We've all heard from our parents, from every single teacher, and about everyone else that our generation is obsessed with our phones, and most likely because of social media. All the information, latest gossip, and funny pictures right at our fingertips.

In my senior year of High School, I wrote a paper on how the use of social media decreases the user's happiness because of feelings like FOMO (Fear of missing out) or the addiction of the apps. All too often I hear from others and think to myself honestly, about followers and if they are decreasing and who unfollowed who. Social Media has started to impact our lives so much that I have some friends that deleted the apps altogether.

I've realized this year that there were so many people on my Instagram feed that it felt more like a chore to go through it than fun to see what my friends were up to.

So I deleted all the people from following that I didn't care to see, nothing against them but I don't need to see every time you go to Starbucks with your friends if we haven't talked in eight years, or especially if I never met you more than once!

There are certain apps that will tell keep track of the accounts that unfollow and follow you, as well as block you. I don't have these and don't think they are healthy to have either. Be free to disagree, but keeping track of something so diligently will constantly make you upset about an app that's supposed to be fun. There's actually a great "Black Mirror" episode depicting this very concept called "Nosedive" on Netflix! I recommend you check it out.

Now, I'm not gonna say I'll delete my apps, because I like sharing my artwork and photos with the digital world but I've noticed the negative thoughts that come along with using the apps to do so. Such as, "why have so many people unfollowed me? Did I do something wrong" and "This person has more followers than me, they must be more popular," when in reality follower count doesn't define you. It doesn't matter how many people "like" your picture as long as you like it yourself because your social media is about you. I've tried to post what I want instead of what others would want to see because who cares? If someone is complaining about your account then they can stop looking at it.

It's hard to stop an addiction but people these days are too focused on making their life online look glamorous that nothing becomes real. My New Year's resolution is to stop looking at my number of followers as well as the number of people who like the things I post because it doesn't matter as long as I like the content I'm putting out there.