Digital technology has become the core of our lives and peripheries. 1.5 billion People use Facebook every day, and an average iPhone user engages with their phone 85 times a day. We have completely signed up for this, allowing digital platforms to colonize the very essence of our lives. Taking a break from social media is like evicting a clingy roommate who constantly annoys you. We need to choose digital tools that support, not control, our lives.
Digital minimalism advocates for prioritizing a few online activities that align closely with our values. But have we ever wondered how digital technologies deprive us of solitude? Solitude is when we are alone with our thoughts, free from distractions. The absence of solitude makes it difficult to clarify hard problems and regulate our emotions. It’s imperative to leave our cell phones at home occasionally, take long walks, contemplate, and manifest. These are the moments of true connectivity with ourselves.
Man is by nature a social animal, but digital technology disrupts the way we connect and communicate. The more social media we use, the less we engage in offline communication. A study led by Brian Primack at the University of Pittsburgh found that the more time one spends connecting on social media, the more isolated they are likely to become. There is no greater joy than being heard and understood.
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Even when we observe our surroundings, we realize that people have generally isolated themselves. Whether at social gatherings or a friends’ meetup at a coffee shop, we are completely hooked to our screens. Instead, we should focus on learning skills that benefit us in the long term. Honing our crafts—whether painting, writing, collecting, or reading—used to be a common practice. A decade or two ago, hobbies were an essential part of life.
Even if we intend to have a productive day, endless scrolling through Instagram reels or intense YouTube videos exhausts us. We have stopped seeking dopamine anywhere else. It’s astonishing how people are generating millions through mindless bickering online. All it takes is exploiting people’s vulnerabilities and creating an enviable online aura.
Many celebrities across the globe have experienced digital detox and realized they have more mental clarity and saved so much time. Fewer comparisons and better self-image.
“I found myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes… So I’m taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed.” Ed Sheran shared his golden words.
After her 2016 robbery in Paris, Kim Kardashian disappeared from social media for three months. She later said it made her rethink how much she shared online.
I’m getting off Instagram. I think Instagram is for the devil.” Justin Bieber.
Compulsive social media use often adds no real value—it clutters our minds. But you are not helpless. Start by tracking your social media usage and analyzing what the data reveals. Then, create a strategy to use these platforms more intentionally. By doing so, you can clear the digital noise and reconnect with the most incredible version of yourself.
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