Taken from my second book, a digital self-care guide, I take a look at the shadow side to social - sharing my story of awakening - what it means and some of the ways we can navigate it in today's age.

What is influence on social media? And how does it affect the strategies that we create and the make when showing up in the space?

After witnessing the out pouring of grief on social media about QEII here in England on social media this past few weeks and then reading about the rise in cases of Tourettes and multiple personality disorder in young people who are watching influencer accounts on TikTok and Instagram for 10+ hours a day, I wanted to raise awareness of these phenomenas and suggest some ways we can navigate it and protect ourselves and our loved ones.

It’s been a busy and successful summer with many of us seeing a big increase in being back out in the world, mixing with one another and working with one another.

Over the weekend, I tried to take two or three days off. I tried to take time off and away from my screen. I had my phone in do not disturb. I was outside with the phone inside, following the advice that I give, things I learnt in the digital wellbeing training, knowing how the body works, how the brain works, how we create space from our mobile device in order to unhook from it.

I've been online so much with work because I've had to be and this can be the same for so many of us.

Success can equal screen time.

Particularly in the last two or three weeks, I have been making an effort to address it but I'm also struggling with that. I noticed this afternoon, I thought of something I needed to get on Amazon, and the phone's back in my hand, I’m back on there and the next thing I know I'm in telegram, I'm in Instagram, I'm in this, I'm in that. And I'm like, “Ugh, I'm doing it again! And I don't want to be doing this!’

That's me as a conscious aware adult who admittedly has a problem with it because it's part of my work and it affects me because I'm on it a lot. It is after all a hook method designed to hook into our hormones and our minds and our attention. It's designed that way and so of course it's going to hack me as well, even though I'm aware of it.

I read a worrying report this week about teens, social media and technology in 2022 from the Pew Research Center. They’ve done a survey of American teens on their relationship to technology and out of 13 to 17 year olds they surveyed 67% of them say they've used TikTok with 16% of them saying that they use it almost constantly.

With YouTube 95% of teens using YouTube and out that 95%, 19% using it almost constantly. That’s even more than TikTok! And who's to say, they're not bouncing between YouTube and TikTok.

I am worried about this. I'm worried about it on a multitude of levels, not only on a physiological level but what it means for them and what it means for society, culture and all of the things!!!

Read more on substack >> https://www.socialmediaforanewage.substack.com

An interview with Kimberley Jones on finding balance through body awareness and breath

From the moment we wake up to the time we go to bed, we’re surrounded by screens and notifications. And for many of us, this isn't just an occasional occurrence - it's something that has become normalised. So how can we find balance in a world where so much of our time is spent looking at a screen? One way is through body awareness. Tune in to how your body feels when you're using technology and see if there are any sensations or patterns that stand out. By being more aware of our bodies, we can start to find ways to bring more balance into our lives.

In this episode, Katie will explore how you can use different techniques to find balance in your life through body awareness and the breathe, sharing a guided exercise to support you alongside an interview with Kimberley Jones, intuitive empath and pioneer of The Witch Wound, who has a long history managing chronic fatigue and pain. Kimberley shares her experiences, wisdom and ways she manages her energy online.

Listen in and see how you can get in touch with your digital chi.

Taken from an upcoming wellbeing radio show - I share some info and Inspo around social media ego and soul.

Sharing ourselves on social media especially in the name of ‘marketing’ ourselves is a much more complex thing than we often give it credit for. And I hear from many of my clients that this is something they struggle with, consistently. It requires love and attention to move through, it calls on us to love ourselves. Hard.

Whether navigating addictive design, screen fatigue or your social media ego, you are putting yourself out there. You are not just putting yourself out there to gain validation, likes, or shares; but you are also sharing your heart and soul through your content. You are allowing people to see who you are by expressing your creativity, gifts and offering something of value.

That’s beautiful!

New poems as part of an enquiry around the Return to Embodiment with the www.socialmediaforanewage.club

Find out more about Katie

www.socialmediaforanewage.com

A meditation to help you get in the zone for creating for social media.

To get support around your relationship with social media please visit my website www.socialmediaforanewage.com or join my club :) www.socialmediaforanewage.club

taken from social media for a new age club call 11112020