"Fear of missing out" is becoming a bigger and bigger problem these days, and especially for teens.
Talking Points:
- Social media can create a false reality. You are never going to post something that you don’t look good in. You are always going to make yourself seem the best you can on social media, and so is everyone around you.
- Set boundaries with social media. Only allow yourself a specific amount of time a day to spend on social media. Be accountable to yourself.
- An easy way to begin cutting back on social media is by taking the thirty-minute challenge. Each week decrease the amount of time you spend on social media by thirty minutes. Do this until you reach a healthy amount of time spent on social media.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Do you have a “fear of missing out?” If so, how bad do you have it on a scale of 1-10? Why do you rate yourself this way?
- Why do you think people have FOMO? Do you think people feared missing out in the days before the internet and smartphones? Explain.
- On average, how much time per week do you think you spend on social media? What apps and sites take up the most of your time? Why?
- Would you say that social media is a “priority” in your life? Why or why not?
- What are some practical ways to start cutting down on unhealthy time spent on social media?
- What is an unhealthy way to view social media? What is a healthy way to view it?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
