Social media users put the focus on good health and happiness

Sarah Khamis has a round up of the discussion on Arabic social media this week

Twitter users were discussing happiness this week – although some of them were less than happy with an apparent decision by telecommunications provider Etisalat to block their access to Snapchat’s new calling feature.

Others were having conversations about World Health Day and, specifically, the question: what makes a healthy body?

Happiness

We all have different points of view about what makes us happy, but did you ever think deeply about what really makes you happy?

Tweeters shared their opinions, ranging from the love of a parent to simply being content with your lot in life.

Alhanoof @No0ofa221: “Happiness is mum and dad.”

@403Hadi: “Happiness is not tied to being poor or rich, it is to be happy with the simplest things you have.”

@shahrzadoman1: “It is to be content with what you have.”

@sobhy475 agreed that being content “is the core essence to being happy”.

Karim @KarimGentleman advised: “It is to be closer to Allah, do not hurt anybody and try to make everyone around you happy.”

@Mina_b89: “Allah’s forgiveness and my sisters.”

Yahya @boom2487: “It is stepping a foot in heaven.”

@FarahAbdulHamed: “To have faith in God, health, love and family.”

@kuwaiti_4u: “To have a brother.”

@weaamorg advised other Twitter users to “spread happiness between everyone and you will feel it”.

@rewq1413: “It is to be more positive and to overlook the negative thoughts.”

@mlakalrooh12: “Everything once divided becomes two, except for happiness. It increases when shared with others.”

World Health Day

Twitter users enthusiastically discussed World Health Day, which was celebrated yesterday.

Mental health was identified as being one of the foundations of healthy living, along with other basic factors such as eating well and staying fit.

Rachel @Our_Rach said: “Mental health is just as important as physical health. Don’t ever forget it.”

Neetu @Neetu_Chandra: “The greatest wealth is health. Stay fit and healthy.”

@SadhguruJV: “Thinking that health is something that you have to manage from outside is a wrong perception.”

@gautam_rode: “Eat healthy, exercise regularly and smile often! Disclosing my secret of living a happy life.”

@I_YansenJKT48: “This world health day do what makes you think is better for health. Only you know what is best for you.”

Lamees @Lamees_UAE advised: “It’s never too late to take care of your health. Just do it, fight for your health.”

@museummethodism shared a quote from John Wesley: “The slow and lasting passions, such as grief and hopeless love, bring on chronic diseases.”

@CBawankule: “On world health day, I pray that all of us lead a healthy life and remember that health is real wealth.”

@Livelondoner: “If you have your health, along with your faith, family & friends, then you have it all.”

Varsha @varshasinghmcx: “Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life-which fade and are tasteless without it.”

Kate @kate_wilhelmsen tweeted: “A healthy lifestyle is the best insurance. It’s our own responsibility to establish and maintain.”

Snapchat

The recently introduced Snapchat calls feature was welcomed by UAE users, but that satisfaction didn’t last long. Many said that Etisalat had blocked their access, and they wanted to know why.

Referring to restrictions placed on other social-media platforms, @Hassan_AlSharif noted: “They were late this time.”

@iamlaatifax sent a message to Snapchat support saying: “We can’t use the new call (update) because Etisalat blocked it. Help us.”

@MunemUAE made a suggestion to other users: “You should stop using Snapchat, this way they might pressure Etisalat to remove the block.”

Heba @hebbahop asked Etisalat: “Are there any calls on ANY apps that you didn’t block? Why are you making life harder?”

No comment has been made about Snapchat on Etisalat’s Twitter account, @etisalatuae.

Sarah Khamis is The National’s social media editor

On Twitter: @SarahKhamisUAE