Remember the thrill of crafting your MySpace profile, meticulously choosing the perfect starting lineup of your top 5 friends and background music on your page? Or when Instagram first dropped, and we posted a cool photo of our meals? Or how Facebook was a place where we could build communities and connect with friends when we were in college?
We documented our lives, shared inside jokes, and fostered friendships. Things were simple.
Today, unfortunately, those times have ended.
Social media platforms have morphed into relentless marketing machines. Have you ever Googled something online and then gone to your social media account to find an advertisement for what you were searching for?
These algorithms feed us a steady stream of curated realities that don’t tell the true story of someone’s life and, at times, leave us feeling inadequate.
It has reached a point where I don’t even share my phone number anymore. My first instinct is to ask, “Do you have Instagram or LinkedIn?” I know of people who completely rely on social media to determine whether the person they want to date is worthy based on their presence on social media. That’s how much of a chokehold these platforms have on our daily lives.
Social media users may use their accounts as coping mechanisms. We consistently receive negative news from different outlets, and a person worried about what’s happening in the world could develop the compulsive behavior of constantly monitoring social media for negative updates.
Don’t get me started with the endless sponsored content and the constant pressure to project a perfect online persona. Social media still serves a purpose, but the joy has gotten lost somewhere along the way. At times, I’ve even gotten tired of it. I remember taking a brief hiatus from social media only to receive text messages from friends asking if I’ve been okay because they haven’t seen my frequent updates on the internet.
Over time, I’ve asked Millennials what they do to detox from social media, and here are some suggestions that might be useful to you if you’re struggling with how to deal with social media sensory overload.
Establish boundaries : Set limits! No phones are allowed at dinner, so create tech-free zones in your home. Take back control of your time and attention.
In-person connections : Prioritize face-to-face connections. Organize game nights, plan dinners, and talk to the people you care about. Enjoy a concert or a game without having to film the entire experience to your followers.
Unplug and Unwind : Take a break! Disconnect and rediscover the forgotten pleasures of real-life interactions. Grab a coffee with a friend, or go for a walk. Set a time limit for how long you use your phone.
Declutter your digital life : Remove all those useless money-wasting apps on your phone. Unsubscribe from endless emails, organize your digital files and get rid of apps that don’t spark joy (look at you, rarely used shopping app).
