"While disconnecting from social media may pose some benefits, significant changes in happiness and well-being likely comes from a host of changed habits over time," suggested Catherine McKinley, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Tulane University.
Giving up social media has opened up my life. I am happier, lighter and more productive. I feel empowered because I let go of an activity that was absorbing so much of my time and energy.
One 2020 study found people who had quit social media saw improvements in their close relationships, and were pleased to be free of comparison with others. But some also said they missed the informational and entertainment aspects of it.
Reduced exposure to fake and bad news
It can have a massive impact on anxiety and can result in generalised anxiety disorders. Without social media we would reduce our exposure to the amount of bad and fake news, and therefore reduced our overall levels of anxiety, depression, and fear.
And, no matter the level or type of job you're seeking, having no social media presence is a red flag that can fast-track your resume to the “no” pile. Here are three conclusions a hiring manager or recruiter may draw from you pulling an invisible man act on social media.
As the line between “online” and “real life” thins, some people are logging off permanently because the downsides feel too profound: They struggle to control how much time they spent on the apps or feel burdened by the constant stream of images and information.
The need to be constantly connected boosts the production of stress hormones, which can increase the risk of depression. Leaving social media decreases this risk while enabling feelings of focus and calm. Another benefit may be a boost in sleep and academic performance.
Your productivity increases.
You will enjoy significantly more time with less distraction without social media, and when you complete your work more quickly, you open up more time to congregate with good friends, sleep, workout, or other activities which increase the meaningfulness of your life.
Social media platforms provide tired individuals with customized feeds consisting of memes, news, and short clips of videos as per the user's activity. It provides people with a much-needed break from their busy schedules.
A lurker is someone who browses social media, social media profiles, and forums, but without interacting or posting anything themselves.
For some of the people we talked to, quitting one platform was enough to see an impact on self-esteem and an increase in IRL connection. Others deactivated from all social platforms, which they said helped to reduce their anxiety and depression.
Don't mistake this feeling for the certitude of keeping your account; we recommend staying deactivated for at least a few weeks to a few months so you'll get used to it. This way, you'll be able to make an unclouded decision.
A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO.
When a user receives a social media notification, the brain releases dopamine. This causes the person to experience pleasure, reinforcing the behavior. Abstaining from social media reduces dopamine levels, which leads to withdrawal.
You might feel anxious at first
While the effects of quitting social media are generally positive in the long run, your immediate reaction may be one of stress and anxiety. These feelings are caused by a neurobiological withdrawal from the sense of being constantly connected.
A string of stars have decided to take a break from social media for various reasons to allow themselves to recalibrate and better their mental health. Through that, many have gotten candid about their own reasonings, from Tom Holland and Justin Bieber to Lizzo, Selena Gomez and Stormzy.
You might feel anxious at first
While the effects of quitting social media are generally positive in the long run, your immediate reaction may be one of stress and anxiety. These feelings are caused by a neurobiological withdrawal from the sense of being constantly connected.
However, social media use can also negatively affect teens, distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people's lives and peer pressure. The risks might be related to how much social media teens use.
VR and AR adoption (Gen Z, this is all yours)
By 2020, more and more practical applications of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) will be changing the game of social media networks.