Nowadays, people often avoid spending their time outside and instead choose to stay at home, go to a restaurant or cafe, or engage in other types of leisure activity. Some individuals claim that platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become the main cause of this problem. Yet, despite these assumptions, social media can actually contribute to people being outdoors, which in turn may have positive effects on their physical and mental health.
Camping, hiking, skiing, or simply cycling in a park after work are extremely beneficial for people since it helps them stay fit and keep their minds sharp. Such physical activities produce a double positive effect on a person’s well-being because it provides both healthy exercise and an opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the scenery. According to studies, by walking in a forest, people can decrease their levels of stress, reduce inflammation, revitalize their immune system, and even improve their short-term memory (Loria, 2018). These findings support observations of every individual who has experienced spending time in nature themselves; observing the environment is calming and healing for the mind and perfect for restoring mental balance.
Social media platforms encourage people to show their stories, opinions, and experiences to their friends and followers, and trips to forests, mountains, and canyons are not an exception. For example, Instagram users can geotag and share their locations, which has made it easier to find beautiful spots and increased visitation of certain destinations (Gregory, 2019). Moreover, the platform gave rise to a large number of influencers who teach their audience how to behave properly while in nature. Other social media sites also help promote outdoor recreation; by publishing a post about their rafting experience on Facebook, a person can excite the curiosity of their readers to try it.
Spending time in nature improves individuals’ physical and mental well-being, and social media platforms can encourage more people to engage in outdoor activities. Observing the scenery and walking in forests have been proved to improve a person’s immune system and short-term memory, reduce stress, and produce a calming effect on their mind. Websites such as Instagram and Facebook allow their users to share information about places in nature, which encourages others to visit these destinations.
References
Gregory, M. (2019). Stop blaming Instagram for ruining the great outdoors.Vice. Web.
Loria, K. (2018). Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, and lower blood pressure — here are 12 science-backed reasons to spend more time outdoors.Business Insider. Web.