6 People You Need to Stop Following on Instagram to Improve Your Mental Health
A mental health threat?
You turn to Instagram for fitness inspiration, sweet potato toast ideas and news about which acquaintances are engaged, expecting and vacationing, but you may come away with more than you bargained for. In a May survey of nearly 1,500 14- to 24-year-olds in the U.K., researchers found that Instagram raised anxiety, depression and body image issues more than other social media platforms. "Instagram can be super inspiring, and it can be harmful as well," says Alexis Joseph, a dietitian in Columbus, Ohio, who founded the blog Hummusapien and has more than 46,000 Instagram followers. Spare yourself from harm by cleaning your feed of these negative forces:
1. The one whose feed you're glued to late-night
If you fall asleep by the light of your iPhone, listen up: A recent study linked nighttime cellphone usage in particular with increased anxiety and depression, and reduced self-esteem, among Australian teens. What's more, scrolling through Instagram until your eyes go dry and your hand goes numb is exactly the opposite of the type of screen-less "relaxing bedtime routine" the National Sleep Foundation recommends for optimal sleep hygiene. So why not eliminate temptation and cut ties with the feeds that keep you hooked? "Sometimes," says Dr. Jennifer Caudle, an osteopathic physician in New Jersey who has prescribed "digital detoxes" for some patients with fatigue, "limiting your consumption is important for overall health."
2. The self-proclaimed expert
In real life, an expert is someone with extensive training and experience in a certain area. On Instagram, an expert is anyone with a hot enough body or a robust enough following to convince others he or she is worth listening to. "No one's looking at people's resumes and CVs online," says Rachel Goldman, a psychologist in New York City who encourages more (actual) health professionals to put out accurate information on Instagram. Look into people's credentials before following any social media-delivered advice, and be cautious about anyone making one-size-fits-all claims about a product or method, she suggests. "What works for one person doesn't work for everybody," she says.
3. The one with the "perfect" body
If before-and-after weight-loss pictures fire you up for your workout or genuinely warm your heart, great. If they drill home how stubborn your own belly fat is, not-so-great. "The pictures tell us an image but not a backstory," Goldman often tells clients with body image and weight issues. "Don't compare yourself because you may see this person has lost 50 pounds, but everyone has different backgrounds, experiences and health conditions." Follow people with bodies of all shapes and sizes, or don't follow bodies at all. "If you don't want to question your body, you probably shouldn't stare at beautiful bodies all day," Joseph says. Feel-good quotes, funny memes and, of course, puppies await.
4. The celeb you "hate follow"
Admit it: You follow at least one celebrity you don't actually admire but do appreciate for his or her outlandish comments, cringe-worthy fashion choices or over-the-top relationship gestures. That's still not so healthy, says Jesse Fox, an associate professor of communications at Ohio State University who studies how social media use affects people's offline lives. "Celebrity hate following still makes you feel envious about something about them," she says, which is not a productive emotion. Aim to feel happy, amused, enlightened or grateful instead. "If what you're looking at doesn't make you feel good, unfollow that," Fox says.
5. Your ex
Back in the day, if your ex went to a dinner party with someone new and attractive on Tuesday and hit the town in a flattering outfit on Friday, you likely wouldn't know. But today, we can follow old partners' every moves -- and that's not good for our mental health, Fox has found in her research. "People who stay connected and look at ex-partners' profiles -- that prolongs depressive symptoms, it makes people want to get back with their ex and they have deeper regrets," she says. "Without social media, you wouldn't have that information." Best to keep your ex out of sight and out of mind.
6. The clean eating goddess
When Joseph first joined Instagram, she only posted pictures of healthy meals. Now, she also posts pictures of salted caramel ice cream cones, her remodeled kitchen and views from a hike, and she comments on her migraines and inability to touch her toes. In other words, it's a more authentic representation of her life. "Health is ... so much more than what we're eating," she says. If you follow only apparently perfect eaters, ask yourself if that's motivating or upsetting. If the latter, fill your feed with people who show their off days, too. "There are enough people in your life you can't defriend," Goldman says, "but you're in complete control of this."
