Decoupling from Social Media

Social media is one of the causes of depression and anxiety in the modern age. The reason for this is not hard to see. Social media inundates its users with pictures and videos of people seemingly having a great time and achieving impressive things in their lives. It provides a platform for individuals to publicize the positive aspects of themselves. They just got married, for example. Or they just bought a luxurious new car. Or they just received a huge promotion. Or they just moved into a grand mansion. These posts are usually intended to present a certain positive image of the poster to a wide audience, but they can inadvertently stir feelings of insecurity or inadequacy in others who come across them and feel they are failing to measure up in their own lives. This taps into what could be called an innate human desire for comparison.

What is often overlooked is that some of these posts can be deceptive, as they rarely reveal the full picture (pun intended). The difficult or unpleasant parts of people’s lives are hidden, while the more alluring parts are displayed, sometimes as a conscious or subconscious way of seeking public validation.

So far in my life, I have deliberately refused to be part of the charade by choosing to maintain a low social media profile, with WhatsApp being the only platform where I am more expressive. However, through moments of introspection, I am beginning to suspect that my reluctance to reveal personal details is not strictly a matter of principle but perhaps because I feel I have nothing remarkable to showcase. Maybe it is only a matter of time before I decide to publicize my own achievements and craft a carefully curated image of myself on these virtual platforms.

But that is precisely the problem. The need to constantly remind others how well things are going can be mentally exhausting—the need to document aspects of our lives for others to see (like this blog?), the pressure to live up to an online persona. All of this can take a toll on a person’s mental health. It’s not just that, but the everyday drama of social media itself. Sometimes I just wish I could take a break from it all. Sometimes I wish I could unplug from social media for a while. Yet whenever I decide to stay away, something pulls me right back, like I’m some sort of helpless addict. I’m not as strong-willed as I used to think.

Someone once said we should practice what we preach. Unfortunately, I am about to go against that by offering advice I struggle to follow myself. If you ever feel depressed, anxious, or are having trouble with your self-esteem for any reason, it might be a good idea to disconnect from social media and see if you feel better. You might not realize it, but the content you consume on these platforms could be negatively affecting you. Social media isn’t altogether bad, but it can become insidious. That’s why it’s so important to know when to take a break. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to set aside intentional time to unplug and disconnect from technology...