At the beginning of this month, looking to gain some perspective, I took a short but much-needed break from Twitter-- the app that consumes most of my time. This break started on January 5 and though I didn't know how long it would last at the time, it lasted 8 days until January 13.
I took this same break last year, though my social media fast of 2017 actually lasted 10 days and consisted of all of my accounts (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) except for Snapchat.
When I looked back on what I'd learned last year, I realized that I'd learned pretty much the same lessons about myself and my relationship with my phone a whole year later.
If you're addicted to social media like I am, this might help you.
1. I might actually be addicted to telling people about myself
Whenever something funny happens or I think of a witty response to something that JUST happened, my thumb, like muscle memory, instantly opens the Twitter app. When I'm watching Netflix and a funny scene comes on, I have to refrain myself from rewinding so that I can record it with my phone and post it on Snapchat. If I happen to go somewhere new (or even happen to leave my house at all) it's like I have to have my phone out because *geotagging* !
It's actually kind of creepy just how much I want people to know exactly how I'm feeling while I'm feeling whatever it is I'm feeling...
Now, I'm not one of those people that is constantly posting pictures of themselves and their adventures. Believe me, I follow them too and they definitely annoy me. Like "do you ever get tired of looking at yourself through your Snapchat camera?". My problem isn't excessively posting or sharing-- my problem is excessively wanting to post or share.
2. Social Media has made me more confrontational
There's nothing easier than seeing a tweet or Facebook post that makes you angry and responding to it. Sometimes I respond before I've fully thought out the possible repercussions. Responding to statuses with alternate opinions is hardly ever a respectful exchange. Sometimes even what you think might be your least confrontational, most respectful tone might result in the least confrontational, most respectful block or unfollow.
Social media has no doubt made the world smaller. Because of this, without realizing it, we follow people from all over that have the same opinions as us. So when someone who has a diverse opinion makes their way onto your timeline, you think it outrageous and that their opinions are way out in left field and make no sense. In reality, there are a lot of people with very valid stances that in no way reflect yours or mine.
3. My Social Media "addiction" might actually be an obsession with my phone itself
We all know the feeling of going someplace that has no signal or the feeling of worse-- running out of data. At that point, we can't load our apps no matter how much we try. So what do we do? Scroll through our pictures or old text messages or even our settings. Pitiful, right?
Which makes me think that maybe one day I should just take a break from my whole phone
In Conclusion...
Take a break from your apps. You never know how much you need one and might even think that you don't until you actually take one.
