Why I Choose To Be Social Media Free

I have had a love-hate relationship with social media for as long as I can remember. From the beginning, I was skeptical of first creating profiles and allowing information about myself to be on the internet for other people to see. But, the thought of connecting with others in a new way was intriguing. I was eventually convinced to get Facebook and Twitter which led to downloading Instagram and Snapchat.

It began with posting pictures and sharing information about myself with close family and friends, sharing things I believe in or want to advocate. Without even realizing, it evolved into constantly comparing myself and my life to what was going on in the lives of others - both family and friends. And then, with complete strangers.

I would read very strong, opinionated thoughts and feelings on certain topics in posts from others. I would find myself becoming very upset with either something I had read or something I had seen that went against my core beliefs, made me feel lesser, or made me long for more.

I would go through periods of deleting the apps from my phone or devices and eventually re-downloading. During those periods when I did not have social media, I found I would worry less and feel more calm and at peace. The “FOMO” would take over and I would re-download. Just a short period of time later, I would find myself becoming aggravated all over again.

I finally chose to delete all my social media accounts and remove them from my phone for good at the end of 2021. I have chosen to remain social media free since. I can honestly say that I do not miss it one bit and find that I am now living a more present and meaningful life.

I notice that I am more present in all that I engage in. I am not worried about reaching for my phone to post what I am doing. Rather, I am taking in much more of it, attending to even the smallest of details that I would not have noticed before. I soak in the moments much more with those around me, instead of being lost in a digital world. It also makes me thankful for these moments that I have and realize how fortunate I am to experience all that I am doing. Not comparing it to whatever snapshot others were doing in their “perfect” social media life.

I never recall anyone sharing about any of the difficult moments or hardships they have been through, just the brag-worthy moments or the perfectly edited picture and well-thought-out caption - not reality.

Instead, I am living my reality. I get outside more. I use my phone to connect more deeply through an individualized text, phone call, or FaceTime. Better yet - I meet in person to spend quality time with those that I truly care about and that care about me in return. Not my “friends” online, who push a “like” button and I somehow feel supported by or connected with.

In this process, I found out who my true friends are and feel that the quality of our relationships have grown. I rarely compare myself to others and find that I have more confidence in myself. I engage in hobbies and self-care activities with all the extra time gained from a lack of endless scrolling. All of these factors contribute to an overall more meaningful and positive lifestyle.

As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) working in the field with children and adolescents for the past 5 years, I have had the experience of seeing through those that I work with, the negative impact social media has on mental health. In my professional opinion, I would say it has a resounding impact on anxiety and depression. The constant comparison to others’ lives, experiences, and body images (that are often altered or doctored and not depicting reality) can make an individual feel badly about oneself and their experiences. This can lead to a negative self-view and low self-esteem.

Social media can make relationships with family and friends look like more or better than what they actually are, having individuals longing for something that again, is not reality.

Worst of all is the constant stimulation from all of the various apps - TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc. provide and how easy it is to get lost scrolling through each for hours on end. It is a form of dissociating and escaping from reality. When left without the distraction or to one’s self/thoughts, individuals feel very uncomfortable and do not know how to manage. Being with one’s own thoughts or “alone” and “bored” has gotten to a point where it seems almost unbearable. This is problematic.

We may not always have access to technology or the support of others and need to be able to cope on our own, an ability I am seeing less and less of with the clients I see. We need to be able to look inward and have confidence in ourselves that we can and should be fine on our own, from time to time.

When putting down the phone and escaping social media’s strong grasp, we are able to focus on ourselves and enhance our quality of life. I challenge YOU to take a leap, join the movement and become “social media free.” You won’t regret it!