Let’s get one thing out of the way: I don’t use social media. Not in an ironic “I deleted Instagram but still scroll X for memes” kind of way. I mean actually not using it. No apps, no doom-scrolling, no comparing my lunch to an influencer’s avocado toast photographed in perfect golden-hour light. I decide not to use it, not in a trendy “digital detox” kind of way. I am not a social media user who doesn't post anything, but silently and regularly scrolls through everyone's feeds. I am what you’d call... offline.
And I feel good. I feel mentally light. My brain feels less like a tab with 37 pop-ups and more like... a peaceful Google Doc with no typos. Brain not glitching. Inner peace unlocked.
Not using social media doesn't make me antisocial. I still talk to my friends often. I text. I call. We meet for coffee and walks and we have fun and look each other in the eye. I have slow and deep conversations. I (try to) remember birthdays because I write them down, not because Facebook reminds me.
Social Media: The good, the bad, and the filtered
Let’s be fair: social media isn’t completely a villain. It can be a force for connection, engagement, support, networking, creativity and awareness. But like a double espresso at 8 pm, it can also sometimes mess with your wiring.
Social media has connected us across continents, launched careers, and taught millions how to make whipped coffee. But let's talk about the other side - the side that smells like burnout and tastes like comparison.
Endless feeds can feel like mental junk food: addictive, temporarily satisfying, leaving you feeling a little queasy afterward. One minute you're checking what your friend had for lunch, the next you're spiralling into a vortex of “Why doesn’t my life look like that?”
Let’s talk comparison. It’s baked into the experience. Scroll long enough and you may start to feel like you’re the only person not on holiday, running a six-figure business from a laptop, or wearing matching workout sets while making green smoothies. You might forget that everyone’s showing their highlight reel, not their behind-the-scenes chaos.
Anxiety on demand
We’re constantly plugged in, refreshing, checking, wondering: Did anyone like that post? Did they see my story? Why didn’t they respond? Am I being ignored? Am I liked?
It can be a mentally exhausting, dopamine-fuelled loop. And for many people, it builds up as background stress that never really goes away.
Check in regularly with yourself
I'm not here to shame anyone who uses social media. If TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X bring you lots of joy, more power to you. Although if you ever feel drained after scrolling, like your soul just binge-watched a bad reality show, maybe it’s worth asking:
Is this adding anything to my life, or is it just filling the space?
Social media can be fun, sure. But it can also sometimes eat away at your peace, your privacy, and your sense of self. It surely is a tool. And like any tool, it can help or hurt depending on how it's used.
As for me, I’ll be over here, living my quiet unfiltered life. Personally, this makes room for more meaningful things: real conversations, hobbies, and even boredom – which, turns out, can become a breeding ground for creativity. And I feel more at peace for it.
I read books instead of comments.
I go outside without feeling the need to document it.
I talk to friends without checking if they’ve posted anything in 4 hours.
I don’t know what an “Instagram aesthetic” is, and I’m okay with that.
I don't feel the need to post my small wins or share my big achievements on Facebook, I try to validate internally and choose to celebrate privately.
Life is better for me without the noise. I don’t feel like I’m missing out, I feel like I am checked in to my own life, and that feels good. No socials. No pressure. No performance.
Just me. Present. Private. Peaceful.