According to my friends and parents, my biggest flaw is that I usually am impossible to reach.
My parents have a regular joke that if I am in one room, there is a great chance that my phone is in the opposite side of the house.
Despite how hard it can be to reach me, I love social media because it’s a great way to connect with people, and the internet is one of my favorite inventions ever.
During this semester, though, I found myself withdrawing more and more from social media. As the semester has gone on, I’ve noticed my mental state has improved as I’ve unplugged.
This isn’t just an experience that is distinct to me. While headlines that claim depression can be completely prevented by limiting social media presence are hyperbolic, there have been correlations between increased mental well-being and decreased social media presence.
In a 2016 study, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found an increase in the amount of screen time and depression levels.
While correlation does not mean causation, there might be some truth to the statement.
We spend a lot of time in front of various screens every day, and it can be easier to stay home on the computer than go out.
This could be because when we are feeling down we feel more tempted to go online in order to find social connections.
However, I am more likely to spend time on social media if I am lonely and am wondering how others are spending their time.
While we can all make fun of the fear of missing out, I know many people who experience it — especially if they spend hours scrolling through social media feeds to see the highlights of other people’s lives.
While the connections between self-esteem and social media may just be a correlation, there is evidence that leaving it, even for a small time, can help a person’s general mood.
According to an article published by the Guardian, 11 million teenagers left Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in 2011-15.
Many of these people leave in favor of more private apps because there is a general distaste for sharing everything with your 700 “friends.”
While these people can only tell their individual experiences, many of them reported feeling less constrained and having overall better social interactions in real life.
Leaving social media won’t cure you of depression or anxiety.
However, it can make you feel better about living the life you want without the constant pressures to act or behave a certain way.
Since limiting social media, I have more time to focus on things, like running and friends, that I want to spend time on.
Disconnection has its perks.
npatwari@umail.iu.edu
