Connection has been an essential human need since long before the internet and social media. Our need to connect explains why out of the 5.35 billion internet users worldwide, 5.04 billion are social media users. Still, too much time online can impact mental health, so as a part of Stress Awareness Month Quantum Fiber has written up a short guide about how web filters and pausing WiFi at home can help de-stress adults and teenagers.
Read our guide this Stress Awareness Month, then see how Quantum Fiber pairs ultra-fast fiber internet with strong internet controls that can help regulate internet access.
- Why Stress Awareness Month matters
- Effects of stress on adults
- Effects of stress on teenagers
- Tools to use this Stress Awareness Month
- Web filters and content filters
- Internet pauses
- Take control of your internet with Quantum Fiber
Why Stress Awareness Month matters
We’re highlighting Stress Awareness Month because although some stress is unavoidable, excess stress can impact mental health and physical health in adults and teenagers.
We’ve broken down a few specifics for each group below.
Effects of stress on adults
Adults can build stress due to many factors including stress connected to their relationships, jobs, and news of the world around them, all of which can be exacerbated by too much time online. In fact, in 2022 76% of adults said that their health was impacted by recent stresses in their life. Those impacts included:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Feeling nervous or anxious
- Feeling depressed or sad
Effects of stress on teenagers
The effects of stress on teenagers are especially important to note since between ages 10 and 19 our brains undergo highly sensitive development. At the same time, up to 95% of youth ages 13–17 in 2023 reported using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.”
Excessive and problematic social media use has been linked to the following issues in teenagers:
- Compulsive or uncontrollable social media use
- Sleep problems
- Attention problems
- Feelings of exclusion
Tools to use this Stress Awareness Month
For most people cutting out the internet to lower their stress isn’t just impracticable, but it would also mean missing out on connecting to their friends, family, and the world around them.
For that reason, we’ve highlighted two common tools that can help you moderate the amount of time you spend online as well as what content you and those on your network are exposed to.
Web filters and content filters
There is graphic content on the internet, but you can place a barrier between yourself and those on your network with web filters and content filters.
If you know what websites you want your network to block, then you can set a web filter to block those URLs and related URLs. The internet is a big place though, so there will undoubtedly be sites you’re unaware of that have content you don’t want on your network. In that case a content filter would be a good choice since it filters the content delivered by a website.
Although you can set web filters and content filters through your browser, a network app that your internet service provider (ISP) offers with your service can give you even more control of your network. For example, on some network apps you can create profiles for each user, device, or group of devices on your network.
You can then create specific content filters and web filters for devices assigned to that profile, allowing you to tailor what sites and content reach your network by user and device. Some network apps will also allow you to block the installation of certain apps, which can be an effective way to keep social media apps off devices on your network.
Although these tools are effective, they cannot stop every site or unwanted piece of content from reaching your network. For that reason it’s important that you continually monitor what is being accessed by devices on your network.
Internet pauses
Pausing internet to your devices is a great way to temporarily disconnect and relax without interrupting your internet service. One easy way to pause internet connection on devices is through a network app like we mentioned earlier.
For example, if you make a profile for a user or group of devices then you can pause internet access for them from your network app. You can even create a schedule where internet access is paused regularly to create windows where you disconnect every day, such as before you go to bed.
Take control of your internet with Quantum Fiber
Stress Awareness Month is far from the only time you may need to control your internet access to de-stress.
Quantum Fiber has the tools you need to regulate what content reaches your network as well as temporarily disconnect from the internet so you can come back relaxed and ready to take advantage of our reliable connection and ultra-fast fiber internet. Check for Quantum Fiber availability in your area today to see exactly what we mean!
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