In today’s day and age, people are constantly online. They are consumed by the bright screen of their phones or laptops, and drawn in by constant scrolling day and night. Some people might call this scrolling an addiction, but I believe it is just the norm of today. However, researchers have found extreme benefits to taking a break or deleting social media altogether.
According to Intermountain Health, people who have deleted social media have found an increase in their day-to-day moods. Social media has been connected to increased levels of depression and decreasing the amount of time on these types of apps can lead to less chance of developing depression. Going along with having a better mood, Intermountain Health also mentions that less social media makes you less self-aware of what other people are doing or thinking. This can cause higher levels of self-esteem because you are not constantly worried about if other people are judging you. I think this is one of the most important reasons people should consider a social media cleanse. After watching everyone else’s lives on Instagram and Snapchat, people might feel self-conscious about their own lives and what they are doing. When you take this self-consciousness out of the equation, it lets you lead a healthier and more carefree lifestyle.
One of the most important benefits that deleting social media will give you is a better sleep schedule. Self.com says that the light of your phone has a direct correlation to the hormone in your brain that is responsible for allowing you to fall asleep. If you aimlessly scroll on TikTok or Instagram before bed, this might be why you are having trouble sleeping! In addition to sleeping, although it may seem strange, decreasing your time on social media can actually allow you to relax more. Most people find the act of scrolling in silence to be relaxing, however, by constantly looking at your screen, you are never actually allowing your brain to rest. When you turn your phone off and focus on yourself rather than what other people are doing, your brain can truly turn off and calm down.
One more benefit of deleting social media is that it allows you to focus more on your friendships and real-life interactions. One of the main reasons people spend so much time on social media is because they are constantly liking posts and messaging people over the internet. In reality, you may not even know these people! There is more of a focus on what Kim Kardashian is doing than what your friend did over the weekend. By spending so much time interacting with people online, you start to lose your interactive skills in regards to talking to people in real life. These interactive skills are crucial for day-to-day life, and if lost, there can be extreme consequences and stunts in your social growth.
In short, next time you think about grabbing your phone and scrolling through other people’s lives, try and focus on your own. Go for a walk, read a book, or even hang out with your friends. You will probably have a better time with them than you will immersing yourself in the online actions of others.