Bethany Hamilton Shares Tips for Balanced Social Media Use
By Movieguide® Contributor
Pro surfer and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton took to Instagram to remind followers that social media doesn’t show everything, sharing advice for healthy social media use.
“I’ll be honest, I’m not a raving fan of social media. But, I do work hard to keep up a strong presence on the platforms so that I can encourage and connect with all of you and the world!” the surfer shared on Thursday.
“Social media is not all bad, but sometimes it can be a struggle to use it well! Before I know it, I’ve just spent way more time scrolling than I meant to or I’m looking at a friend’s post instead of looking at my son’s face when he’s talking to me,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton’s photos attached to her post show her dressed up and smiling. She reminded her followers that they are just photos. She doesn’t look put together all the time, and neither does her family of six.
She shared her top “tips for keeping social media at a healthy distance”:
- Remember comparison is the thief of joy! Any second you recognize you may be slipping into believing your life is less than someone else’s… take a break.
- Encourage those who God has called you to! Remember why you’re here – that could be as simple as being a light in a dark place.
- Stay in today’s reality. Spend more time with your people without your phone. Put your phone in a separate room at night to remove distractions and get deeper sleep.
- Create more than you consume! Get back to a life of creating, enjoying your activities and life giving pastimes.
Movieguide recently reported Hamilton’s thoughts on body comparisons:
“Like many teens, I too struggled with the way I viewed my body,” she wrote. “I’d look at everyone else and think that I looked pretty different, especially because of my arm. And maybe even still to this day at times.”
… “My encouragement to you is to be grateful for what you’ve got, celebrate the gifts you have and take care of yourself so that you can care for others too!” Hamilton continued. “Life is so much more than our ‘looks’ it’s about how we love and give and how we receive right!”
In 2021, Hamilton, the inspiration for Movieguide® Award winner SOUL SURFER, shared that when it comes to social media, “less accessible = less tempting.” So, she deleted social media apps from her phone.
She blogged, “I just wanted to spend less time on social platforms and be more present with my life…and it’s working out great!!!”
She doesn’t enjoy it when others zone out on their devices, and she doesn’t want to mimic that behavior.
“I find it crazy how addicting social media can be. Do your fingers just move like magnets to these platforms even when you may not want them to? Mine sure do,” she said.
She also admitted that the lack of privacy on social media concerns her.
Last year, Hamilton hosted Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, on one of her Ohana Program sessions to discuss media safety.
McKenna explained that social media is designed to be addictive for all ages. To platforms, the user is a product, not a person. He encourages users to not let themselves be taken advantage of. McKenna advises: “Pay attention to your feelings,” “Take a social media break,” “Track your time online,” “Delete toxic people” and get some sleep for the benefit of physical and mental health.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +3