E-Business
6 Ways to Overcome Social Media Anxiety Disorder
By Gideon Ayogu
Ever felt jealousy or discontentment due to the seemingly higher standards or jet-set lifestyle of other people on social media? You are probably suffering from Social Media Anxiety Disorder (SMAD), a condition described by the Research and Development Unit of Yudala –Nigeria’s pioneer online and offline e-commerce outfit – as one afflicting a growing number of young adults.
If you are on social media in any capacity, then you probably must have experienced SMAD, especially after being exposed to what other persons in your social network are up to.
According to Yudala, social media anxiety disorder is related to social anxiety, a mental illness which occurs when social media interferes with the mental and physical health of a person, causing one to feeling adequate, jealous, incompetent and unsatisfied. Admittedly, seeing a certain standard on social media can make anyone anxious. This feeling is referred to as social media anxiety.
Social media has grown in importance and today, plays a greater role in our daily lives. Indeed, the majority of people rely on their social media networks for a number of things including lifestyle habits, trends and social validation.
Unfortunately, we are in a world where everybody tries to put their best image forward online and, as humans, we tend to compare ourselves to the sometimes make-believe representation of others.
While social media is auseful way of connecting with people and a remarkable way of bridging the gap between lonelinessand companionship with just a click; it is important to exercise caution.
All that glitters is not gold. This age-long saying holds true especially on social media where a lot of people are guilty of excess show of materialism and flaunting fake lifestyles or standards, leaving the lead to feelings of loneliness, social anxiety and depression.
Yudala shares tips on how to cope withsocial media anxiety:
Admit the problem
Social Media Anxiety Disorder can be difficult to treat, considering the emphasis on social media networking as a model of success, especially in business.
The first step in treating social media anxiety is to identify the problem, admit it, understand it and try to solve it. Be honest about your social media usage and manage what you put on social media; avoid putting self-sabotaging comments of yourself in the hope of getting positive response to build your self-esteem.
Stop Comparing Yourself
Constant visits to social media platforms can make you feel like you haven’t accomplished a lot especially when you see the make-believe lifestyle of your social network.
Humans are insatiable and comparing yourself is inevitable but always try to do you as opposed to studying others.
The most important thing is to look back on your journey and compare with your current state; this will make you feel good about how far you’ve come because there will always be someone out there who is better than you.
Socialize More In Real Life
Nowadays, people are so addicted to social media that they focus more on holding their phones than talking and sharing their thoughts in person. But when your social media friends aren’t as responsive as normal, you may become anxious and start to feel lonely and that’s when social media anxiety sets in.
It is important to strengthen your real-life relationships because your social media friends won’t be there to make lemonades for you when life hands you lemons.
Take A Break
It is okay to take a social media break especially when you realize you are battling social media anxiety. Often, it is advisable to disengage from your social media platforms. Setting a specific social media time limit for yourself daily or weekly can be very helpful.
By doing this, you can then gradually shut off from it completely until you feel comfortable. While this may not be easy initially because of the attachment you may have,you will find an alternative way to keep yourself occupied over time.
Embrace Some Alone-Time
Having a quiet and relaxing time by yourself doesn’t mean you’re a loner or a sad person. Being lonely is different from wanting to be alone which can actually be quite healthy. Going for a walk and being by yourself sometimes, with no distraction from your mobile phone or social media, actually gives you the chance to clear your mind, focus and think more clearly.
Focus on your Passion
We all know social media can be distracting. What starts as a check in on Facebook or Instagram can all of a sudden turn to a 2- 3-hour waste of time. Instead of that, you can develop your hobbies.
Find something you are really passionate about and focus on them, rather than spending time on social media and thinking someone else is doing better than you. This may even help give you a sense of direction and fulfillment.
Gideon Ayogu, head, Corporate Communications at Yudala
E-Business
Mastercard, Alerzo, and e-Trade Alliance Unite to Enhance Financial Inclusion for 10,000 MSMEs
Mastercard has collaborated with Alerzo, a leading Nigerian B2B e-commerce company, and the USAID-funded e-Trade Alliance to accelerate the digital transformation of and enhance financial inclusion among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
This collaboration aims to empower over 10,000 MSMEs with cutting-edge digital and financial solutions, enabling them to achieve sustainable growth and thrive in the digital economy.
Despite Nigeria’s progress in digital technology adoption, MSMEs still face significant challenges, including complex supply chains, reliance on manual, error-prone inventory management, and limited access to essential financial services.
This collaboration addresses these obstacles with user-friendly digital and financial solutions tailored to local MSMEs, such as Alerzoshop, Alerzo’s digital B2B marketplace; and Veedez, a comprehensive digital payment and business management tool, complemented by training initiatives to boost financial and digital literacy.
“Mastercard is committed to driving financial inclusion and empowering small businesses worldwide. Our collaboration with Alerzo, and the e-Trade Alliance in Nigeria provides MSMEs the digital tools and resources needed to thrive in today’s digital economy. By facilitating seamless digital payments and offering comprehensive business management solutions, we are fostering a more inclusive financial ecosystem and driving innovation and growth within the sector.
“This collaboration demonstrates the immense possibilities that can be unlocked through the power of public-private partnerships,” said Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager, West Africa, Mastercard.
Alerzoshop enables MSMEs to stock up using their phones, enhancing their access to suppliers and facilitating secure, efficient and seamless digital payments via Mastercard’s global network.
Veedez is redefining how small businesses operate by helping them digitize processes, unlock new sales opportunities, and increase revenue, with micro-lending services providing vital financial support.
Adewale Opaleye, CEO, Alerzo Limited, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Mastercard, and e-Trade Alliance for this digital transformation project in Nigeria.
“As the leading partner of choice for informal retailers and MSMEs, we recognize our responsibility to introduce digital retail solutions that will strengthen the economy and facilitate the adoption of a cashless society for the collective benefit of all.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to connecting millions of MSMEs in Nigeria to a world where digital connectivity is integrated into their businesses, making them more profitable and fulfilling.”
This collaboration aims to deliver targeted financial and digital training to 10,000 MSMEs across Nigeria by year-end. Introducing innovative, cost-effective payment solutions like Mastercard’s Tap to Pay, QR codes, Pay-By-Link, and Payment Gateway Services will accelerate digital payment adoption.
Upgrades to Alerzo’s infrastructure will enable seamless payment processing through the Mastercard network, benefitting MSMEs immediately upon signing up for Veedez, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Michael Poor, Senior Manager, Nextrade Group, e-Trade Alliance implementing partner, said, “This public-private sector collaboration underscores our dedication to fostering inclusive economic growth through digital transformation.
“By combining our expertise in skills development for ecommerce, inclusive trade, and access to finance, we aim to support Nigerian MSMEs in overcoming the challenges they face in the digital economy.
“Together with Alerzo and Mastercard, we are committed to empowering small businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed to power more inclusive, sustainable growth in Nigeria.”
This collaboration underscores the commitment of all parties to empower Nigerian MSMEs by furthering the digital transformation of the economy and enhancing financial inclusion.
It supports Mastercard’s goal of bringing one billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025 and deepening collaborations with international institutions to drive more sustainable, inclusive economic development.
TD Africa, a leading technology distributor in Sub-Saharan Africa, has joined forces with Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a global cybersecurity leader, to enhance Nigeria’s cybersecurity resilience.
This strategic partnership, announced at a partner roundtable event in Lagos and attended by industry executives, stakeholders, and IT professionals, facilitated discussions on emerging cybersecurity trends and fostered strategic partnerships.
Participants explored innovative approaches to digital security, concluding with a networking session designed to spark future collaborations and strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Abiodun Idowu, Assistant General Manager for TD Africa, highlighted the company’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge technology solutions, saying: “This partnership with Check Point reflects our commitment to providing advanced tools that safeguard businesses against today’s complex cyber threats.”
Check Point’s Security Manager, Victor Ugwu, who underscored the partnership’s significance in strengthening cybersecurity frameworks in Nigeria, said, “With this collaboration with TD Africa, we aim to deploy innovative solutions like Harmony and CloudGuard to protect organizations across the country.”
TD Africa now offers Check Point’s Harmony and Email Collaboration solutions, incorporating Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) technology to enable secure connectivity for remote and hybrid work environments.
Additionally, the partnership provides CloudGuard, an end-to-end cloud security solution, and Quantum Firewall appliances, which scale to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
This partnership reinforces TD Africa’s position as a driving force in Nigeria’s technological advancement. By delivering robust cybersecurity solutions, TD Africa empowers businesses to navigate the digital age with confidence and resilience.
Nigeria’s leading e-commerce platform, Konga, has unveiled the Naija Shopping Festival, a Christmas sales event designed to offer shoppers extraordinary discounts and unbeatable deals.
This exciting shopping extravaganza begins on December 1 and runs through December 30, promising an unforgettable experience for all.
With discounts of up to 70% off on your favourite products, the Naija Shopping Festival is Konga’s way of spreading festive cheer and ensuring no one misses out on amazing deals.
This event caters especially to those who could not participate in Konga Yakata, giving everyone a chance to save big this holiday season.
The festival boasts a wide array of incredible offers across multiple categories, including mobile phones, electronics, FMCG, fashion, groceries, and accessories.
Shoppers can also enjoy specially curated deals such as Christmas Eve Deals, Flash Sales, Santa Shop, and Hamper Packs, ensuring there’s something for everyone this festive period.
Konga is partnering with top global brands such as Apple, Starlink, HP, Zinox, CeraVe, Lenovo, Haier Thermocool, Samsung, and Infinix to deliver the best possible deals. Customers can expect discounts of up to 70% on premium products, ensuring maximum value on every purchase.
Speaking on the launch, Onochie Melvin, E-commerce Manager at Konga, stated, “The Naija Shopping Festival is our way of giving back to our customers and making this Christmas season special for every Nigerian.
“We remain committed to easing the financial burden on Nigerian consumers, especially during challenging economic times. Also, we want to ensure shopping is fun, affordable, and stress-free. With our trusted partners, we’ve curated the best deals to meet the needs of every shopper during this festive period.”
As always, Konga is committed to making shopping easy and convenient for Nigerians.
“By offering substantial price cuts and collaborating with trusted brands, Konga continues to set the standard for e-commerce in Nigeria.
To have a feel of Konga’s Naija Shopping Festival, visit www.konga.com today and make your Christmas shopping a joyful experience.
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