Social Media &AI (If Not Properly Used) Can Fry Our Brains

I walked into a pharmacy this afternoon to get some medicine. I walked through the middle to the desk, and no one seemed to notice me. Or, perhaps they did, but they just didn't bother. I was annoyed because I knew I wasn't invisible; they were either ignoring me on purpose, or they were totally unaware of my presence. I later realized the latter was the case: they were all on their phones. There was a woman behind me who also got angry, especially when the guy kept checking a TikTok video while gathering her medicine. She yelled at him, and the rest is history.

I personally was asking myself if I could trust this guy because, why would a male pharmacist be obsessed with TikTok?

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In today's world, the cyber space has become an integral part of our daily lives. From social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to remote jobs and entertainment, we spend a lot of time online. While there are many benefits (like reading news, learning skills, and finding entertainment), it's important to recognize the potential impact on our well-being.
Our health is put at risk when we spend so much time on our devices.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
This comprehensive definition explains the importance of considering all aspects of our lives, including our digital habits, to achieve holistic health.

When we overuse our body without taking proper care of it, we tend to suffer from illnesses. The same is applicable to our digital life. Some of the problems we encounter with excessive screen time include eye problems (prolonged screen time can lead to eye strain, dryness, and blurred vision). There are times I feel extremely tired after using my phone, and there are nights I can't sleep well because of the blue light emitted from it. Also, prolonged screen time could make one less productive, emotionally detached, and antisocial.

So how do I cultivate a healthy digital life?

For some time now, I've been using both sunglasses and blue light-filtering glasses, and I don't think I will ever stop. The feeling of taking off your glasses and your eyes feel so relaxed even after spending hours on a screen, is a feeling I never want to abandon. This also prevents me from getting unnecessarily tired, because sometimes tiredness starts from the eyes and spreads to other parts of our bodies.

Concerning my mental and emotional well-being, I try as much as possible to filter the content I consume on social media. I avoid reading comments on controversial topics and also try not to follow any page that doesn't contribute positively to my well-being. What we see on social media could be controlled to some extent by avoiding the content we don't want, especially on TikTok. If you watch one unhealthy video on TikTok to the end, then you will continue seeing such content; the same goes for liking and following users. I guess this is the same on all Web2 socials.
I take care of my social life by taking some time off my phone, especially when I'm with friends, family, or when someone needs my time. Also, I don't use my phone in the morning until I've completed two or three things from my routine. I also rarely use my phone after 10 p.m. at night.

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A quality conversation is getting difficult due to technology. We hardly see people who can keep a positive conversation going without touching their phones. And some find it exhausting to sit and talk to people; they prefer virtual interaction to physical interactions. This is because physical interactions require attention, authenticity, patience, a good mental state, and time. I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that many men and women now use meta AI to go through a talking stage; they browse different rizz and search for replies when you ask them a personal question that requires a reflective response . These kinds of conversations lack emotional depth and might go unnoticed by the other person. Social media and AI, if not properly used, can fry our brains. It can create a negative impact on our health, physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially. Since we can't totally avoid it, the little we can do to help ourselves is to set boundaries and adopt different habits that could help us stay healthy.

Regarding the pharmacist, do you know I later realised he's very brilliant, smart and kind? But the woman didn't see that side of him because she left immediately after getting her medicine. He gave her a wrong first impression because of social media.

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_{Thank you for reading to the end, i appreciate your time and support.}

Posted Using INLEO