The Future of Social Media in a Health and Wellness-Focused World

We are in the midst of a health and wellness craze, but the truth is, being healthy isn’t a new trend. People have always wanted to be healthy. Just take a look at all the fad diets we have seen gain traction over the years – who knew programs like Weight Watchers launched back in the 1960s? While some of these diets are still popular today, they ultimately show that being healthy has always been something people want. The difference is just our viewpoint on what is considered “healthy.”

Fast-forward to today, where a conversation about being healthy rarely just focuses on what you’re eating. More than ever before, we are focusing on mental health and a person’s overall well-being as key components to a healthy lifestyle. Why? Because the “always on” digital world we live in is exhausting and it’s taking a toll on our health.

Why? Because the “always on” digital world we live in is exhausting and it’s taking a toll on our health.Click To Tweet

The internet has changed everything from our relationships to how we work – and even our mental health. We are constantly connected and broadcasting our lives on social media for the world to see. This creates an added pressure to keep up with an Instagram-worthy lifestyle, which can be especially detrimental to young teens. Social media can be addictive and constantly comparing our lives with others is toxic.

After almost 15 years of Facebook, people are starting to rediscover the importance of meaningful interactions and realizing that more friends on social media doesn’t make you more social. We don’t need to stay up to date on the life events of a mere acquaintance from eight years ago, or read the political opinions of an old classmate who was never really a friend in the first place. A recent survey even found that more than half of people ages 18 to 24 are “seeking relief” from social media, with 34 percent saying they’ve deleted all social media accounts.

Social media took the marketing world by storm, completely transforming the way brands connect with consumers. So, what happens if our target audiences continue removing themselves from the digital world in an effort to improve their overall quality of life?

Well, if you’re a social media company, you’re doing everything in your power to ensure that doesn’t happen. In January, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared – on Facebook – that his goal for 2018 is to make sure that time spent on Facebook is time well spent and for us to have meaningful social interactions. Earlier this month, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey followed in Facebook’s footsteps and shared a series of tweets about how the platform is committed to help increase the collective health of public conversation.

Facebook is already working on a major renovation of its News Feed algorithm to prioritize “meaningful social interactions” over “relevant content.” It will be interesting to see how successful these health-focused efforts actually are, what other platforms jump on the health and wellness bandwagon and if more people start “seeking relief” offline.

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