Taking Back Control 2: How to Use Social Media Without Letting it Use You.

Welcome back to our series on the Secondary School student and social media.

In the last article, we talked about few practical ways through which we can reconfigure our habits with social media.

Check the last part here.

We'd be concluding practical ways we can reconfigure our social media habits and steward our time productively.

1. Submit your phone usage to accountability 

Sometimes self-control becomes easier when someone else knows what you are working to achieve and can guide and check in on you frequently.

So, tell your parent. Tell your teacher.Tell an older sibling. Tell a trusted friend.

Say: “I'm trying to reduce my social media use. Please help me stay accountable.”

There is no shame in asking for help.

In fact, knowing when you need help is itself a form of maturity.

2. Pray to God for Discipline

For the Christian, discipline is not merely about willpower.

We can ask God to help us develop self-control and wisdom. Pray about your habits.

Ask God to help you steward your attention well. Ask Him to help you recognise what is influencing your mind.

Ask Him for the strength to say no when necessary.

Your phone should never become your master.

Finally, remember this:

You do not have to hate social media.

You do not have to delete every app.

You do not have to become disconnected from the world.

Social media can be useful. It can help you learn, communicate, create and influence.

But it must remain a tool.

Don't allow the tool to become the master.

Don't allow your phone to steal your sleep.

Don't allow social media to consume the attention you need for your academics.

Don't allow your screen to replace real relationships.

And don't allow the digital world to become an escape from problems that require real help.

Use social media. Enjoy it. Learn from it. Create with it. But learn to put it down. Because there is a whole world beyond your screen.

And perhaps, one of the most important things you can learn as a young person is this: you don't have to be connected to everything to live a meaningful life.

Coming Next: Putting Social Media to Good Use as a Young Person

Social media is not only something we must learn to control.

It is also a powerful tool.

So, how can a young person use social media to learn, create, communicate, build skills, share ideas and make a positive impact?

That's what we'll explore next.

Till then, implement these practical social media tips in order to reconfigure your social media usage to be productive.