Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master. — Christian Lous Lange
You don’t need me to tell you the pros and cons of social media. We understand that social media was built with the intention of connecting people with family and friends, yet it typically does the opposite. In some cases, the glowing screen is literally a barrier that can be seen between two or more people.
I deleted social media, Facebook and Instagram specifically, off my iPhone 62 days ago. I only used those two platforms, yet they were taking up way more of my time and attention than I’d care to spend. I justified it, saying “I had to post content for my followers and interact with the blogging community.” It sounds like a valid reason, but in reality, it was an excuse I hid behind while I pursued a habit that wasn’t serving me. Facebook and Instagram spend millions of dollars to keep people hooked on their system, and it works. This is not to say these platforms are inherently evil or wrong; these platforms are tools and it all depends on how we use them. I found them addictive and couldn’t get myself to use them wisely, so I stopped.
I’m not going to lie and say that I had an epiphany or that my life became full of complete bliss when I stopped using social media, but it did change in subtle ways. I spent more time pursuing what I wanted and less time on my phone. I also felt happier because I wasn’t subconsciously comparing my life to the lives of others, or at least the ones they want us to believe they have. At first, when I heard about this comparison idea, I thought I was an exception to the rule. Turns out, I wasn’t. Chances are, neither are you.
I continued to keep in contact using email or Facebook Messenger, but it just wasn’t the same. There are pages that I follow where I resonate with their message, I learn from their work and grow from this experience. When I stopped using social media, I stopped visiting those pages as well.
I’m a big advocate of experiments, so I experimented to see what it would be like to take a 62-day break from social media. I didn’t begin with the intention to stop for 62 days, that’s just the amount of days that felt right for me. To be off social media for 100 days or 99 days or 30 days is arbitrary. I wanted to have a meaningful experience, and it was. Going back on social media, I can now be much more intentional with what I follow, and what I don’t. I can be more intentional about how much time I spend on social media and can take control of my time rather than letting social media do it for me.
If you feel that social media is taking over your time, or you just aren’t having the experience that you’d like to be having, consider logging off for a while. There is no need to do anything extreme like deleting your account, but try deleting the app from your smartphone or tablet. Realize that you have the power to experiment and make small changes in any aspect of your life, in order to improve your whole life and be the best person you can be.
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