First launched in 2010 by Mashable, Social Media Day was created to recognise the way social platforms have transformed how we communicate. In just two decades, social media has helped in defining global politics and personal identity.
Why Does Social Media Day Matter in 2025?
Social media is a space where we study, socialise, organise protests, find jobs, build brands, and curate identities. But it’s also a space filled with noise, misinformation and pressure to perform.
Why it matters today:
- Attention is currency: Every scroll, like, and share fuels a system designed to keep you hooked.
- Misinformation spreads faster than facts: The stakes are high when algorithms boost content for engagement over accuracy.
- Mental health matters: Studies continue to link excessive social media use with anxiety and low self-esteem.
- Digital activism is real: From #MeToo to #EndSARS, social media gives students and young people a powerful voice.
Ethical Use Is Encouraged:
Being online is a bit like being in a group project: if one person’s irresponsible, everyone feels the effects. Ethical use is about being intentional and accountable.
Here’s how to be a good digital citizen at university and beyond:
- Fact-check like a scholar: Use your research skills! Before reposting, ask: is this credible?
- Ask before you post others: Whether it’s a group selfie or a funny video of your flatmate mid-nap, consent matters.
- Challenge hate speech and bias: You don’t have to be an activist to make a difference, just don’t ignore discrimination in your digital space.
- Mind your data: Free apps are rarely free. Know what data you're handing over (and why) when you hit ‘Accept All’.
Mindful Use Is Encouraged:
We’ve all fallen down the 3am TikTok hole or watched 12 “Study With Me” videos instead of actually studying. Social media is addictive by design. Mindful use doesn’t mean deleting everything, it means using it on your own terms.
- Set app limits or time boundaries: Try 20 minutes at a time, twice a day.
- Move dopamine elsewhere: Replace scrolling with short walks, journaling, or catching up with friends offline.
- Track your habits: Notice when and why you scroll. Bored? Anxious? Lonely? Once you name it, you can change it.
- Embrace the pause: You don’t have to share everything. Life’s allowed to happen off-screen.
Beyond the Big Four: Social Media You Haven’t Tried:
Looking for something that’s not Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, or Snapchat? These lesser-known platforms can expand your digital life in surprising ways:
1. Discord
Not just for gamers, Discord is where niche communities thrive. There are student-run servers for everything: film buffs, plant parents, climate activism, even academic accountability circles.
2. Polywork
A reimagined LinkedIn for Gen Z. Polywork lets you showcase not just your career history, but your side projects and creative work. Ideal for KCL students juggling part-time jobs, research, volunteering, and passion projects.
3. Sunset App
A mindful social platform that only lets you post one image a day at sunset. No likes, no metrics, no filters. Just beauty and intention. Created to help people reconnect with time, nature, and meaningful moments.
4. Are.na
Like Pinterest for academics and creatives. It’s a minimalist, ad-free space to collect ideas, quotes, images, and links. Build ‘blocks’ of content for your research, design projects, or existential musings.
Here’s What You Can Do on Social Media Day:
- Clean up your digital footprint.
- Take a social media break (yes, even just a few hours).
- Try out a new platform with more substance and less noise.
- Fact-check something before reposting it.
- DM someone you appreciate but haven’t spoken to in a while.
- Reflect on how you feel when you scroll, and adjust accordingly.
Social media can empower us, but only if we choose how we engage with it. On Social Media Day, take back control. Use platforms that reflect who you are, not just who you’re told to be, ethically and intentionally.
Happy Social Media Day!