Social media + mental health
Study Shows Social Media Can Add Stress to Parenting—Find a Community That Supports You
Parents Magazine - November 2022
Social comparison leads to an increase in stress and negative emotions. Instead, find spaces where you feel uplifted and can show up as your full self.
For the first 3 years of my son's life, I lived in a rural area where community was hard to come by. Like many, I sought out connection with other new moms and parents online, from mom groups to focused mom pages that featured writer moms, artist moms ,and moms who work. Mothers filled pages across screens with acronyms I did not know yet: AI, BD, NIP—all the letters that made me thankful Google existed. They shared stories, they shared problems, and, at times, openly shared judgment.