Here’s Why You Find Social Media Draining if You are Introverted

Social media can at times seem like paradise for some introverts because you get the best of both worlds. You get to raise your voice and be heard about the causes you are passionate about; and you can be alone and socialise at the same time.

Unlike face-to-face socialising or networking, with social media you can engage when you’re feeling social and stay away when you’re not. Not only does it allow you to interact socially, you are able to think about what you want to say before hitting the send button. And even if you’re not happy with your response, you can edit it, or even delete and post again if you don’t want people to see that you edited it.

On social media you can get that social interaction you want without being in a room that is overly stimulating. But whilst social media has many advantages for introverts, in some ways it can be just as draining as face-to-face mingling.

With family groups, friends’ groups, business groups, community groups and so on… not to mention the buzz of what is going on in your feed, all this noise can be overly stimulating, causing you to withdraw into yourself.

Many of us belong to so many groups that it’s impossible to interact and engage with them all every day. Often within these groups or on our feed, there are the short, snap posts which are the equivalent of small talk. Given that introverts tend to have a preference for more deep and meaningful engagement, you might find engaging in these types of posts draining.

Some group owners aren’t aware of the preference to watch and observe that many introverts have. I’ve been in groups where the group owner has threatened to remove those who don’t comment and engage. This is a shame because not only does it mean that the introverted person may not learn from valuable information shared within the group, if the group owner has a product or service, they miss out on potential clients. I would guess that the introverted people are only in the group because they get something from it.

If you are a private person you may not want to talk openly online about personal affairs, and you most likely are not one for airing your dirty linen in public. Just because others are openly talking about their lives, their successes, what they had for dinner etc, it doesn’t mean that you have to. It is also ok if you don’t want to mix your personal and professional life on a platform. I would add however, do let your personality come through on your professional social media posts.

If you were at a social event and felt your energy levels drop, what do you do? You either step outside for some air, leave the event, or you do something to give yourself an energy boost. And that’s how it should be on social media. If you find your energy levels sinking when you are on social media, step away from it and give yourself time to recharge.

The fast-paced, brain cluttering posts of social media can leave you with introvert drain. Unlike extroverts, introverts are not energised from being in overly stimulating environments. The fast paced, noisy, small talking environment of social media can have the same effects as if you were in a face to face social environment if you don’t control it.

Statista reported earlier this year that as of 2018, the average daily social media usage of internet users worldwide amounted to 136 minutes per day. If you’re spending anywhere near that amount of time social networking, is it any wonder if you find it draining?

Just like how you manage your energy levels when socialising in the real world, make sure you also do so when it comes to socialising online. After all, you wouldn’t go to a networking event or social event and be amongst so many people in overly stimulating environments 24-hours a day. It’s the same thing online. Just because social media is active 24/7 it doesn’t mean that you must be.

You DON’T have to do what everyone else is doing on social media. Find ways to engage, be social and get your message across, in ways that work for you.

What about you? Do you find social media draining, or if you have learnt to manage it, how do you go about ensuring it doesn’t sap you? Let me know by commenting below.

About Me

I am the Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, an Executive, Career and Leadership Coach. I help quiet women to thrive as leaders. I also help organisations to get more women and BAMEs into senior leadership roles and provide workshops, training and talks on personal development, career development and leadership development.

If you are a high achieving introverted woman in a senior leadership role, join my group of high achieving introverted senior women here. All other introverted women who are leaders or aspiring leaders can join my group for high achieving introverted women here.