Social Media Is Killing Us

Modern social media (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc) has caused a 66% uprise in depression and an uprise of 20% in anxiety since its creation, with 6 in 10 Americans stating that social media negatively affects their mental health.

How many times do you check your phone in a day? How about your screen time? When is the last time you actually read a book that wasn't tied to a school project, but for fun? Do you find yourself endlessly doom-scrolling for hours, with little energy to make this day in particular...special? Memorable? Different...at all? 

70% of people are addicted to social media, are you one of them? If so, here's what I want you to do.

1. Message friends/family/coworkers and let them know you're taking a 30 day break. If they need you, they can text/call.
2. Delete all social media apps. You can keep YouTube since this is not considered social media unless you engage with others (though this is a grey area), so just be sure to use it intentionally.

Now, it's time to let your creativity ignite. What movies did you like growing up? If you have a movie store near you, take advantage of this and go snag your favorites. What about books? Visit your local library or bookstore and see what speaks to you. If you have trouble reading, make a music playlist that you can listen to while you read. (I personally like thunderstorm/rain sounds!) 

You can go iceskating/rollerblading, play video games, go to the theater, get into photography, go outside, play with your pet, create a new dish, go to the park, write/draw/paint, sing/dance, etc. No more excuses.

This isn't a forever break and it doesn't even have to be 30 days. Set the time for yourself and see how you do. This also isn't a complete hold off of social media. Even if you don't detox, I encourage anyone reading to only go on online when you're at your computer/laptop, as I'm doing now. Check it as many times as you'd like, the point is that you won't be scrolling until you inevitably fall asleep at 3am...again.

I deleted all of my social medias about 2 years ago now and have personally seen a massive difference. I joined SpaceHey not too long ago and have not seen a negative impact, hence why this applies to modern social media.

Below is a video I found interesting. There are many videos to watch on this subject, so if you feel inclined, please do your research. I hope for a better mental health for us all in 2023.