The following piece is an opinion and does not reflect the views of The Eagle and its staff. All opinions are edited for grammar, style and argument structure and fact-checked, but the opinions are the writer’s own.
As I woke up on Wednesday morning, the first election-related announcement I saw was the race call from the Associated Press via an X notification. As I began to check other platforms, I could feel the knot in my stomach getting worse. Video after video, post after post, the desperation grew and the grimness of the situation weighed on me. No matter where on the political spectrum you fall, anxiety is constantly perpetuated by social media. To maintain some level of sanity, it is essential to take a break from social media in the wake of the election.
For many college students, social media is synonymous with daily life. We read news, connect with friends and unwind on various platforms. However, in the wake of such a volatile and polarizing election, social media is proving to be a detriment to mental health. Though the election results are life-altering for many, social media strikes unhelpful fear into the hearts of many. In the days following the election, the content on both sides of the aisle was extreme, fear-provoking and mentally exhausting.
During election season, political content is everywhere. It is easy to turn a blind eye to more traditional forms of political media like yard signs, articles and mail ads. Junk mail for your local congressional candidate can go right into the trash can and you can avert your gaze when you see your neighbor’s abundance of political yard signs. Yet, the “social” nature of social media makes it much harder to look away. The same integral role social media plays in our daily lives is what makes it so powerful in fostering anxiety. You can’t look away when your way to unwind becomes your stressors.
Immediately after election day, I was bombarded with TikToks and Instagram posts that worsened my already anxious state. Content citing the total decimation of women's rights, memes about an immediate overturn of presidential term limits and many other emotionally intense videos and posts littered my feed. This heavy saturation of content embodies the issue with social media — it is inescapable. Furthermore, the posts we see on social media are not always correct. Although many of us know this, it is easy to forget in times of dire distress.
In this uncertain, stressful post-election period, I urge you to stay off social media. That being said, I am not advocating for ignorance. It is more vital than ever to stay alert and informed. As social media runs wild, it is likely better to stay informed through unbiased, trusted sources and — as always — by reading your favorite student-run newspaper. Being accurately informed is crucial to proper civic engagement. Exposing oneself to fear-mongering via social media posts is counterintuitive to such endeavors.
The future of American politics is unclear and likely volatile. Many of the changes associated with the new presidential administration will be life-altering for many. While this may seem overwhelmingly grim, it is vital to keep oneself from becoming emotionally overburdened. Taking a step away from intense social media content is essential in the fight to remain sane and mentally healthy, so that we may gather again.
Addie DiPaolo is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and a columnist for The Eagle.
This article was edited by Alana Parker, Rebeca Samano Arellano and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Ella Rousseau and Nicole Kariuki.
