For the last few weeks, I was really feeling overwhelmed on social media; everything started to feel either fake or toxic. On a whim, I deactivated my Instagram account. I’ve genuinely been feeling calmer and more at peace for the past few days, but on the other hand, there’s this pressure inside me saying, ‘I should open it again.’ Do you think it’s possible to live without social media?
I did the same thing last summer; I froze my Instagram for exactly 2 months. At first, I felt really light, but then I realized I had disconnected from my friends. For example, there was an event, everyone shared it, and I felt like the only alien left out. How do you feel about that part?
In studies conducted on social media, I noticed this: constant use not only increases anxiety but also disconnects a person from reality. However, completely freezing it can weaken ties to the outside world. Maybe you could try to maintain a balance with more conscious use, for instance by setting time limits.
I think you guys are really overreacting about this social media thing. After all, Instagram is just a tool, and whether it’s toxic or not depends on how it’s used. Now you’ve frozen it, but a month later you’ll open it up and feel the same way again because the problem isn’t with it; maybe it’s in your expectations?
Let me add this, it also feels like there’s some FOMO involved. For instance, a friend of mine was on vacation, and I felt a strange sense of lack because I couldn’t see their stories. But if I open it, it feels like I would just be going back to the beginning.
I think