Why Unfollowing Toxic People Is Self Care

How many people do you follow on Instagram? What about Facebook? And how many times have you found yourself rolling your eyes or even getting upset over something in your feed? Maybe it’s time to hit that “unfollow” button.

You may not be able to control the world around you, but you can control what pops up on your timeline. In today’s digital world, ridding yourself of the negativity on social media is one of the easiest ways to protect your peace. Keep reading to discover why unfollowing toxic people is self care.

Protecting Your Peace on Social Media

Your phone screen is often the last thing you see each day. How many times this week have you spent your last few minutes before bed scrolling on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest? With these platforms so easily accessible, we often can’t help but compare ourselves to others or be affected by what they post.

Self care is any activity that we deliberately do in order to nurture our mental, emotional, and physical health. When your social media feed doesn’t make you feel good about yourself or brings you any joy, it’s time for a change. You’ll notice how much more positive your social media experience is when you curate your feed for the positive.

What Are Reasons for Unfollowing People?

Maybe you’re scrolling past someone who consistently posts negative things, or maybe you see a photo of someone you’re no longer close with and it triggers bad memories. Regardless of the cause, we refer to these people as toxic. The same way we wouldn’t want them in our friend group, we don’t want them cluttering our social media with their toxicity.

There are several reasons why you might be triggered to unfollow someone on social media, including:

• They’re racist, sexist, or homophobic
• They leave antagonizing comments in hopes of provoking an argument
• You’ve broken up or don’t talk anymore
• They’re making unsolicited advances (aka the “DM sliders”)
• You don’t remember who they are or where you met
• They post negative or depressing quotes and images

Defying Social Media Politics

Sometimes the toxic person on your feed is a friend or family member, an acquaintance, or a “frenemy.” That might keep you from hitting that unfollow button – you really want to, but you’re worried of upsetting them or causing an argument because of a meager unfollow.

Remember this: unfollowing someone on social media does not need to be a dramatic event, or mean any harm. You’re doing this for you and your wellbeing.

Your social media is your peaceful corner of the Internet. And if you preach happiness in all areas of your life, make sure your timeline has a positive reaction on your mental and spiritual health.