Has there ever been a tool as powerful – and paradoxical – as social media?

Social media is capable of deepening our connections across the world and accelerating social movements. Yet, we know it also carries risks – distraction, misinformation, loneliness, and possible psychological harm.

Understanding this tension is essential. It looks like social media is here to stay, so it’s vital to learn to use it well. We must wrestle honestly with its challenges and harness its huge potential for good.

The Problems We Can’t Ignore

• Mental health & echo chambers
  When using social media, many people report increased anxiety, FOMO (fear of missing out), and depressive symptoms linked to endless comparison and the pressure to perform online. The constant scroll can distort reality, making our own lives seem dull.
  In addition, algorithmic echo chambers can trap us in narrow worlds – reinforcing biases, polarising communities, and making it harder to hear dissenting voices.

• Misinformation & disinformation
  In a space where content spreads rapidly, falsehoods or half-truths gain traction. When platforms undervalue content moderation, the result is toxic discourse, harmful narratives, and erosion of trust. 

• Privacy, control, and data exploitation
  Most of us feel uneasy about how our data is collected, used, or potentially sold. 

Social Media – for Purpose, for Connection

Despite the negatives, social media also offers a space for connection, awareness, and collective action. But we must steward it well.

• Amplification of voices & stories
  For marginalised or distant communities, social media can be a lifeline. It gives voice to people and issues that might not otherwise be seen. It helps us tell stories, shape narratives, and shift consciousness. When thoughtfully used, social media helps us bridge gaps across distances, generations, and experiences.

• Mobilising for collective good
  Climate strikes, social justice campaigns, charity events – all are powered by the ability to connect, share, and coordinate online. A post, a hashtag, a shared resource – these can build real-world impact.

• Creating safe, trusted spaces
  The need for safe digital spaces is growing. Glimmer’s work emphasises the importance of spaces built with integrity, transparency, and human well-being at their core. We need platforms where people feel safe, trust the system, and can engage without fear. 

• Weaving purpose into daily life
  Social media gives us proximity to issues that matter – climate change, inequality, mental health, community resilience. Social media can help us learn, share, encourage, and act – even in small ways. 

How to Use Social Media Better

More than just another social media app, Glimmer is a community of people who care about helping each other to live more sustainably. Glimmer aims to make social media a force for good rather than a source of disillusionment. 

Tips on better ways to use social media:

• Curate thoughtfully — Follow voices that bring you hope, challenge your assumptions, and represent diverse perspectives. Don’t believe everything you read – check the sources.

• Slow down & reflect — Before posting, asking, or reacting, pause. Is this impulse rooted in fear, anger, or genuine connection?

• Be positive — Instead of only posting “look what’s wrong”, share solutions, stories of hope, small steps that invite others into action.

• Guard your boundaries — Monitor your screen time. Give yourself a break. Don’t let the algorithms own your attention.

• Champion trustworthy platforms — Support digital spaces with strong moderation, clarity, privacy protections, and mission-driven focus. Platforms like Glimmer seek to create a space around transparency, trust, and meaning. 

Instead of chasing clicks or engagement at any cost, Glimmer is building a digital space where stories can be shared with integrity, communities can connect safely, and people are empowered to use social media for good. 

Glimmer offers a glimpse of what social media can be, where: 

• People connect across divides – with curiosity and kindness.
• Mental health rather than engagement is the priority.
• Small acts shared online scale to real-world impact.
• Conversations are rooted in empathy, justice, and shared purpose.

At Glimmer, social media isn’t a distraction – it’s infrastructure for community, for change, and for making the world a better place for everyone.

For more information see our insights page.

Join Glimmer—The Sustainability Network, as we aim to connect the world to build a better, more sustainable future. Because genuine connection might just be the most sustainable force we have.

Sources: 

‘Fear of missing out’ keeping girls and young women online despite sexism. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/oct/08/fear-of-missing-out-keeping-girls-and-young-woman-online-despite-sexism-girlguiding

Insights. https://glimmerworld.com/insights/

The Guardian view on content moderation: Meta did far too little. Now it wants to do even less. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/08/the-guardian-view-on-content-moderation-meta-did-far-too-little-now-it-wants-to-do-even-less