Strive to be likable by making others feel happy, included, and valued, rather than pursuing status-based popularity (fame, visibility, influence) which research links to negative long-term outcomes like addiction, relationship difficulties, anxiety, and depression. Likability is remarkably constant from childhood and correlates with better grades, happier relationships, fewer illnesses, and longer lives.
Actively change your behavior in social interactions to become more likable. When entering a room, focus on positive cues and people who are smiling, and engage in welcoming behaviors yourself (smiling, open posture, positive tone) to initiate a new pattern that helps others see you as happy, inclusive, and valuing.
Ensure offline experiences are not merely for online content; put phones down during face-to-face interactions to foster real conversations and connections. This helps develop crucial social skills, as excessive online time can lead to deficiencies in face-to-face or voice-to-voice social skills needed for adult success.
Before posting on social media, consider your motivation: are you seeking likes and status, or genuinely expressing something important and trying to connect with others? Keep status-driven posting in moderation to avoid addiction and foster authentic relationships.
Leverage social media features like private messaging for genuine conversations and write comments rather than just clicking ’like’ when responding to vulnerable posts. A personal comment, even a quick sentence, provides more meaningful support and connection than an anonymous ’like’ count.
When receiving multiple online greetings (e.g., birthday wishes), take the extra effort to respond individually to each person with a quick, personal message. This can reignite true relationships and foster deeper connections, despite social media platforms often making it harder to see individual well-wishers.
Parents should actively discuss with their children how to critically interpret social media content. Help them understand if dangerous or inappropriate posts are genuine beliefs or just attempts to seem ‘cool’ for likes, and question if ’liking’ such posts implies approval or social pressure.
Implement dedicated tech-free time every day to improve overall well-being. This helps moderate the use of technology, which can otherwise be damaging to mental health and lead to constant pressure.
If meeting nutritional needs through food is challenging due to a busy lifestyle, consider taking a whole-food greens powder each morning as an ‘insurance policy.’ This can provide essential vitamins, minerals, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, and adaptogens, with many users reporting improved energy.