Panache

Spending too much time on social media? Struggling to form real-life connections or feeling anxious and drained online? You may be experiencing signs that it’s time to step back.

Below are 9 key signs you need to quit social media, from declining mental health to reduced focus and constant comparison. Learn how excessive screen time impacts your well-being and why taking a break can help restore balance, clarity, and peace of mind.

You feel distressed while scrolling.

When you log into your social media account, it is mostly to watch your favorite content. Your other objective could be to put your mind off of things around you. But if you have been over-using social media, soon, the algorithm starts becoming distressing for you.

It starts with the initial dopamine hit. The more you scroll, the more you crave it. But sooner or later, you stop getting the same dopamine release, and the whole act of craving to watch more content starts making you more depressed than ever.

However, the bad news is when you can’t stop and you keep on doom scrolling in the search for more dopamine. After some time, it is not distressing but addictive. Your brain is not even in the content you are watching but your fingers keep scrolling. As you know, it is a warning sign.

Also Read: How to plan your day to avoid doom scrolling?

Your self-esteem has declined.

Scrolling through your feed lets you know the happy moments about your friends and family. Not only that, your “for you” feed opens a new door to the world, and you get to know the happy, successful, and fulfilled moments of anyone that your algorithm shows.

Soon, you think that everyone is making a difference in their lives and you are being left behind. You have not done anything substantial. Moreover, you do not look as beautiful or as attractive as them. You are not traveling to the places they have been going. And worse, you can’t see yourself doing it soon.

Though it starts from a simple act of opening a social media account soon it dramatically affects your self-esteem. Now, you don’t feel confident anymore. You are not happy with how you look. And every achievement you have made in your life looks next to nothing.

You feel negative competition.

Sometimes, social media feels inspiring, other times, it feels relatable. In those moments, you feel that the world is going through the same things as you are. You feel less lonely. You laugh at those things and feel satisfied about it.

However, this happiness is not sustainable. Soon after, you start seeing successful people, gorgeous people, and richer people. Instead of being inspired by them. You start comparing your happiness and your achievements with them.

This comparison is not healthy and depletes you of your motivation instead of inspiring you. Many people, reportedly, confess to having dis-contentment after scrolling through social media. And that is not healthy for your mental health.

Your loneliness has increased gradually.

Initially, social media was made to bring people closer. So, you can stay closer to your friends no matter how far they are. However, as per recent studies, the use of social media has made people lonelier than ever.

According to a study done on 400 Chinese students, social media has heavily contributed to making and developing anxious attachment styles. Instead of making real connections and maintaining them. People prefer to stay updated about each other’s lives, not via communication but via posts.

Online culture and bullying have only contributed to this phenomenon. No wonder, you feel happy when you join a social media app because all of your friends will be connected to you. But soon, that communal feeling fades away, and loneliness seeps in.

Also Read: 10 signs you are lonely, not depressed.

You don’t have a life out of the screen.

Many content creators on social media do not have a life out of their social media accounts. They live to create content and get satisfied by the validation they receive on the uploaded content. This stays true for the ones who watch that content as well.

You wake up and open various social media apps via your mobile device. In fact, you feel anxious when you do not get updated on what happened when you were asleep. Then, you spend hours and hours scrolling for more content and the dopamine hit you got as you switched on the phone immediately after waking up.

Bed rot, excessive screen time, and screen addiction are some of the common phenomenon nowadays. Worse is when you realize that you do not have a life outside your screen persona. That is a sign of a lonely, unhealthy, and unfulfilled life.

You prefer escapism over living life.

Many people get addicted to doom scrolling through their social media feeds because they prefer escapism over fighting the challenges head-on. And social media does offer the best escapism and distraction anyone could have.

However, if you fall into the pothole of being an ostrich, it is not so fulfilling for your life. After a certain point, even though you are aware that the problems have been chasing you and that is why you are turning towards social media. You still choose to spend your time scrolling your feed.

Consider this as one of the biggest red flags of social media addiction. And it would not serve you in the long term.

You live for social media validation.

How many times do you check your story “seen” after you put it up? You want to know how many people saw it. You are eager about who watched it first and how did they react. The same goes when you post something. The more likes and comments the better you feel about it. This is how social media molds your behavior.

But a big red flag is when your happiness starts getting dependent on it. You want to make content that is validated by the people and spread by the algorithm. Soon you do not have any control over your creative expressions and decisions. Now, your life is run on what gets more validated.

You may have seen examples of many creators who fall into this trap. As a compulsive user of social media, you too can fall into the same trap. If you feel that your happiness and your day start getting dependent on social media validation, you must think of quitting it.

Your views are heavily affected by your algorithm, thus changing your personality.

Do you know the definition of climate change varies depending on the region you are searching from? Many social media platforms has led to riots and regional instability by spreading false political propaganda.

At one point, Trump was also accused of spreading propaganda news against Muslims to brainwash regional voters. You may see many examples where social media has led to toxic results.

But you may not care as you think that you will never be affected by it. Many psychological experts say that this conditioning is so gradual that you may barely notice the behavioral change that social media posts can bring in you.

Your feed is very different from your friend’s feed even though you live in the same block. Because the smart algorithm changes depending on what you like and which post takes most of your attention. Thus, changing your feed every few seconds.

This behavioural study makes sure to keep you hooked and brainwash you accordingly. So, if you think that your belief, faith, and behavior have been affected by social media, you must think about quitting it.

Also read: 10 effective ways to digital detox.

You feel relieved when you can’t access social media.

Have you been in that dire situation when you can’t access your social media apps? Maybe your phone died, maybe you can’t have internet access, or your phone is damaged. How do you feel about it?

If you feel relieved you must get away from your apps immediately. If you feel anxious and may feel withdrawal symptoms, then too, you must steer clear of social media.

And if you feel nothing, maybe experiment and stay away from it, you may see the changes you have induced in your personality that you may have not noticed by now.

Also Read: 9 signs you need to quit social media.

Also Read: How to quit social media effectively?

Also Read: A strategic plan to cure “brain rot”?