DUBAI: “Social media might be free, but it comes at your mental health’s expense,” Egyptian comedian and television host Bassem Youssef told the 1Billion Followers Summit in Dubai on Wednesday.
Social media’s currency is people’s egos, he said during a session entitled “The Dark Side of Making it on Social Media.”
“It is like being in a relationship with a narcissistic psychopath,” Youssef added.
“Not everyone is going to or should love you. You post something and focus on that one negative comment rather than the positive (comments), and that in turn affects your self-esteem. It’s silly; we are blessed in so many ways, but continue to zoom in on the negative.”
Youssef advised the audience to “stay true” to themselves instead of “feeding the beast by turning into a freakshow to stay relevant.”
He said: “You end up losing yourself. It becomes your imprisonment, and you continue to chase a high that you once felt when a post garnered a lot of likes.”
People’s self-worth becomes linked to their work, which is the content they post, and this affects how they view themselves, he added.
Several studies have been conducted analyzing the relationship between social media use and mental health.
The session “A Creator’s Guide to a Healthy Mind” focused on this topic, bringing together Saudi TV presenter and social media influencer Rajeh Al-Harthi; positive psychology coach Kareem Esmail; and mental health app Tuhoon’s co-founder and CEO Fares Ghandour.
Al-Harthi said he avoids negative social media commentary altogether. “If you can, don’t read. If you can, delete.”
In his opinion, social media has a “sheeple” mentality, which is why trends exist.
“That is why one person is hated this week, then could be loved the next … it’s a tide.”
He added: “Try not to worry about commentary; you do not know who is behind the keyboard. The only thing you are in charge of is yourself, and your job is to continue evolving. We are not solid form; we cannot remain as we are.”
Esmail and Ghandour highlighted boundaries and discipline to maintain a positive mindset and sense of worth.
“Above all, be merciful to yourself. Then be merciful in other aspects of your life, be it personal or professional,” said Esmail.
