From Negative to Positive: Buddhist Peaceful Means for Healthier Social Media Engagement
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Abstract
Social media is now embedded in everyday communication, yet a growing body of research associates intensive and unreflective use with anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disruption, social comparison, misinformation exposure, cyberbullying, and patterns resembling behavioral addiction. This article examines how Buddhist peaceful means, with particular attention to mindfulness (sati), loving-kindness (mettā), and ethical discipline (sīla), can be operationalized to mitigate these harms and to cultivate healthier online engagement. The study is developed through a qualitative case-study lens, focusing on the Buddhamahametta Foundation’s “Mettadham Channel” on TikTok, which translates core Dhamma themes into short-form videos designed to support emotional regulation, ethical speech, and compassionate interaction. Drawing on the case study, the article proposes practical content-creation strategies: (i) framing messages through compassion and non-harming; (ii) using concise, accessible narration supported by calming visuals; and (iii) fostering dialogic community practices (e.g., empathetic comment moderation and live guided practice) that reinforce prosocial norms. The analysis suggests that Buddhist-informed design can shift social media use from reactive consumption to intentional engagement, reducing the fear of missing out (FOMO) and fostering a more contented “joy of missing out” (JOMO). The article contributes to contemporary Buddhist studies by outlining an applied framework for translating classical ethical and contemplative principles into digital communication contexts and by identifying directions for interdisciplinary collaboration among Buddhist scholars, media practitioners, and mental-health professionals.
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