‘Remember, social media isn’t real life’
Welsh rugby star and biker, George North, on how social media can be both a positive and negative force
When social media was invented, I’m sure the creators thought ‘how great would it be to have a platform where people can follow their friends, their family, but also people they aspire to know’. They would have thought it all through and decided it was amazing – and it is. But there’s always a flip side. The benefit is enabling people to share positive and supportive content – but the downside is that it gives an open channel for negativity and for people to be monumental idiots, too.
In Wales, rugby is life, it’s in the blood, and people are really passionate about it. Social media enables those people to reach you directly, and they don’t hesitate to tell you if you’ve had a shit game.
You have to try to find humour in it, because you already know if you’ve had a shit game, you don’t need a critic to tell you that on social media – I’m the first to know if I’ve played a stinker! But that same accessibility is also what’s great about social media, which is why I’ve never come off it. I like that people can reach out to you, and you can reply. I am more cautious than I used to be, because the more you put out, the more you open yourself up to the negativity. I always remind myself that social media isn’t real life. The picture on Instagram or the Tweet is what the person wants to portray to you – the reality can be very different. I really worry about the mental health impact of social media, especially on young people who may not have such a balanced view of it.
I’ve got a big family, and have a son now, which brings pressure too, but helps give me perspective and keep me grounded. Life’s hard enough without putting undue pressure on yourself, so we should pause and be thankful for what we have, the people around us, and focus on what really matters. And if you’re struggling and need to talk to someone to help you find that balance, give CALM a call.