Now more than ever, it’s time for a social media detox. Here are five reasons why.
When I wake up, the first thing I grab is my phone. I’ll spend 20 minutes scrolling through Instagram to catch up on what I missed. Then I log out…and sign back in five minutes later. Even though the lives of my friends couldn’t have changed much in those last few minutes, I always experience serious FOMO.
That’s when I realized that it was time to break up with Instagram for a bit — or take a social media detox. Most of us spend a lot of time attached to our phones. Millennials get a lot of heat because they were practically raised on technology and social media, but the older crowd isn’t far behind. With new apps constantly emerging and the addictive nature of “feeling connected,” we could all use a social media detox.
If you still need convincing, here are five more reasons to put down your phone.
1. It has a negative impact on your self-esteem.
People share a lot of ideas about what you should look like, the size you should be, and the clothes you need to own. It’s no surprise that this has a direct impact on how you view yourself. When you spend a lot of time on social media, you are constantly comparing yourself to others.
2. It gives you an unrealistic expectation on life.
You spend a majority of your time scrolling through other people’s highlight reel. Even though what you see online isn’t always the real deal, you can’t help getting caught up in other people’s social personas. Comparing what you see online to your real life can cause you to have unrealistic expectations. You almost become detached from reality and try to model your life after something that isn’t achievable.
3. It can lead to depression.
Social media use has been linked to depression in adults. NBC News recently found that, “People over age 35 were mostly likely to be negatively affected by highly visual apps, such as TikTok and Snapchat.”
Multitasking can actually lower your brain activity and negatively impact your mood. You’re not focusing on yourself by trying to keep up with social trends. Logging out for a few days can make a huge difference in your overall happiness.
4. It ruins your relationships.
It’s ironic that something made to bring people together can actually push them apart. I can count on both hands the amount of friends that I’ve lost over something that was said online.
5. It destroys your sense of privacy.
You’ve seen it before. You’re checking your newsfeed when one of your friends posts about the latest fight with her boyfriend. We share our lives strangers every day, which makes it harder to keep things to ourselves. Sometimes, the information we share ends up hurting us in the end.
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