them categories? If you feel compelled to hate other people think about if this really showcases what the land of the free is all about.

Advertisement for the American drama film Greed (1924) starring ZaSu Pitts.

Charis A (22 years old): "I volunteer at a community garden. We garden for the three warmer seasons and plan in the winter. It's an amazing mental boost between socializing with others and just being outdoors digging in the soil.

I work with some retired people (I am the young one with the shovel ha) and I feel I am absorbing generations of garden and life knowledge."

Vietnamese Red Cross nurses distribute food to refugees in Saigon in 1968. Photo taken by SP4 Richard S. Durrance.

You can take control

Block negativity online

• You can block websites
• You can restrict websites
• You can limit your time on websites
• You can stop using social media

Learn about the real problems

• Check out news on reputable sites
• Read about problems on site run by people with the credentials to knowledgably discuss the issues

Be a superhero in real life if you have the energy

• You can take action to correct injustices
• You can feed hungry people
• You can be a friend to lonely children and seniors
• You can stand up for abused people
• You can use art and writing to promote change
• You can volunteer or donate for a cause

Organize change if you have the time

• You can organize others to resist
• You can march for justice
• You can write and call your elected officials
• You can choose what and who you give your money to
• You can run for your school board
• You can run for a local or state office
• You can start a union

Take back your happiness

• You can do something just for you
• You can let other people live their lives while you live yours
• You can take back your energy and your life
• You can be 'selfish' and take care of your health
• It is OK if you don't have the energy to fight when you are sick

You can do it!

The world is not worse in terms of crime; news coverage is just greater.

References:

Dobber T & Hameleers M (2024). The Social Media Comment Section as an Unruly Public Arena: How Comment Reading Erodes Trust in News Media. Electronic News, 19(1), 3-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/19312431241268011 (Original work published 2025) Full article.

Lopes LS, Valentini JP, Monteiro TH, Costacurta MCF, Soares LON, Telfar-Barnard L, Nunes PV. Problematic Social Media Use and Its Relationship with Depression or Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2022 Nov;25(11):691-702. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2021.0300. Abstract.

Neophytou, E., Manwell, L.A. & Eikelboom, R. Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Neurodevelopment, Learning, Memory, Mental Health, and Neurodegeneration: a Scoping Review. Int J Ment Health Addiction 19, 724–744 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00182-2 Abstract.

Yan HY, Yang KC, Shanahan J, Menczer F. Exposure to social bots amplifies perceptual biases and regulation propensity. Sci Rep. 2023 Nov 24;13(1):20707. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46630-x. Full text.

Zablotsky B, Ng AE, Black LI, Haile G, Bose J, Jones JR, Blumberg SJ. Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers. Prev Chronic Dis. 2025 Jul 10;22:E38. doi: 10.5888/pcd22.240537. Full article.