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"I use social media to rest/relax" is a (defensive and sometimes aggressive) assertion I see people make sometimes.
Now, it's true that the people who inspire them to say this are generally judgy busybodies who aren't saying this with good intentions.
And it's also true that a person's preexisting issues will not automatically improve by deleting apps on their phone.
I am, however, still annoyed by the statement. Rest is taking a nap or at least putting everything down for a bit and letting your brain and body just chill; browsing social media isn't rest any more than reading a book, since your mind is still engaged with something.
Social media can be relaxing, but... honestly, the people for whom social media is relaxing are the ones who look at nothing but photography or recipe blogs, and that's a demographic that social media algorithms are actively hostile too. (They're also a demographic that's unlikely to be writing defensive statements about their social media usage.) The fact of the matter is that social media (and much of the modern internet) is designed to keep you engaged as long as possible (because you are the product and the real consumers are the companies paying for ads to be placed in front of you), and, fundamentally, letting you scroll purely relaxing stuff does not keep you as engaged as putting things you will be enraged and disgusted by would.
And because the enraging and disgusting stuff is mixed in with things that makes you feel good (funny, educational, validating stuff), it's that much harder to recognize how much the whole experience is putting stress on you.
Now, it's true that the people who inspire them to say this are generally judgy busybodies who aren't saying this with good intentions.
And it's also true that a person's preexisting issues will not automatically improve by deleting apps on their phone.
I am, however, still annoyed by the statement. Rest is taking a nap or at least putting everything down for a bit and letting your brain and body just chill; browsing social media isn't rest any more than reading a book, since your mind is still engaged with something.
Social media can be relaxing, but... honestly, the people for whom social media is relaxing are the ones who look at nothing but photography or recipe blogs, and that's a demographic that social media algorithms are actively hostile too. (They're also a demographic that's unlikely to be writing defensive statements about their social media usage.) The fact of the matter is that social media (and much of the modern internet) is designed to keep you engaged as long as possible (because you are the product and the real consumers are the companies paying for ads to be placed in front of you), and, fundamentally, letting you scroll purely relaxing stuff does not keep you as engaged as putting things you will be enraged and disgusted by would.
And because the enraging and disgusting stuff is mixed in with things that makes you feel good (funny, educational, validating stuff), it's that much harder to recognize how much the whole experience is putting stress on you.
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I think a lot of people mean "social media is my hobby" or are trying to invoke the sense of a communal hangout -- all places that are traditionally depoliticised and controlled by majority voices.
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