A couple of months ago, I decided to quit social media.
No Instagram, no Snapchat. Just peace and quiet — or so I thought. I told myself this break would be good for my mental health, my productivity, and my overall sense of self.
At first, it was great. I felt like I was taking control of my life, stepping away from the constant noise of notifications and the pressure to keep up with everyone else’s highlight reel. For the first few days, I felt liberated.
The Unexpected Silence
In the back of my mind, I assumed my close friends would notice. I thought they’d call or text, asking, “Why’d you leave? Is everything okay?” I imagined they’d miss my stories, my updates, and, let’s be honest, my memes.
But the silence was deafening.
No one called. No one texted. Not a single person seemed to notice my absence from the digital world.
That stung.
I started wondering: Am I not as important as I thought? Do people only care about me when I’m posting? The very validation I was trying to escape came back to haunt me in its absence.
Reality Check
As the days turned into weeks, the initial high of quitting began to fade. Sure, I had more time to myself, but something felt… off. I wasn’t feeling as “at peace” as I thought I would.
Instead of scrolling through Instagram or replying to snaps, I found myself wondering what everyone else was up to. Were my friends hanging out without me? Was I missing something exciting?
Worse, I started overthinking my relationships. Social media might not be the deepest form of connection, but it was still a connection — a tiny thread that kept me in the loop. Without it, I felt cut off.
The Return
Eventually, I gave in. I re-downloaded Instagram and Snapchat, half-expecting to feel ashamed of my “failure.” But instead, I felt… relief.
Opening the apps was like stepping back into a party I thought I’d left forever. My feed was full of familiar faces, silly stories, and inside jokes I didn’t realize I’d missed so much.
And here’s the surprising part: I didn’t fall back into my old habits. This time, I used social media differently.
What I Learned
- People Won’t Always Notice Your Absence — and That’s Okay.
It’s not that my friends didn’t care about me; they were just busy with their own lives. Social media isn’t the ultimate measure of someone’s value in your life. - Moderation Is Key.
Taking a break helped me realize that social media doesn’t have to consume me. Now, I log in when I want to connect, not when I’m bored or seeking validation. - You Can Enjoy It Without Letting It Define You.
I used to think it was all or nothing: either I quit completely or let it take over my life. Now, I see it differently. Social media can be fun — as long as you’re using it, not the other way around.
Quitting social media didn’t solve all my problems, and coming back didn’t ruin my life either. What mattered was finding balance — learning to enjoy Instagram and Snapchat without letting them control me.
So, if you’re thinking about quitting social media, go for it. But don’t expect it to fix everything. And if you decide to come back, that’s okay too. It’s not about being “off” or “on”; it’s about finding what works for you.
As for me? I’m back on Instagram, posting memes, liking pictures, and snapping silly moments. And you know what? I’m enjoying it this time.