When I upgraded to a smart phone a couple years ago, one of the first apps I downloaded was Facebook, quickly followed by Twitter. I appreciated having these websites in the palm of my hand and felt they allowed me to better connect with my friends.

One of the parts of social media that makes it so great is that everyone gets to share what they care about, think is funny, or the chain letters they were tagged in.

Users get to be creative and/or deep based on our mood. We get to respond to cultural issues and contribute to the trending topics. We track what our friends are up to. We share cherished aspects of our lives and create memories with those we love the most. No matter how or what you post, your timeline creates a profile of you. If you’re the person who always posts the depressing memes, that friend who shares the hilarious cat videos, or the family member who has an opinion on every political situation, those who see what you share get to see inside you and sometimes it’s not as much fun as other times.

I bought a new phone last semester, but this time I didn’t install Facebook or log into my Twitter.

I, in a sense, wanted to unplug from these apps to ensure I wasn’t constantly scrolling down the never-ending feeds of content. I decided to better curate my time on social media by having to get there via the browser or on my laptop. I saw less and enjoyed life more.

I like Facebook because of its photo sharing features, the fact that you can post a funny YouTube video to a friend’s timeline, and the ability to spread links for things that make you happy or help other people become better people. I tend to like Twitter for all the same reasons, plus it’s easier to share GIFs!

I like social media because I get to share in the adventure and passion of the people I love and the people I barely know, all at the same time. I love to learn more about where I’m from and stay in touch with old friends. I like to see the profound quotes, the Condescending Wonka memes, the awkward family photos, the great sports moments, and the important political speeches. I thrive from seeing when verses from, and thoughts on, the Bible are shared; God’s Word is an amazing thing! I love to share parts of my life with others, to include them in my story… my story wouldn’t be possible without you.

Basically, I like social media when it’s done with a positive mentality. We can all think of the times when we’ve felt the best about social media, and it’s not when we’re being challenge or criticized; we feel the best about social media when we feel love and appreciated.

Reducing the time I spend on Facebook and Twitter does more to help me than I would ever have imagined. It’s amazing how the negative posts are easier to scroll past when you only get one once every other day. It’s fantastic how I feel like I get to enjoy life with others through their posts. I like social media only when I’m not around it all the time. It can be quite liberating to take a break and not have any idea what “chaos” has developed online.

And to those of you who create or spread chaos, I think you need a break the most. Do not let Facebook be your main outlet for sharing negativity or frustration. I have bad days, and every once in a while, a negative post slips out. But I don’t like that and most other people don’t seem to either. Choose to post things that bring you joy and happiness; these are the things that are worth the time it takes to type.

There will always be worries and you can’t control what your friends post, but you can control what you post and see. If you feel the need to be on social media as a way to keep connections with friends, do it, but do it less. Find a way to step back and live life outside the virtual bubble.

Social media isn’t for everyone. Maybe you need to get rid of your accounts? That’d be okay, but let me know your email so I can send you links to my articles, okay?