Viral Video Shows How Overwhelming Social Media Can Be for New Parents

These days, there’s pretty much nothing the TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram algorithms can’t pick up. So when it’s time to welcome a baby, it’s no wonder that your social media feeds start filling up with pregnancy and parenting tips, ads and more. While it may be helpful to see content catered to your interests, what starts out as casual browsing of relatable videos can quickly turn into an overwhelming tornado of guilt-tripping to-do lists, anxiety-inducing ideas and all-out parenting arguments.

In a now-viral video series, fitness trainer, book reviewer, and new mom Nicole Pearce, @NicolePearce, shared just how much her social media feed veered off into the deep end after welcoming her baby girl. “The only thing more overwhelming than the posts I get served post-baby are the comments sections on them,” Pearce captioned the video.

Throughout the video, Pearce quickly rattles off the barrage of posts and contradictory headlines she’s seen in her feed since welcoming her baby. “‘27 activities to do daily with your 2-year-old to ensure they develop normally.’ 'Three ways you’re damaging your child’s growth by not doing enough tummy time,’” she says. “‘You’re holding your baby all wrong. Here are tips from a certified baby holding specialist.’ ‘Eight tips for sleep training your baby.’ ‘Eight reasons why sleep training is child abuse.’ ‘How many hours of tummy time have you logged today?’ ‘YOU’RE NOT DOING ENOUGH TUMMY TIME,’” she shouts.

In the comments, parents added their own remarks mocking the dramatic, click-bait content. “Scrolling social media is bad for my baby’s hips,” joked one parent. “Effing tummy time,” added another. “My son is 14 years old and sleeping on his back. I’m worried he’s not getting enough tummy time,” wrote one dad.

Others chimed in to note how unhealthy social media can be for new parents and how more support is needed. “This is the truest thing I’ve seen. I have a 1-month-old and my entire feed is filled with ways for me to feel like I’m never doing anything right,” wrote one parent. “My kids are teenagers now and you couldn’t pay me $$ to have babies in the ‘influencer’ age. I only had to deal with old ladies in grocery stores’ advice. God bless you,” added another. “Truly a nightmare — new moms need sleep and real-life friends. Not this,” wrote another.

While Pearce’s video provides a way to laugh and relate to the overwhelming content being served up to new parents, it’s important to acknowledge that while social media can be helpful, it can also be deeply harmful to parents just finding their way. The next time you feel like you’re doing everything wrong, take time to step away from your feed and phone a friend, family member, or loved one. Whether they are there to give advice or just listen, you’ll come away refreshed and reminded that you’re doing a great job!