I can't help but feel that my generation is dying at the hands of social media.

Look, I completely understand the original intent of platforms like Facebook. They were created in an age of growing technology — a time where computers were more accessible than ever before — an era full of bright technological minds shouting, "look at what we can do!" The concept of a networking application where one could reach people around the world was revolutionary. Social media has made it easier to stay close with friends and relatives regardless of where they live. It has allowed information to spread at frightening speeds, faster than ever before, and it's a major aspect of globalization.

And yet...

Although social media is beneficial when used properly, most people will tell you — they don't use it properly.

Adults and children alike get sucked into the time wasting, pointless attractiveness of their socials. From watching viral videos on Youtube to stalking people on Twitter, or from doing regrettable things "for the Vine" to Instagramming your dinner, nearly everyone is guilty.

My parent's generation was mostly lucky enough to escape this epidemic. All they really get distracted by are the Facebook memes that only consume an hour or two.

But millennials like me have grown up with social media almost our entire lives. And to be frank, I'm fucking tired of wasting my whole life on an addiction.

I admit it, Instagram has become my nicotine. I can't stop refreshing. I'll look away from the screen hours later, only to discover my vision slowly becoming worse and worse from the strain of staring at a small screen. When I try to delete the apps to live a real life, I can't resist downloading them again. I've tried dozens of time to delete them, all to no avail. The addiction kicks in, and I start the cycle over again.

Indirectly, my social life, self-esteem, motivation, and expectations have taken major blows due to this appropriately named "Digital Age". And as a person diagnosed with depression, mental disorders like mine make the whole social media situation disastrous.

My generation finds it impossible to live without a phone. We spend hours and hours of our lives scrolling and not actively using our brains. As a creative thinker, a writer, an explorer—this way of living is slowly killing me.

So I'm letting it go. Social medias aren't worth it. I'm going to get out there, and I'm going to live. If someone wants to find out what I'm up to...

They'll just have to read the headlines.