“Humanity is one vast and vivid brotherhood; we must learn to live for each other as for ourselves.”
In the age of constant connectivity, empathy can feel like a depleting resource. Over the world, billions of people are exposed to ceaseless newsfeeds and are connected to each other through different social media platforms. No tragedy is left unknown. Although awareness is necessary to bring change, the sheer number of social issues that we are expected to process is uncharted.
But as the volume of such afflictions rises, we see another phenomenon take place – Moral Fatigue, which essentially means individuals feeling emotionally exhausted from prolonged exposure to social issues, and also being overwhelmed by the constant demand to care about them as well. This can quite easily be confused with apathy, but it’s just a psychological reaction to constantly being required to care, advocate and react.
The constant barrage of news and activism on social media creates a sense of pressure where people feel that they NEED to partake, often at the cost of their mental health.
In an article, Tamir Aldad, the CEO of Mindful Care, wrote, “If television brought war into our living rooms for the first time, then social media has brought the full range of suffering into not only our living rooms but also our bedrooms, bathrooms, coffee shops, commutes and offices – really anywhere in the world with a cell signal. It is no wonder many of us feel like we are living in extraordinary times. We are all witnessing a never-ending stream of global media suffering every day on social media.”
In this age, the exposure to news isn’t limited – there is constant reporting of events taking place around the world 24X7. Various social media platforms also act as amplifiers by increasing exposure to triggering content and prioritising engagement over the well-being of their consumers.
There is also this expectation that “good” or “nice” people care and are personally affected by every issue. Individuals are made to feel guilty when they’re not contributing towards activism. Many also feel scrutinised. However, these are unrealistic expectations. Many have already stretched themselves to their breaking points.
Social media won’t disappear and the number of tragedies occurring around the world won’t lessen either. But advancements in technology and globalisation will only connect us further.
So, how do we cope with this phenomenon?
In an article for TIME magazine, Michelle Trent – executive director of The Compass Center, a nonprofit counselling center – says that taking a break from such difficult news and social media is a great first step.
There’s a significant difference between ignoring a situation and taking time to give yourself time to recharge. Trent recommends using your break for personal wellness and reconnecting with people in your community. He says that it is beneficial to remind yourself of “the good in humanity”.
“Compassion is like a tank of gas,” Trent says. “At one point, if you don’t replenish it, then you’re on empty.”
Mindfulness techniques such as meditation and stress management interventions have shown to positively affect burnout. Simple activities such as drawing, painting, and music have also shown a reduction in Moral or Compassion Fatigue.
Prioritising certain issues that resonate with your values and beliefs and aligning them with your interests is a better option than engaging in every problem faced by mankind at the moment.
We are only human. Accepting that you cannot solve every single problem and taking care of yourself will also let you help those whom you can actually help.
Instead of sharing follow–ups for every crisis and reacting to it, we can try contributing to society positively – volunteering and donating to local issues – this will show more tangible results and let us engage in meaningful action, not just reaction.
Moral Fatigue is a natural reaction to the overwhelming exposure to social media. It doesn’t mean that we stop caring. By setting healthy boundaries, practising self-compassion and focusing on the help we can provide to those in our immediate vicinity, we can protect our well-being while simultaneously staying engaged with the different social issues that are unfolding around us.
In a society that constantly demands attention, learning how to preserve our mental health while still not losing sight of all that is taking place around us, is very important and we should not be made to feel apologetic for it.
By Vanshika Tikekar (G11)
コメント