“I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I’m with isn’t it…” - The Simpsons

 

More than a year ago, I decided to see how I’d fare without social media. I had been an active Facebook user for a decade. And starting in the mid-2010’s, I added Snapchat and Twitter to the mix. So on January 2, 2019, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I deactivated my Facebook profile. Facebook had an omnipresence that made it feel like the white pages. Scrolling Twitter could be likened to reading a newspaper, and Snapchat was like watching the news channel. I couldn’t deny the consequences I encountered with social media: a common diversion from productivity, an inducer of FOMO, and an urge to keep up with the news. So I chose to take at least a one-year hiatus from it all.

There was a distinct void in my life in the early days of 2019. Predictably, it didn’t take long for other activities to fill in. I increased my intake of books, traditional news media, and educational YouTube videos. As I reflect on this past year of no social media, I can notice a startling change in my mentality. I feel more patient, calm, and blissed. I put the blinders on myself a year ago, and am now accustomed to focusing on myself and the path ahead.

Ironically, I am more financially invested in social media now than ever. Apps such as Facebook and Instagram are ingrained into society, and are a vital piece of business marketing and sales. New apps and trends are sure to come, but they will only lead to a more integrated and public online presence. So I will happily continue to be a shareholder of major social media brands - without an active profile of my own.