
Love it or hate it: social media is here to stay. It’s estimated that between 4 and 5 billion people worldwide now use social media.
By Tori Mikulan

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue. View the full issue here.
Many of us have a love-hate relationship with social media, which is no surprise given how complicated it has become. On one hand, you can find connections old and new, see feel-good stories and enjoy cute videos.
On the other hand, social media can bring out the worst in people, overinflate controversy and spread misinformation. Not to mention become a total time suck.
As first responders, our jobs are all over that spectrum. Today’s feel-good video of a community basketball game is tomorrow’s closely scrutinized officer-involved shooting.
Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
You don’t think about how social media will affect your identity when you sign up for a Facebook, Instagram or TikTok account, but it will. Social media has faced widespread and justified criticism over the negative effects it can have, especially on mental health – even more so for kids.
What started as a way for people to connect digitally has evolved into a multi-billion dollar business with seemingly limitless potential. As users, we’re all just bouncing around in the pinball machine that is social media.
Here’s the scary part. Using social media causes your brain to release dopamine, a “feel-good” chemical also linked to activities such as sex, food and social interaction.
This is exactly what can make it addictive. Now associated with ailments such as anxiety and insomnia, social media companies are using algorithms that are hyper skilled at influencing users. It can sway someone towards a particular position or cement an already-held belief by creating an echo chamber – those are the amplifications that keep users scrolling.
Though there are business aspects that are continually evolving, ultimately, it is all about people. And that’s what drives some first responders to dive into the social media sphere to connect with colleagues.
First Responders and Social Media
The Instagram and TikTok accounts by TheSaltyParamedic were created in January 2024 and already have a combined 115,000 followers. The creator says he was just looking for a place to post the memes that he says improved his mood after a bad call and gave people like him something to relate to. “I started the account in hopes of providing that same feeling to other people. I had no idea it was going to grow so big and so fast.”
He says having first responders reach out and tell him that he has helped their mental health is one of the greatest feelings he’s ever experienced. His goal is to stay as positive as possible so he can try to make the kind of difference online that he hopes he makes while working as a firefighter/paramedic.
He says he believes that as long as we are positive influences in the world, the good will outweigh the bad.
Social media strategist Shannon Hancherick believes that making such connections is a significant benefit of social media, allowing responders to find a wide variety of like-minded people with whom to discuss interests and concerns.
And retired FDNY Lieutenant Ray McCormack agrees. He says that the reach of social media is its greatest power, but that it can be both positive and negative. McCormack emphasizes that while we’re posting, the public is too. And that’s something we need to consider both on the job and when online. As he puts it, “What we misunderstand about social media is that there’s no escaping it. We can’t always control what’s posted and every post can be far reaching. It can affect not only how we view ourselves, but also how the public views us.”
The Power of Social Media
Hancherick points out that it is important to remember that we aren’t getting all the details of a situation from a post. Social media is powerful and can affect how we view ourselves, how we make others feel about themselves, and how others view us.
So how can we maintain perspective when it comes to social media consumption? We need to be accountable.
Do you ever think about what you’re doing or trying to accomplish online?
Social media networks have sneaky ways of learning far more about us than we might anticipate and can influence what we see in our feeds. But ultimately, we’re the ones who choose to engage with posts. Hancherick says that if you’re always looking for the negative, you’ll find it. Both Hancherick and McCormack emphasize that sometimes you just need to use the block, hide and delete buttons.
If you don’t like what you’re seeing or how social media is making you feel, ask yourself: what is causing you to share, “like” or comment? You might also want to examine what you’re using social media for. If you’re using it to catch up on the day’s news, consider a dedicated news app instead – one without a comment section.
Overwhelming, controversial, inspiring and, ultimately, incredibly complex.
Social media has the potential to create great good or cause serious harm.
Maybe – like most things in life – it’s about intent and moderation. Ask yourself why you’re starting that new fad diet, or the reason you started spending money on new trendy clothing – or better yet, why you exercise the way you do? There’s a good chance social influence has played a part – and it’s not always good! Sometimes using a triple filter method will help siphon out the bad from the good: Is it true? Is it good? Is it useful? If it fails any one of the three, scroll on or better yet, shut it down.
Your mental health will thank you.
This article originally appeared within the Fall 2024 issue. View the full issue here, or browse all back issues in the CRACKYL Library.