Ways in which we can tackle negative experiences on social media

Cut down how much time you spend on social media platforms.

Use reporting and unfollowing tools.

Free access to therapy for people who have suffered mental health issues due to social media.

Block those who make negative comments/cyberbully.

Make age limits on certain social media apps and daily time limits.

Highlight the effects of social media on mental health and make users aware of the risks.

People who have suffered depression, anxiety or cyber bullying due to social media should have access to free therapy or an online service which can help them.

All users should be made aware of the reporting tools and they should be reminded.

Social media sites should enforce a time limit for users, especially younger users. They should track your daily activity and log you out when the time limit is up.

Time limits should be placed on apps by the social media platforms themselves, this will allow them to have a break from social media and to allow them to not be constantly viewing harmful content on social media.

When people are reported for cyberbullying or harmful or offensive content on their account they should be banned and their accounts should be blocked.

the government should release statements surrounding social media and mental health, how people can make a difference and a plan of action to ensure that young people are safe on social media.

Strengths: This is a strong way to tackle negative experiences and to prevent bad mental health due to social media. This would be a very good way to pass the message along as the government can project the message nationally and they have authority which will make people recognise the importance.

Weakness: This is only a projected message so it may not change peoples perspective, some people may not listen and some may need physical changes to social media apps to make a change.

Opportunities: It will reach people of all ages, especially parents of young children who will be most affected by harmful content on social media.

Threat: People may ignore these messages due to their political opinions, they may not take it seriously and they may not recognise the seriousness of the topic.

Strengths: This will make help more accessible and will hopefully encourage more people to seek help and professional advice.

Weakness: People may take advantage of the system, not every person may be seen and there may not be enough funding for this to go ahead.

Opportunities: This may help reduce the amount of people who suffer mental health issues surrounding social media, it may also help people to find solutions for cyber bullying.

Threats: This may not work as there may be funding issues and lack of people to work the system.

Strengths: This will remove harmful content and messages from accounts which have caused an individual harm or content which has offended them.

Weaknesses: This is not a solution for mental health improvement, it does not remove harmful content completely.

Opportunities: This will remove harmful, offensive or abusive content on peoples social media apps. This is a simple way to block harmful content and protect your mental health.

Threats: This is a personal choice and is not based by the company themselves or the government. This may make this solution less effective as it is only through personal choice and is not a solution to remove harmful content on all social media platforms.

Threats: This may not work as it will require funding and the apps will need to change their websites and settings themselves and they may not want to redirect their app in this direction.

Opportunities: This will ensure that people are not constantly on social media and that they do not become oblivious to everyday life outside of social media. it will allow people to take time off of their phones and that they have less time exposed to harmful content.

Weaknesses: The social media companies will need to create a setting for this to happen, this will require funding and app redesign, the social media companies may not want to do this as they will lose app usage time and they will lose money.

Strengths: This will allow people to have breaks from social media and to spend time with family and friends or doing something that makes them happy and to release endorphins, this will reduce depression and mental health issues linked to harmful content on social media.

Strengths: This will have a positive impact on the individual as it will cut down the amount of time they spend being possibly exposed to harmful content on social media.

Weaknesses: This is a personal preference and is not an installed setting in the app. This may not have an impact as people will still be exposed to harmful content in the smaller amounts of time that they spend on social media.

Opportunities: This will ensure that people have a more positive experience online, and that they also do not get lost in the platform. By taking breaks it allows people to have a balanced lifestyle without social media and harmful content taking over.

Threats:

Strengths: This is a positive tool for all users as it allows them to block cyber bullies and put a stop to abuse or offensive behaviour before it becomes damaging to an individual.

Weaknesses: People may not be aware of these tools and this might not be enough for some people as they may not block the person who is bullying them. People may make new accounts to bully the individual.

Threats: This tool may not be explained fully, especially to younger children who use social media. This tool should be promoted and it should be shown to all users as soon as they install the app and every few weeks as a reminder.

Opportunities: This will prevent many individuals from being victim to cyber bullying or abuse, this tool will help to prevent mental health issues arise due to social media and cyber bullying.