I Deleted My Social Media.
But I have a New Addiction
A few months ago, I did something pretty drastic: I deleted my Facebook, Threads, TikTok, and any other social media I could. I even changed my phone number and cut my Instagram following and followers in half. It felt like a cleanse I desperately needed.
Back in my teenage years, I could waste six hours a day scrolling through viral videos that added absolutely no value to my life. It became a habit I carried into college — spending my free time glued to Instagram, watching my high school classmates post pictures from places like Budapest, Barcelona, and New York. Everyone’s life looked so picture-perfect — full of aesthetic cafés, fashion, and exciting adventures — while I was sitting there in my sweatpants. I didn’t have that life.
And that’s the problem. I started obsessing over what I didn’t have and completely forgot to appreciate what I already did. I had a home, a dog who loves me, a boyfriend who is my family, and a stable remote job. But I wasn’t thinking about those things. All I could see was the comparison: no fancy brunch pics, no stylish outfits, no exotic vacations. It made me unhappy, not just because of the comparison itself but because I realized I needed a change.
I was following accounts that didn’t add anything to my life — just fueling my thoughts of “I wish I had their life.” That’s when it hit me: I didn’t want to keep feeding into that mindset. I needed a radical shift. So, I deleted those accounts and started to unfollow people who weren’t my friends, and who didn’t add anything positive to my day.
And honestly? The moment I hit delete, I felt instant relief. Suddenly, I had space — mental space, emotional space. I started following pages that aligned with my interests and values. And I no longer felt that anxiety about what other people were doing or where they were traveling. Instead, I could focus on what truly mattered to me.
I picked up new hobbies (hello, Medium!), started reading books I’d been meaning to get to, and just overall felt happier.
But here’s the thing: I had to face a new challenge — YouTube Shorts. I replaced Instagram and TikTok with hours of mindless scrolling through Shorts. So, I had to take action again. I started focusing on watching useful content on YouTube, stuff that actually adds value to my life. And, yes, I set up parental controls on my own phone — don’t laugh, but it works. It keeps me from getting sucked into the endless cycle of Reels and Shorts.
I’ve also started waking up early to read a book instead of checking my phone first thing in the morning. That’s been a game-changer. Currently, I am reading a book about how to become a better writer. I also started to spend more time reading different articles on Medium. It sets the tone for my day, and I’m not starting with distractions. These small steps — managing my scrolling, filtering my content, and focusing on real-life hobbies — have seriously reduced my FOMO anxiety and made my life a lot more fulfilling.
Now, instead of comparing my life to someone else’s highlight reel, I’m focusing on what’s real for me. And that, for me, is what truly matters.
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