I said I would do a social media detox for myself, I managed to last a few days, but then I felt like someone had stolen my photo. I used that as an excuse to come back, but as soon as I returned, I got sucked back into the feed. Should I be upset about not being able to control myself or angry at the addictive effect of these platforms? Is there anyone who has succeeded in this process?
I also tried doing a social media detox for a while. The first few days were really tough, but my excuse became ‘I need to check it for work.’ Before I knew it, I was lost on the homepage again. In the end, I downloaded an app that restricts access to my phone, and that helped a bit. Maybe you could give it a try.
What kind of logic is this? You say, “I felt like someone stole my photo,” but if someone actually did steal it, it doesn’t get solved by you seeing it. These platforms will do everything to bring you back; I wouldn’t feed them, to be honest.
This addictive effect is explained in science as the ‘dopamine loop.’ In other words, the brain feels like it’s constantly receiving small rewards on social media. Therefore, it is related to willpower, but brain chemistry is also very influential. For longer-term solutions, you might consider professional support.
Let me add this as well, the main issue seems to be that “fear of missing out”. It feels like I’m missing something, which is why I’m constantly checking. Also, everything is so fast on these platforms that I feel like I’m experiencing fear of missing out when I fall behind.
But in this case, everyone needs to exercise their will. So, it’s true that platforms can be addictive, but no one is forcing us to stay. We all enter of our own accord. Therefore, I think it’s also about having some self-confidence.