Five Ways Your Sexual Life Is Being Ruined by Social Media

 

Here are several ways that using social media might negatively impact your sexual life, along with professional advice on how to improve it. Social media may make.

1. Low self-esteem

Comparing oneself to others while browsing Facebook or Instagram is all too simple. Mindy DeSeta, a sexologist and sexuality educator at the dating app Hily, claims that this kind of comparison is only normal. According to her, the issue is that "we always come out on the bottom when we compare ourselves to a snapshot of another person's life." Additionally, you're more prone to have depression about sex if you're feeling bad about yourself or your relationships.

According to DeSeta, "sex is not just between the legs, but between the ears." "We are at risk for sexual dysfunction or not wanting sex at all if we are dealing with low self-esteem, self-doubt, or anxiety.

2. Negative Body Image

You're not alone if you've ever moaned at your own mirror after browsing social media. Particularly, fitspiration-style articles that focus on topics like diet fads and muscle tone lead to disordered eating and body dissatisfaction, which in turn interfere with sexual desire and pleasure.

Even if we are aware that the photos have been altered, DeSeta said that the meticulously planned social media feeds cause our brains to fabricate a complex narrative around each picture and distort our idea of what is "sexy," forcing us to compromise our authenticity. "We still aspire to feel and look as hot as the filtered model in the pictures that went viral."

Poor body image is associated with orgasm issues during coupled and solitary sex, in addition to decreased sexual desire.

3. Insufficient Time for Closeness

Adults use social media for around 2.5 hours per day, according to conservative estimates. You may not have time for intimacy if you factor in the time you spend on job, personal cleanliness, and other commitments.

According to Nelson, a lot of couples spend more time in bed staring at devices than spending time together.

"You are sending your partner a direct message that you prefer the phone over them if you are using it when you could be spending real time with them," she added. "A couple may begin to grow emotionally aloof as a result of this decision, and the other people feel rejected."

4. Reactivity to Emotions

You could find yourself yelling at your spouse instead of talking to them after catching up on your social media. Information processing difficulties and increased emotional reactivity have even been related to having your smartphone close by. You could feel particularly agitated—and not in a "oh, baby" kind of way—when you combine that with the divisive viewpoints and alarming stories that dominate social media feeds.

According to DeSeta, social media "inspires high emotional reactivity by design." "Your libido will naturally decline if you are already emotionally charged from what you saw while scrolling."

5. Exhaustion and Stress

Overuse of social media may disrupt sleep, which raises stress levels. Stress and sleep deprivation exacerbate sexual dysfunction.

Nelson said, "Digital overstimulation and doom scrolling can take over the brain's reward system, making real-life intimacy seem less exciting or novel and completely draining your energy and time, even to create space to be in the mood to have sex."

Enhancing Your Sexual Experience in the Digital Era

Giving up social media is not necessary to alleviate associated sexual difficulties. Changing your strategy might be beneficial even if you remain reasonably involved with the platforms.

Nelson advises not using a screen for at least an hour just before bed. "Instead, replace scrolling with rituals of intimate pleasure," she said. For instance, massage each other or take a relaxing bath.

Change what you see online to help you feel better about your physique. Nelson said, "Follow accounts that promote sex positivity, body neutrality, and consent." "Clean your feed to include diverse, body-neutral creators who celebrate all shapes, sizes, and identities, and reset your algorithm." According to her, doing so normalizes actual bodies and challenges unattainable body norms. She advises valuing your body for its functional abilities, such as breathing, walking, and hugging, rather than its appearance when you're not using it.