Our daily life is filled with digital interactions and the power of positive internet spaces is not to be underestimated. We are exposed to unwanted algorithms and content that we didn’t subscribe to. This has significant impacts on how we feel, think, and interact with others. Therefore, finding or creating a space online that is positive and uplifting can be an essential aspect of how you interact with your community. Sharing in these positive experiences creates the feeling of community, which helps combat loneliness and increase confidence.
Positive psychology originated in 1998 by Martin Seligman and was developed as a way to shift the focus away from emphasizing maladaptive behavior and negative thinking. Positive psychology is a strengths-focused therapy and suggests that positive experiences, interactions, and spaces help us feel more open, confident and build resilience. Resilience refers to how we are able to maintain our mental health while going through adversity. Often, positive psychology tenants are used in conjunction with other forms of therapy.
Benefits of Positive Online Spaces
Better Mental Health
Constant exposure to headlines, random comment sections, and various content can be overwhelming. It can cause stress and anxiety whenever you open an online space. However, there are also positive internet spaces where people post a picture of cute animals doing funny things that make you smile and turn your day around. These spaces are supportive and can give us pause to the madness. Additionally, they can create positivity and reduce the stress of other overwhelming content in the digital world.
Stronger Connections
Feelings of isolation and loneliness can be a result of negativity and comparison in digital spaces. However, finding a community that gives you a sense of belonging can combat that. We all need connection and connection digitally is still connection. A friend can share with you their favorite song to try and cheer you up. An online forum filled with people who only share positive playlist and uplifting music can have the same effect.
Dismantles Doomscrolling
Doomscrolling, when you can’t tear yourself away from the negativity or the fearful headlines. It happens unconsciously. You pick up your phone and suddenly more time than you thought passed and nothing you saw increased your likelihood to take on the day with positivity. It’s difficult when what you read could make you feel hopeless or anxious. Curating positive internet spaces that promote uplifting content can eliminate the apprehension and leave you feeling better than when you stepped on.
Barriers to Engaging in Positive Internet Spaces
Confirmation Bias
Let’s talk about confirmation bias. This refers to the tendency to search for information and interpret what we see to confirm feelings that we already have and preexisting beliefs or emotions while ignoring or downplaying contradictory evidence.
Essentially, when we are doomscrolling we are consuming negative content – pessimistic commentary or distressing news. And once we start having negative feelings and beliefs we may start to unconsciously seek out more negative information to validate those emotions, further deepening their distress.
The Algorithm
Another barrier to finding positive internet spaces is the infamous algorithm. Which feeds on what the user (you) prioritizes when you are scrolling. If someone frequently interacts with negative or fear-inducing content, the algorithm will continue to show them similar material, reinforcing their biases and potentially leading to even more negative feelings. This is a powerful cycle that we all are susceptible too. Alternatively, instead of interacting with content that might support your negative feelings, what if you broke the loop and started interacting with positive posts? It takes consistency and perseverance to cultivate and maintain a positive feed.
Instead of feeding the belief that “the world is falling apart,” what if you confirm the belief that “The world has its problems AND there is joy in the world as well”.
Shifting to Positive
We have the control to intentionally interact with positive posts, uplifting stories, and moments of kindness on the internet! This isn’t about ignoring real issues—it’s about reframing and taking different perspectives! This can allow us to acknowledge difficulties while also recognizing hope and solutions.
Here are some tips on how to find or even make a positive internet space:
- Follow where your joy leads you – Be mindful about what can make or break your day. Engage in the content that keeps you feeling your best.
- Set Boundaries – You don’t need to engage in everything. Balance is important when it comes to all digital spaces. Take breaks when scrolling becomes negative to you.
- Create what you need – You don’t need to wait for someone to start a fanpage about your favorite book. You can be the positive space you are seeking for.
- Self-check tool – The PERMA model is a great tool to identify how positive online space and interactions can improve your wellbeing. The 5 factors of PERMA are positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. These 5 factors are used to measure wellbeing. We can utilize this model to evaluate how your wellbeing is when it comes to social media. We can reflect on our time online and identify the factors in PERMA that need improving.
Resources
The internet is powerful and far-reaching but it doesn’t have to be a war zone where your happiness gets crushed by it. Try to choose spaces that leave you feeling hopeful and light. Try prioritizing environments that strengthen you.
Here are some that we like:
@tinybuddhaofficial
@bethdrawsthings
@scary_booo
@thatgoodnewsgirl
We’re psychotherapists in Weschester, NY.
Visit our homepage at: www.couragepsych.com
Sources:
https://mindwise.org/blog/mental-health/creating-positive-online-spaces-to-discuss-mental-health/https://health.clevelandclinic.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-doomscrolling-and-how-to-avoid-ithttps://www.verywellmind.com/broaden-and-build-theory-4845903
