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Have you ever posted a factual article or statement from a trusted news source on a social media site? Then, as a result your Facebook friends, or other social media platform followers, turn it into a debate. I have! I deleted Facebook from my phone for over a month, with the exception of posting some items for sale, and I thought I'd download it again. I did, then I shared an article from Reuters, one of the most trusted news sources around. What happened next annoyed me but then I was able to find the humor in it. I got so many comments that were negative and then people started arguing with each other in my post!! Definitely NOT my intention.
If you’re one to share your opinion on social media (maybe in a rude or disrespectful way), guess what? You CAN keep scrolling and save yourself some frustration! Here’s how.
We all have automatic thoughts. Those thoughts are formed by our life experiences and the information to which we have been exposed. Many times, those thoughts are negative and lead to negative emotions and behavior. See my blog on Thought Changing for more information on how our thought process works.
When you see a post of an article you disagree with you will experience automatic thoughts about what you read. These thoughts may lead to impulsively commenting on said post. Maybe your comment is flat out rude or disrespectful. Maybe it has a negative connotation to it. Why did you do that?? Those thoughts create emotions that take over your brain. Your prefrontal cortex or the thinking and problem solving part of your brain is not in control. Your emotions, which are formed in your amygdala, took over your brain! And what did your comment result in? Anything positive? Do you feel better? Are you anxiously checking to see if anyone commented or liked your comment? Do you feel annoyed, anxious, depressed? Do you enjoy getting all those notifications? I know I don't like to feel that way!
So, here’s how to keep scrolling. You open Facebook to see if your friends posted any fun pictures of their kids or check up on the local news. Oh no!!! You see a post you don't like!!! 😱 Check your thought! Do you really want to fall into that thought trap?? Turn on the switch for your prefrontal cortex! Think and problem solve! You want to comment so badly but you know what the consequences are . . . THINK. Do you really want to get caught up in something you don't agree with and have to argue your point or deal with others commenting or arguing with you? NO!! So, you can just keep scrolling.
Here are some more ideas on how to keep scrolling when you see something you don't like.
1) On a smart phone? Use your thumb and softly touch it to the screen, then move it in an upward motion towards the top of your phone until the post is out of view.
2) Using a desk top with a mouse? Use your pointer finger and place it on the center button of the mouse. Slowly move it down until the post is out of your view.
3) On a tablet? Repeat directions in item 1 but this time use your pointer finger until the article is out of your view.
4) On another device? Figure out how to keep scrolling until the article or post is not on your screen.
Here are some ideas on ways to change your thinking to help you with the above actions.
1) "I don't need to comment because it will just lead to frustration and I don't need that."
2) "I don't agree with this post but I am currently unable to comment in a constructive manner."
3) "I know my friend has different opinions than me and that's ok."
4) "Maybe I should unfollow this person so I don't see things I don't like anymore." I've done this before, and I've unfriended some people as well. If you unfollow that gives you the power to go to your friends page when you want to look at their pictures but saves you the frustration of seeing their posts you dont' agree with in your newsfeed. Do it! Unfollow them.
I hope this was helpful or at least gave you a giggle! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Here are some books on a related topic!
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