You will no doubt have noticed that a number of new phobias revolve around social media. One of the latest is Visiobibliophobia which is literally a fear of social media. For some people it is a fear of being seen or too visible on social media while for others it is a fear of missing out. As a consequence, Visiobibliophobia can be a real problem for many people and one which needs to be addressed.
The fear of being too visible on social media
In the early days of social media it was the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram which tended to grab the headlines. In reality there are literally hundreds if not thousands of different social media sites today which deliver the same kind of service. So, is it really any surprise at Visiobibliophobia is on the rise?
Symptoms of Visiobibliophobia
As the vast majority of phobias are related to anxiety and stress, you will not be surprised to see the traditional symptoms of Visiobibliophobia which include:-
• Anxiety
• Hot flushes
• Lightheadedness
• High blood pressure
• Stress
• Mood swings
• High heart rate
• Panic attacks
• Development of social phobias
This list is by no means exclusive but it does give you an idea of how a fear of being seen or too visible on social media can impact different people. In many ways Visiobibliophobia is a reflection of the ever-changing social scene of today.
The fear of missing out
If you check your own Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account you will no doubt see many so-called “friends” you have never spoken to for years and some you have never seen. This creates a society which is based upon very different values to “normal” society where you meet, greet and talk with people face-to-face. So-called “keyboard warriors” can make it very difficult for some people by posting unkind comments. Some of the more common fears of missing out include:-
• Friends organising activities without you
• Not included in share lists
• Friend photographs which don’t include you
• Not being aware of the latest gossip
• Missing out on offers and special deals
• Watching your friends enjoying themselves without you
In reality many of these common fears are present in everyday life but not to the same extent as those who tend to live their life on Facebook and other social media channels. You can spot them a mile off, the ones who have their head in their phone 24/7 and who would seemingly rather communicate with faceless social media accounts than human beings. Their life literally becomes obsessed with social media and the need to check constantly to make sure they are not missing out or their point of view was not included in a conversation.
Being over visible on social media
Visiobibliophobia can also mean a fear of being over visible on social media and literally living your life online. It can be very easy to post comments about private communications or private situations that are very quickly picked up by other people. This may be something as simple as passing comments which others pick up on, spread and reprint often to the horror of the person involved. For many people the challenge is finding a balance between over visibility on social media and not missing out. This real fear can emerge in a variety of ways such as:-
• Paranoia
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Fear
For example you may have friends and family on your social media account and post something which is private and only visible to certain friends. Now, if your friends were to repeat this in the “open” there is a chance that your extended family may see this and it could cause serious problems. As a general rule of thumb, do not post anything on social media which you would not be happy saying face-to-face with those involved. If you can’t say it face-to-face then perhaps you shouldn’t be saying it?
The pressure of social media
Visiobibliophobia is just one of a range of new phobias which have emerged as a consequence of the huge power and influence exerted by social media websites. While this has to a certain extent impacted the younger end of the age range, more many older people are now more tech savvy. As a consequence, many older people have taken up social media as a means of keeping in touch with friends and family and in some cases avoiding loneliness. Whether they feel the same pressure of missing out or over visibility on social media is a very interesting discussion. In general older more life experienced people tend to have a more balanced approach and if something doesn’t seem right, or causes them grief, they will just avoided.
Research also shows that many people will check their social media first thing in the morning before they even speak to their partner, friends and family. Their life revolves around Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the many other social media websites available today. The need to feel part of a “group” is to a certain extent a development of the pack culture to which human life and animal life is directly linked. Unfortunately, very often this pack mentality can lead to “virtual aggression” which can send many people into meltdown.
Tackling Visiobibliophobia
If you suffer from Visiobibliophobia there are a number of actions you can take to reduce the impact and learn to live with it. These include:-
• Finding a balance between face-to-face communication and social media
• Deleting friends who cause you grief and anxiety
• Try not to get involved in “flaring posts”
• Don’t post online what you wouldn’t say in real life
• Reduce direct criticism of others
• Refrain from asking potentially controversial questions
• Keep your private life private
• Think of others when posting, would you like to read your post if it was about you?
Reading about advice and actually cutting back on your social media time are two very different things. As bizarre as it sounds, you may need to go “cold turkey” to actually beat this addiction to social media channels and obsession with living your life in the public glare.
Summary
Visiobibliophobia is a real and more common problem than many people might think. Yes, it seems to be “trendy” but even those who are not necessarily addicted to social media may understand the problem. The trick is to find a balance between real life and online life, an online presence and over visibility where you post information you might regret. As you take more control of your social media “character” the symptoms of Visiobibliophobia will reduce and you will probably see social media channels for what they are, a means of staying in contact. They were not created to facilitate the “pack mentality” allowing individuals and groups to “pounce” on others and make their life a living hell.
Try to live your life on social media as you would like somebody to see you. Avoid direct criticism where possible, do not get involved in controversial subjects and when it comes to issues such as politics, maybe social media is not the best platform!
