Logging Off

We’ve all had this conversation, or at least thought about it: what is endless scrolling doing to us? To the way we think, focus, or even enjoy a single moment?

In a world where notifications, posts, and stories never stop, I began to wonder: are we really connecting, or just keeping up with the noise? 

Sex and the City – HBO Max

Social media isn’t just a harmless habit, it’s designed to keep us hooked. Studies show that every like, comment, or new post triggers a small dopamine hit, creating a loop that’s hard to break. Add in algorithms that predict what will keep us scrolling, and it’s no wonder we spend hours online without even realizing it.

Although we are a very online generation, there’s a paradox: we’re constantly scrolling, yet many of us feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or even resentful of social media. Even my most online friends sometimes want to step away, but feel they can’t, or don’t know how. People are getting flip phones and digital cameras again just to escape the noise, or talking about throwing their phones away altogether-- but of course, we can’t really do that, since our whole lives are on them. More and more, there’s talk about returning to the simpler times of our childhood, when the world felt brighter and more whimsical.

Luckily for me, I was never much of a TikTok person. I’ve had it a few times, but it never really stuck. However, Instagram was always my go-to. For years, it felt less like a choice and more like a requirement; how else would I keep up with friends? After having the app since I was 10, the idea of deleting it felt almost like deleting a part of myself. But then I realized something wild: I don’t actually need Instagram to stay close to the people I love. And honestly, the app isn’t even what it once was. Many friends’ posts get lost in the new algorithm, and the platform now seems designed to keep you caught on reels. Mostly, I got the ick really bad after seeing my parents’ addiction to their phones, because of Facebook reels. They used to yell at me for being on my phone, and now it’s the other way around, which just goes to show how easy it is to get sucked in.

Now, as anyone could have predicted, I feel much happier without social media. I am still on my phone generally, so the next goal will be to fully put it away, but at least Pinterest feels like a safer space for me. I did experience fomo at first, but I have realized that I'm not really missing out. Still, the pull is real. Every now and the,n I redownload Instagram, just for five minutes, to “check in.” And before I know it, I’ve slipped right back into the endless scroll I swore off. This past weekend, I caught myself doing exactly that.

So now I try to keep my use intentional. Maybe I’ll pop on every once in a while to share something or catch up, but I’ve taken away the option of just mindlessly clicking the app because it is there. That, more than anything, has given me space to think, to breathe, to live in a way that doesn’t feel controlled by an algorithm. 

Of course, there are trade-offs. I’m not as in the know on pop culture anymore, which sounds good in theory, but sometimes it’s strange not knowing what people around me are talking about, especially since I’ve always been a pop-culture girl. Now, I just rely on friends to fill me in on the latest drama. My writing might not always reference the newest viral moments, but that’s okay.  

I’m not the first person to step away from social media, and I’m not claiming to say anything groundbreaking, but I do know a lot of people feel the same way. Fully logging off is hard because social media is so integrated into our lives, being online has become essential.