“Dominic, a lot has happened since you last logged in to Facebook.”
That was the subject of four emails I received from Facebook over the past week after deleting the app from my phone. Yes, a lot did happen since I last logged in. But not in the sense that Mark Zuckerberg and company thought I’d been missing out on.
I went on a social media detox. I didn’t like any Instagram pictures, read any tweets, or reply to any Snapchats until yesterday. I don’t consider myself addicted to social media. It’s more of an escape valve from my to-do list – a virtual smoke break. When you hear about people quitting social media, it’s usually because it’s seriously interfering with their work or family life. For me it was an experiment.
It wasn’t challenging, but it was strange. For the first few hours, I would catch myself reaching for my phone, only to remember I didn’t have those all-too-familiar app icons on my screen waiting to be opened. It was like riding a bike without training wheels for the first time. At first you’re shaky, but then you wonder why you ever needed them in the first place. Anyway, I figured since I went seven days without social media, I could list the seven most important things that happened:
1. I realized I wasn’t important or popular enough that I couldn’t live without Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.
2. My productivity increased dramatically. I wrote four articles (including this one).
3. I talked to people. Once I remembered my home screen would be devoid of all red notification icons for a week, I was free to interact instead of burying my head in my phone – at the bank, at the store, and at home.
4. I ate much healthier. I’m attributing that to the absence of sped-up cooking videos.
5. My phone battery lasted all day (usually with 30% to spare).
6. I had more free time. I typically spent a total of 30 minutes per day on social media before the detox, which may not seem like a lot. But 30 minutes lasts awhile if you just sit down and watch the clock. I cooked, visited a couple people I hadn’t seen in weeks, worked out, and read (more than usual).
7. I was in a better mood. You’d be surprised how much other people’s complaining, arguing, and negativity affects your own temperament.
If I had to sum up my social media detox to someone in one sentence, it would be this: If you want to see your productivity skyrocket, ground yourself in reality, and be healthier, delete it all for a week – you won’t be attached even when you have it back.
Dominic Vaiana studies writing and media strategy at Xavier University. He founded a campus newspaper and later went on to advise, ghostwrite, and edit for colleagues and startups. His biweekly newsletter with his personal articles, essays, interviews, and book recommendations, can be found here. For any questions or comments, email dominicvaiana@gmail.com.
