Why You Should Quit Social Media

You probably accessed this blog post through a social media platform such as Facebook and find it ironic that we would suggest you should quit social media. But hear us out! We think social media is a definite game-changer in how people interact with the world but it’s always good to be aware of any drawbacks of anything we invest our time in. Once you know the problematic aspects of being on social media and still choose to stay on it, at least you’ll have made an informed decision.

Here are three reasons why you should quit social media:

1. It can prevent you from having a healthy social life.
In the age of instant gratification, it may have become too convenient to find fulfillment in the likes and comments we receive on social media but does that amount to a healthy social life? Not in our opinion. You don’t need a study to tell you that having a face-to-face conversation is a deeper form of engagement than exchanging private messages on Facebook. The next time you want to talk to your friend, try calling them. You will find that the connection you have is nothing compared to a bland text message.

2. You may be spending more time on it than you think.
If someone were to offer you two extra hours every day, what would you use it for? You could take up a hobby, read a new book, take an online course and improve your skills, you could do a lot. What if we tell you that you’re spending two or more hours on social media every day and quitting will mean having hours of free time that you could dedicate for something more meaningful? Surely when you look at it that way, it changes your perspective of what’s possible. Grab a pen and notebook and write down five things you’d rather do with your time than spend on Facebook. That will be good motivation to nix your online bondage.

3. You may develop narcissistic traits.
There is no nice way of saying this. Social media boosts your self-esteem and triggers a dopamine high each time you get a notification. That explains why social media is so addictive. The truth is that it rarely creates opportunities for deep and meaningful engagement and often creates a lot of social pressure to appear a certain way. So, to those conforming to the unwritten rules of social media, having an online presence can stroke their ego. On the flipside, others who are unable to meet the labour-intensive demand of publishing a post every day or saying something creative or looking good in photos you broadcast to the world, it can lead to a lot of anxiety and depression. In worst case scenarios, the peer pressure has quickly escalated into cyber-bulling resulting in live and broadcasted suicide committed by the victims.