People always talk about the countless advantages of social media. Sure, it works for some. Entrepreneurs, influencers, activists—people with something to share. But for me? Not really.
I wasn’t running a business. I didn’t have jokes, knowledge, or work to broadcast. Yet there I was, scrolling endlessly. To prove I exist? To make “connections”? That’s what I used to tell myself. And isn’t that funny? Make connection with whom? The same unproductive people like me? Connection to share memes, reactions, or viral nonsense? That didn’t feel real. WhatsApp was there. That was enough. I didn’t need TikTok or Instagram to validate me.
And some of the things I consumed were… ridiculous. Watching my rich relatives flaunt vacations? Reading posts about my friends’ breakups? Highlight reels of strangers’ “perfect” lives? Why should I care? That wasn’t my life. That wasn’t my growth. That wasn’t my learning.
Scrolling wasn’t connecting me—it was keeping me busy, distracted, and slightly empty. It gave the illusion of life, but behind it, I felt a little… useless. My brain was crowded, my attention fragmented, my time evaporating.
“Quitting social media wasn’t about isolation—it was freedom.”
So I stepped away. Not from life, just from noise. WhatsApp and Viber stayed, to stay in touch with people who mattered. I followed news channels for updates. YouTube stayed—for learning and entertainment. But Instagram, Facebook, TikTok—the endless reels, the dramatics? Gone. And nothing catastrophic happened.
The space I suddenly had was amazing. Time for things I actually wanted to do. I learned Python and web development fundamentals. I read books I loved. I even picked up the flute again, solved Rubik’s cubes two, three, four, five times in a row, and played Sudoku and chess for hours. That was fun. Real fun. Real growth.
Do I miss social media? Sometimes, for a moment. But I don’t miss the distraction, the constant comparison, or the urge to react to things that weren’t mine. I don’t miss letting someone else’s life dictate how I felt about mine.
Quitting social media wasn’t about isolation—it was freedom. Freedom to focus. Freedom to grow. Freedom to create, learn, and play in ways that actually mattered to me.
Honestly? I wouldn’t go back. Not yet. Not while there’s coding to learn, music to play, puzzles to solve, and a life I actually want to live.
If I could time travel, I would hug my two-years-ago self and thank them for quitting all of that. Seriously, thank you. You saved me from endless distraction, mental clutter, and wasted time—and gave me a life I actually enjoy living.