If you’re reading this, you probably accessed this article via my Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram. That being said, for the next semester, my only purpose in using these platforms will be for sharing articles like this one.
As someone who’s addicted to social media, I know this won’t be all that easy. However, I’m tired of spending so much time with my eyes glued to a small electronic box.
I’m not a hater and I actually believe social media networks can be used for constructive reasons. However, as someone with no self discipline, I can’t say I use them for anything constructive. I know.
I should just have some self discipline and put my phone away during class. That would make my life much easier and I wouldn’t have to delete my social media apps and logout of them on my browser. In a perfect world that would work.
Unfortunately, I’m somewhat addicted to social media. You wouldn’t tell a recovering alcoholic to go hang out in a bar, would you?
In the same way, I feel that the best option here is removing the temptation altogether for now. I’ve written about this before so I’m aware that I’m beating the snot out of a dead horse so if you’re already rolling your eyes feel free to click off.
I really don’t care. The following are a few of the reasons that I’ll be logging off for the next few months:
Distraction
I have a hard enough time paying attention in class as it is. Why would I add something else to distract me from a $1200 class? Really? How many snapchats of my double chin do my friends need?
Outside of class I use social media to avoid doing my homework. I’m a natural procrastinator and Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are like bad friends who enable me to procrastinate even more.
Time Wasting
I sometimes amaze myself with how many times I reload the same page over and over again in hopes to see something that will capture my attention and stimulate my mind. I could sit on my butt and scroll through the same three or four news feeds for hours.
Yes. Hours.
At the end of that time, what do I have to show for it? Did I finish writing a paper? Did I feed a poor person? Did I clean the molding cup of coffee in my room?
No. I did some self-esteem stabbing comparison, judgmentally stalked a few people that I barely know, and most likely got a little stupider.
Real Life Isn’t On A Phone
This one will probably make me sound like an old man, but I don’t really care. I sometimes find myself struggling to look people in the eye which is something that I shouldn’t be comfortable with doing.
However, having something to stare at makes this easy. Again. Social media is an enabler and it enables me to be rude.
Over-stimulation
This is one of those things that I think scientists will do studies on thirty, forty years from now and discover has happened to humans. We’re being over stimulated.
Social media sends us so many different messages on a consistent basis. Whether it’s someone telling us who to vote for or someone’s photoshopped life subconsciously telling us that we can’t be happy unless our lives are as flaw-free as theirs appear to be, we're being bombarded.
It leaves my brain exhausted and often confused. What if I gave as much energy and attention to my friends, family, school work, “work” work, as I do to staring at my phone? I’d probably be much more potent in all of those things. (At least, that’s my theory anyway.)
Goodbye
As I come to the end of my ramblings, I bid my Facebook friends, Twitter followers, Instagram followers, and all the rest farewell. Besides the promotion of this article and ones like it don’t expect to see me posting for awhile. And if you do, feel free to call me out for my hypocrisy and drag me through the digital dirt. God bless.
