But that's the thing. I want to delete everything but it'll only cause drama. All the in laws and crap will take it as a personal attack even though they don't care.. but yeah. The drama would be worse
Same here. I used to use Reddit and Instagram but I don't go on either of those things anymore thankfully. I do find RUclips useful for entertainment at times as I have some creators I like to follow, but I do need to cut back on the amount of time I mindlessly use it
Same here. I used to doomscroll reddit all the time, then switched to Instagram, and then neither of those things. I do admit I think I spend a little too much time on YT at home, but I've been getting out and doing things more and that's great.
I love when my friends save funny videos for me on social media and we have to watch them together on their phone, in person. Laughing with others is something we miss out on when we just send stuff online instead of getting together
I feel you! I deleted Instagram from 2019-2023. A large part of me wants to delete it, but I love seeing the things that make my boyfriend, friends, and great aunt think of me :’)
Came here to say the same thing! I think I've always known it's damaging, but not quite how damaging it is. I realised recently I basically have no hobbies anymore, and the difference from now to then is I didn't have as much social media as I do now. It really does destroy your identity, and your life.
I deleted all my social media at the same age (22). I also got married that year and had my husband do the same thing. It’s coming up 3 years and life can’t get better
It's so healing to me especially seeing the rise of tiktok during the pandemic and not really knowing the consequences. I think humanity will always prevail despite whatever tries to put us apart!
@@alayna-zg5xf I'm that person , I was supprised where my grades went after lockdown . Someone in my friend circleadvice me too look into my phone and desktop usage .. vola there it was , My feeds were fill with usells rot that occupied my brain space for nothing .
such a breath of fresh air to see an actual human that's free in expressing themselves without the need to confine to any aesthetic. Just simply letting the things you love and the person that you are define you. I cant lie Ive been guilty of trying to fit in with every aesthetic shown to me on the internet and at the end of it, its just capitalism tied with a pretty pink bow on top and it just made me feel empty. Nowadays Ive been truly reflecting on what makes me genuinely happy and what feeds my soul even if its not the most aesthetically pleasing process.
gosh, i was HUGE into cottagecore for a while there. pretty sure i used the term once in at least every conversation i had for a good two years lol, so i feel you. because when i got tired of that my first instinct was to get on pinterest and search up different aesthetics in hopes of finding one that felt more like the person i had become. the most freeing thing was realizing that no one aesthetic is ever going to do that because we aren't made to fit into boxes. anywho, i love this comment, and i hope everything is well🫶
I love this comment wow!!!!! you explained exactly what I have been feeling!! "just simply letting the things you love and the person that you are define you" BEAUTIFUL.
I promise you if you get friends who are older you'll find more of them are "free in expressing themselves without the need to confine to any aesthetic". This issue is primarily a gen Z problem
honestly deleting all socials was the best thing i could have done for myself, i definitely agree that it can send you through and identify crisis of sorts because you're consuming so many things of so many different people and it's so exhausting, being completely yourself is so freeing!
so freaking true. the journey to TRULY discovering yourself can be so intense (especially with all the indoctrination from socials and stuff) but in the end it is so rewarding.
I've definitely felt this. I scrolled the echo chambers of Reddit a lot in the past but getting out of that and actually practicing some beliefs that I took from it in my real life without the influence of redditors has helped a ton
4 and a half months clean now. I have made so many more friends, even went on a mini vacation with them, started going to the gym everyday consistent and realised that I am actually a gym girl, got more confidence, reading what I want and slowly enjoying it and not just going along with what is on social media. Best 4 and a half months as I have ever had.
How ? I’m going through the exact opposite of this and I’d take any sort of advice :( after deleting socials for a year I’ve lost so many friends and I’ve realised how isolated I’ve become I’ve just become so depressed.
@m4jima you can always be the one to reach out or invite them for sports or reading or movies 😊 don't think it's the only way to connect with friends. We don't need an audience. Just people that we care and care about us.
I quit everything (except RUclips) the same day, and like you deleted the accounts. I had 40k followers and when I deleted that, it just felt like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. No one is supposed to get that amount of attention (bad or good), it’s not how we are wired! Ever since then I’ve been able to find myself, and my style (not one that fits into a box) and I am so much more fulfilled. I feel lucky, and I look around and realize how everyone is morphing into the same person, because people have soooo much influence. I’m also writing more and found my hobbies again!! For all of you who have quit, I’m proud of you!! And for all of you who are on the fence, just know I’ve never ever had any regrets.
" I don't think that just deleting social media is what has helped to ground me and make me happier, i think it's just the things that i have learnt being off of it"- THISSSSS ❤❤❤
I'm 40 so I grew up without social media. It's wild to think how much has changed. I use it when I'm bored. RUclips is also social media which isn't talked about much but it's so easy to lose hours to it. That's the thing for me. I've spend so much time watching other people live their lives instead of living my own. And don't even get me started on the amount of money I would have saved if I didn't have the internet in general!
I don't know if it's particularly an age thing. I'm 42 and I've been active online since I was 16 - it was Live Journal, then eventually Myspace, it's all been around a very long time.
On the topic of slowing down, one new practice I've adopted is taking the time to mull over and reflect on a video I've just watched, in the form of a comment. I started this habit when I realized that I was using RUclips just like I did all other social media apps that I ended up hating and deleting, binge-watching video after video after video. I barely gave my brain and mind the time to digest any of the content I consumed. I had shifted to RUclips in the effort to find and practice slowness, to only realise that that was completely dependent on how I used the service. Plus, it helps the creators that I watched, which is the best unintentional side-effect!
Love this idea, I’m also not one keen on commenting, but as you said it’s because we’re just consuming video after video. Will try it out starting now 🫶🏻
I've been off social media (Instagram and Tiktok) for a week now. The reason behind it was to focus more on my studies, since this week I've been having tests everyday; the original plan was to re-install them after this week was finished, but as the end approaches, I found myself not wanting them anymore. I feel very present and grounded, things I rarely felt in the past year of having social media, and overall more focused and less distracted. So I agree with all you've said in this video!
I was kinda hooked on social media when I started my first job and I found it a hassle to do things and I just wanted to not do anything. I've made great progress on cutting back on this stuff, I can tolerate being bored without whipping out my phone to mindlessly scroll on it, I'm starting to appreciate some silence in my life as well. Social medias are killing motivation
The problem for most people that get addicted to social media is that it often is a result of having none or very few friends, bad economy, etc. This is were money comes into the picture. There has to be other types of irl entertainment and that costs money. It's a huge privilege to be able to afford going out, going to concerts, etc, when prices are this high. Going off social media just isn't a choice for most people who are actually addicted to it in a negative way.
@ladybird491 You are not living in reality then. Because one months income can not even cover a concert ticket.. Wanna go to a wrestling show, 1500€ if you buy 2 tickets for 3000€. 2 day festivals wanting 700€... It's not realistic. Going out to eat is almost impossible, even pizzas are expensive af. I get it, the upper middle class does not have any connection to the reality of people that don't have that kinda money. Only buying normal groceries will empty most people's monthly budget.
If I'm understanding this right, you're saying that social media is a result of not having enough money to go out and do stuff... yes, everything got more expensive but that doent't mean that you can't do other activities in your free time. There are cheaper things to do, which are not less fun :)
Honestly... I've had a lot of friends growing up, and yet I still had an addiction to social media and my phone. I think there's also social pressure to be on social media because everyone is. Every single one of my friends was as well. Social media is made to be addictive, and once you're on it, it can EASILY become a habit no matter what. No matter if you even have the money to go out, or just hang out with friends at home without spending any money. Things are expensive, absolutely, and I do agree that that, as well as lonelyness, makes the risk of becoming addicted even higher, but that isn't the core cause.
I want to delete social media buy a digital camera and document my life without posting about it online all the time. Social media makes me feel so drained and sad because I always feel like I’m constantly chasing validation from others.
I got rid of my social media in 2021 and I’ve been feeling so good! Selling my house, started a music lesson and art business with my partner and I feel like I’m thriving! I can read, game, spend time with friends and family and go out more and not feel like I had to prove to anyone I was doing anything good, I could just BE in it doing the good! Happy for you though that it’s helped you grow and feel better without it. It’s all a time waster to be honest.
I'm much older than you (just turned 35), and I got my first smartphone in 2013, when I was 24. As soon as Instagram had the "for you" page and changed up the algorithm, the doomscrolling started. Then they introduced stories, and I started thinking about activities in terms of "how can I post this in my stories"? As a fully grown woman, I've noticed my self-esteem and self image have suffered dramatically in the past 5+ years, and I feel lost and aimless. I had a stronger, more unique identity in high school and my teens and drew from a wider variety of personal influences. I can't imagine how hard it is for the younger generations to decouple from social media, especially TikTok. The short-format videos are insanely addictive and I wish I could get rid of them on RUclips
hi, as someone who also struggles with short-form content, i've found out that there are chrome extensions specifically to block youtube shorts! I've also disabled RUclips on my phone as it plays a 'short' as soon as it opens and now only go on youtube on devices with bigger screens so it feels more purposeful. good luck with everything! i understand how you feel
It’s honestly just all about what a person can handle personally bc your “life with no social media” is how my life looks with social media.. at the end of the day it’s simply about balance !!
I just deleted all my socials a couple days ago (I still have FB to keep up with local businesses, and Pinterest because I need it, but that’s it!) and I already feel SO much better. I was obsessed with reading comments and people are so negative and rude online that it got stuck in my head.
Outside of RUclips (I watch it on my lunchbreak at work), I've taken all of my social media apps off my phone. I miss the days of the 2000s where the internet and all these giant companies weren't permanently attached to our hips at all times, ready to distract us, ruin our attention spans, and sell stuff to us constantly. Back before smart phones, using the computer was something you did when you went home at the end of the day for a limited amount of time, it wasn't constantly around us impacting everything we did. You got on, you got off, and you went about the rest of your day. I miss that and I'm trying to recreate that in my life, I've even debated getting a dumb phone and a separate mp3 player but I'm not there yet. I just feel like the apps take up so much time and really makes me miserable. Also, as an artist, I feel like spending too much time scrolling impacts my creativity and desire to make art.
loved your video! getting rid of instagram (either temporarily or not) felt hella isolating AT FIRST. It'll soon be a year that i don't have it on my phone anymore, but i chose to keep my account active so i can post smth once in a while on the web version (it's like a virtual album to me). Total game changer, my main issue was the validation seeking, this constant need of approval and feeling of relevancy, and doom scrolling💀im glad our generation is detaching itself from social media and focusing on the stuff that matter. (get rid of tiktok too guys!) doing things without constantly thinking abt how entertaining, funny or likeable i'd look on my stories has been incredibly healing, and ive been building myself as a individual (still got some issues i gotta work on but i haven't ever been better :)
I’ve honestly been looking for videos to convince me to delete social media because I feel the same things you mentioned, but for me I feel more like fear of missing out on what people are doing but that goes hand in hand with only wanting to see what their doing just to compare how my life is better when in reality that’s really stupid to do, so I really appreciate this video it’s convinced me to get rid of instagram
Oh my God same! But the thing is now especially with family.. you will only know them through social media.. if all socials were deleted, 90% of the people you would never hear from again, including family / in laws. And I think some people aren't ready to mourn that loss. Although it's fake the relationships.. it's still a different type of pain to mourn. I'm not ready yet either.
Instagram made me want to do things just so I could post it on my stories, so I would seek activities that looked good on camera regardless of me liking it or not! And always I mean always thinking about what I could post next so that “people” would think I’m cool and I lead such an eventful life and want to be my friend or something:/ and it got to a point where it was as if I was just living my life performing for this audience who obviously doesn’t give a shiz and moreover seeing other people’s stories having fun and enjoying their young life gave me major fomo. I’m not gonna lie it’s a little difficult to just let go out of it because “ how else are people going to talk to me?” But then I wonder do these people even matter? I’m so grateful I found this video : )
social media is not everything and it sucks that it's become our main way of communication and bonding. trust me, you'll find your people. sending all my love🫶
I actually really resonate with this video! I went on a walk earlier today reflecting on my feelings towards social media and caught myself thinking about how it’s kind of silly we’re part of a generation that documents and overshares SO. MANY. THINGS. I truly do find myself missing and yearning for genuine community and real connections with real people in real life. It’s so nice to find that there are others that feel the same way! Sending you distant love and friendship in your journey 🥰🫶🏻
i completely understand what u mean by yearning for a community irl!!! i haven’t found my tribe yet when it comes to thinking like this and how social media is not it😭
Been of social media for about 1,5 years now and it feels so freeing. During my decade of social media usage I always had one rule, to never take my phone with me to museums. As an art lover I once read an article about how social media changes peoples perspective on art, and how they describe aesthetic value to artworks. I didn't want bias of what other people found pretty or 'instagrammable' to ever interfere with my gallery visits. This worked, but in doing this I forgot to realize that this interference of social media went beyond liking Monet because it looks good on the feed. Only when I went off social media completely I realized how much of what I did, liked, watched, read, and so on was all shaped through what I was seeing on my feed on a daily basis. What you said about doing and seeing things just for yourself really resonates with me.
You are on the right track! I'm 36, and I've had to do the same off and on throughout the years. But definitely felt much better being off social media. Thank you for being you and sharing in such a meaningful way! ❤😊
6:00 I agree this is a big realization with living in a social media world. Seeking validation from the internet led me to feel like I had no real life friends, low self esteem and putting off all the things I wanted to do for scrolling online feeds and creating to trends. Even on trips I felt disconnected from the actual experiences. As a parent now, I see my kids growing up with less and less desire to live their life stories versus sit on their screens watching others’ stories. Thanks for sharing. Great message to reflect on.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm 23 and I know I struggle with social media use (constantly checking all day even first thing in the morning and last thing at night, comparing myself to others, feeling behind etc etc.) and have been torn with the idea of deleting it or staying on. I want to build a career in content creation within the world of food and recipe development as a creative, and I know that I need to be online for that, but I find myself feeling paralysed by constantly doom scrolling and seeing other people's content. Your video has really made me reflect on things, knowing that I can do that and use social media for good, but first I need to heal my relationship with it. This has really opened my eyes, so thank you 💖
I’m 30 I got Facebook at 12 it RUINED my life. I’m a late mellenial early Feb z person I guess since the cut off is 1996. GET OFF social media. Constant comparison no joy no life. I don’t remember a single happy moment in my life. When I say it DESTROYED my life I mean DESTROYED. ❤
This is just what I needed. I've tried minimizing social media use before and I really liked how I was feeling. Now I don't use it as often but I feel like all the work I did before was gone. Even though I don't scroll a lot, sometimes, I do things that I feel I only do because I think it will look good in social media. I want to take pictures not because I want to remember but because I want to post it and get the validation I crave. Now I'm starting my 30-day social media detox again that's why I'm watching videos like this. Your video really made me think a lot. Oftentimes, what makes us feel bad is because we are losing ourself to please the world.
yeah I agree when I had social media, I was not a good person because doom scrolling all day on tiktok just made me miserable. I felt awful about myself and it turned me into a very bitter and insecure person because my life wasn't like everyone else's that is shown online. after deleting apps like tiktok and twitter a couple of months ago, I feel so much more productive and happier. I'm still struggling a lot with mental health but I'm happy to say that I'm not nearly as bitter and low energy as I was when I had been scrolling on tiktok all day long. I still have instagram but I've been considering deleting it as a whole just due to reels being a total distraction. I just feel more myself and I've developed more healthy habits now that I'm doing other things rather than sitting on social media all day and comparing my life to others. I also overshared a LOT with my mutuals on social media and almost everytime, it never made me feel good. like you said, it should feel like a weight off your shoulders - not something that makes you feel exhausted, guilty, stressed.
i deeply resonate and see myself in this video. i’m still in high school and i have felt lost not knowing where i stand in my school and online and even with myself. this whole video is exactly what i needed to hear thank you so much
no seriously i’m not done with the video but i fully agree with you . I have taken many breaks in my life with social media but i think i want to fully take the break because i had people on my ig who didn’t really know me and then between 2022-2023 i went through something traumatic and i would post sad things and literally nobody cared or anything and some were my “friends “ now that im 22 i want to start building my life up in private
it's so sobering (and FREEING) to realize that most people don't really care about anyone they follow on social media. it's such a transactional relationship; you like my stuff, i'll like yours. i've found that getting off socials and keeping my life as just my own has actually helped me to foster real friendships with people who actually care about me. hope everything is well
A heart break caused me to delete all my socials. I look back 2 years ago and I'm kinda glad I don't have to think about "snap scores" and "likes". I feel like I'm able to see things and have more of my own opinion about them. It allows for a lot of growth in my life too. sometimes i feel like i'm missing out on some things, but i prefer this life a lot more for real.
I'm a few years younger, and just deleted Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter last week. It's been a breath of fresh air for me and I agree with literally almost everything you said. I still have Pinterest, RUclips, and Spotify though. I realized I have more time to read, to write, and just be. Found this video and it gave me so much inspiration and motivation to keep going, and to know I'm the only one doing this. thank you!
Love this!! also so important to remember that lots of pinterest content that looks candid is an actual model/lots of energy has gone into producing that shot xx
Just wanted say you’re amazing. You’ve done so well. I’ve just quit Twitter and have never felt better about a decision. You’re an inspiration. I deleted Snapchat after a break up, and never went back. That was six years ago! Now Twitter has gone, I’m wondering what is next. Thank you for this.
I deleted all socials for about a year in 2021. I actually did because it became detrimental to my mental health. I went back on eventually but only kept instagram. I still only have instagram now (other than RUclips duh) and I limit my screen time on there as much as possible because I SEE and feel what it does to me. I don’t have it on my phone and just keep it on my iPad. It feels so much better that way because everytime I use it, it’s intentional
i’m a gen z, and i recently deleted social media. it’s changed my life for the better. i’m rarely on my phone, and spend all my time being me, not some version of me that i felt was the only acceptable part of me for social media. it really is breath of fresh air.
8:08 I just want to add- I had a tiktok feed that was very very few big accounts or rich people. It was just a lot of small niche accounts, meme/shitpost accounts, etc. It still made me miserable, because in the end you're not making real connections or gaining very valuable memories/experiences. There's just some unremovable gap between every person online.
I recently celebrated my 36th birthday. I’m a music producer and I’m so glad that people stream my beats without me having to really participate on social media at all. Social media was damaging my mental health for years without me realizing its true impact. I have IG and TikTok just to have a presence online and to post about my faith occasionally. I’m essentially done with social media as of this year. I’m so glad you’ve made your decision at a younger age.
I left TikTok in 2021. It was a good call. Now everyone around me has it, it's like I'm forced to go back and it gives me anxiety. Especially being a creative artist with no money so I may have to use social media again to advertise myself.
Watching this video has just made a light go off in my head. I think social media has been taking all my life and attention I woulda been soo much further rn and happier
i deleted tiktok 4 months ago, i thought i would really miss it, but ive actually had a great time and i hardly think about it. I started to get less intrusive thoughts, i wasnt triggered anymore by offensive or scary videos, i had more time to focus on my creativity, and i felt like i gained part of myself back.
Well done ! I quit social media in 2021 when our 2nd daughter was born and I never missed it because I lived in the present and haven't missed a moment from our kids' life. ❤
As somebody getting back into reading after deleting social media, the new york times best seller analogy really put it into perspective lol. Thank you
I'm only just learning a lot of this stuff and I'm ten years older than you -- it's so awesome and refreshing to see someone so young having these realizations and learning these lessons 🥰
Love that this popped up on my feed. I've started to delete social media during the week and have already seen an improvement in my mental health. We are really not meant to have all of this information about everyone else 24/7 lol
Thank you so much for making this video! As someone who was born near the end of Gen Z I have been growing up with technology, and even though it’s helped me create quite a few great ideas and such (I do a lot of creative things) it’s also sorta been really awful. More recently I’ve been very anxious about the world around me, and I feel like something is going to go wrong and I feel like I’m not going to be safe anymore or just anxious for the future and if I’m doomed. And I worry about politics (even though I shouldn’t care about a lot since I’m still young) (I’m from the US) and as someone who’s quite empathetic and sensitive it doesn’t help. I want to quit using social media for a while, but I’m not 100 sure how but I know it should help. But I really hope I can improve and feel less worried and enjoy my life a bit more!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR POINT: that you won’t get it now because you are still craving making a point !!! I love that concept, that you are still committed to growing even though you have been off for two years and did “the thing” it shows you are truly intentional. You’ve really inspired me.
25 yo male here. haven't been on socials since 2021. I feel so much peace and confidence in myself. It's nice not morphing into whatever the current trend is. I am simply me. At first I had some serious FOMO but now if I care enough about a trend I just ask friends to explain it to me.
Thank you so much for making this video! Watching this video made me feel less alone and more confident because we have so much in common! I decided to leave social media a few years ago. While I never had a huge presence, I was negatively influenced by seeing others opinions all the time. Sometimes I wish I could go back to make more friends, but I know I’d be acting inauthentically toward myself. Also, when you said you were working on a novel, I got so excited because I’m working on one too! Anyway, I wish you the best of luck, and I’d love to see more videos from you soon💕
I'm 20, and I feel like you're my older sister giving me advices lol. Ty so muchhhh for this video, it made me really happy and confortable with myself :))
thank you. I was doubting but you've convinced me to delete twitter and maybe Instagram, it's hard because it's actually an addiction but we have to do it!
wow. what a video. i have been leaving instagram and ending up going back to it for the entirety of the year now, and despite having noticed that i feel a million times better when i'm off it i always end up returning -till now. it's been a week since i took a step back and your video helped me decide that it was for good this time. deleted both my instagram accounts and god, the weight that has come off my shoulders just by doing that!!! LOVE the video!! thank you, really!
Thank you for being so honest, Gillian! Right now thinking about quitting it too. I've always thought it wasn't an option because I had to "market" myself, like get followers and listeners and subscribers by posting on social media. But this week I realized basically no one goes from tiktok to RUclips to watch long form. And why would I make short form content if it doesn't make me happy? So, thinking about this a lot. Thanks again💕
Hi!!! we have verrrry similar journeys (got SM at 11, started deleting apps in late 2021/early 2022) and we're around the same age, and it makes me so happy to see others in our age group share the same sentiments. No one around me in my circle seems to recognise how 'bad' SM and tech use can be for you, so I always feel so alienated lol even though not having it is definitely for the best. ALSO, your hair is stunning and you look soooo much like Aubrey Plaza!!
im 16 and like a week and a half ago had my first "situationship" end, which obviously hurt me alot, and ive noticed myself resorting to the usage of social media to avoid thinking about it, but instead i end up feeling more guilty for wasting my time and i end up feeling worse in the end because i havent actually solved the issue, ive just delayed thinking about it. Ive decided today (after starting this video) to deactivate and delete my tiktoks, instagrams and snapchat (debating on my facebook too) because i realized what a waste of time it is. I deleted social media for a while but never went as far as to actually delete my accounts. im excited for summer and i feel like it'll be alot easier to enjoy myself when im not stalking to see if hes with a new girl, or wasting my time watching reels for hours, or just comparing my life to others in general. im watching alot of these videos today to try and convince myself i made the right decision, because i know i did. Im mostly worried about missing out and not having a place to post any pictures i take, and being bored, but in the grand scheme of everything, id rather be bored and have to learn how to entertain myself without consistently checking how other people are doing, etc, then be overtly sad and never heal because im too busy scrolling to admit i have uncomfortable feelings. Thank you for this video, its helped me alot with realizing i should change.
sending you all my love. you've got this! p.s. i'm working on a video with TONS of ideas on how to keep from being bored once you've deleted social media ;)
Thanks for sharing this, I got off social for similar reasons in 2021 and STILL haven’t gotten back on & don’t know if I ever will. I was just thinking today maybe I’m missing out & your vid just confirmed to me , nah, thanks!
i feel like its harder to do this as a younger teen because you cant go out for walks, drive, go to the park, etc which is mostly what everyone says they started doing after they got rid of their socials on yt. I do think obv its hard for everybody but i want someone to talk ab things u can do w out going out, because altho id love to i cant
since deleting socials i've started doing things that make me feel like a kid again! i watch old movies i used to love, read lots of books, color, write, spend time with family, go sit outside, draw in the driveway with chalk, BAKE! there's so much you can do to get in touch with yourself outside of socials.
1. Dopamine addiction is real - there is no mistake why they call people on social media users 2. Would you ever go to a job for 4 hrs per day and not get paid? Thats what you are essentially doing - everytime you go to social media someone else makes lots of money off you.
I LOVE how you put it as open-ended question of whether or not you'll be back, and how you figured out that the way you weren't ready for it was because you wanted to seek that validation and attention. That's where I'm at- wanting to get off, taking long breaks, barely using it, but wanting to use it to show off. When I have a message to share, that's when I'll be back. Until then, it's gone for now.
Celebrating you girly 🥳 my favorite pieces were when you shared the deepening of TRUE friendships and that you have the attention span to write a novel! I totally get the comparison with where you’re at in your timeline to others, I think SM def enhances that but it’s still around in every day life bc we’re social creatures. I will say as someone who’s 12 years older than you, I felt the exact same way at 22 but I was also, like you, discovering myself and learning things- KEEP DOING THAT- because every single year your life will get better and better and better and then when you’re turning 30, you’ll be so dang grateful to the 21 year old version of you that took that time to know herself. That’s the biggest gift you can give yourself ❤
i've been thinking about deleting my social apps for a long time now. the apps only, my accounts have memories in them so i don't think i'll deactivate. but deleting them is still a step to getting off the internet. it was therapeutic and mind-opening watching this. i think it's a sign. thank you.
Loved the video. I've deleted everything except for my other youtube channel and telegram (messenger) too, about 2 years ago, after working in content creation for nightclubs. A couple of days ago I've made a tiktok account to promote my guitar playing thingy, but i'm already seriously considering leaving. The brainrot is real.
That was a very useful video!❤️thanks for sharing your thoughts, experiences and for giving advices. I am now mentally preparing to delete social media apps, bc I felt more peaceful and content with my life when I used to not have it. Hope I can try living off of it for more than 2-3 months at least
I've recently completed a full six months with my instagram deactivated. I don't miss a thing. I am probably never going to go back. The amount my random mental load of all types of insta stories and posts has decreased and opened up room for new thoughts and creativity is amazing to me. I much more favor catching up with my REAL friends in person or by just randomly ringing them up. I feel so good about it. Thank you for making this video and sharing your experiences.
I'm in the same situation as you. My problem is Instagram. I've deleted the app so many times, but it hasn't helped. I deleted my account, but because of the 30 days you can come back I kept getting weak. Now I've told myself that I've finally had enough. I don't want to waste any more of my life looking at unimportant things from people I don't know and who don't know I exist. I always felt bad when I was on the app and then saw how much time I had lost. But for what? You are tempted to buy things that you didn't even know existed, let alone that you needed them. Influencers are strangers with paid opinions. I don't want all that anymore. Hang in there, you're not alone. 💪🦋💖🪷
![KSI - Thick Of It (feat. Trippie Redd) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/At8v_Yc044Y/mqdefault.jpg)
for those of you who keep asking about whether youtube counts: ruclips.net/video/wSFE01F7xDw/видео.html
”When you are sharing things about yourself with people that don’t care about you” hit different
I scrolled to this comment right as she was saying it in the video and it was kind of amazing. Totally agree btw
But that's the thing. I want to delete everything but it'll only cause drama. All the in laws and crap will take it as a personal attack even though they don't care.. but yeah. The drama would be worse
I had to learn that the hard way and that’s why I deleted instagram
Honestly for me personally RUclips is the social media that takes up the most of my time…
Yeah, for me too. It’s the only one social app I have
Same
Me too...except I actually learn shit on here lol
same !
Same here. I used to use Reddit and Instagram but I don't go on either of those things anymore thankfully. I do find RUclips useful for entertainment at times as I have some creators I like to follow, but I do need to cut back on the amount of time I mindlessly use it
getting off social media really helped in bettering my mental health
yes! i love to hear this! it really is so life changing!
Same here. I used to doomscroll reddit all the time, then switched to Instagram, and then neither of those things. I do admit I think I spend a little too much time on YT at home, but I've been getting out and doing things more and that's great.
is youtube not social media?
@@Zectifinyeah but it’s not as toxic as TikTok or Instagram…
i deleted instagram for about 7/8 months reinstalled it the other day and i swear it made me so depressed, life is sm better without social media
It really is I didn’t even bother to re install it and I’m much more happier
instagram is the absolute worst
I love when my friends save funny videos for me on social media and we have to watch them together on their phone, in person. Laughing with others is something we miss out on when we just send stuff online instead of getting together
this is so fun! i love that y'all do this🫶
I feel you! I deleted Instagram from 2019-2023. A large part of me wants to delete it, but I love seeing the things that make my boyfriend, friends, and great aunt think of me :’)
My friends do that too🥹🫶🏻
The fact that you figured a lot of this out by the age of 22 is WILLLDDD. Good for you. I’m 30 and I think I’m finally grasping this.
Came here to say the same thing! I think I've always known it's damaging, but not quite how damaging it is. I realised recently I basically have no hobbies anymore, and the difference from now to then is I didn't have as much social media as I do now. It really does destroy your identity, and your life.
I'm 14 and im trying to do the samee cause the social media do not do any good
I'm 42 and I've been feeling this way for the past 10 years. Thank you so much for posting this! It's exactly what I needed.
P.S
I subscribed
I deleted all my social media at the same age (22). I also got married that year and had my husband do the same thing. It’s coming up 3 years and life can’t get better
I started doing this at 13 and got addicted again at 14. I'm now almost 15 and want to do this again. I'm happy to see I'm not alone.
so glad more people are ending their addiction to social media!
It's so healing to me especially seeing the rise of tiktok during the pandemic and not really knowing the consequences. I think humanity will always prevail despite whatever tries to put us apart!
yes, i feel like it should more often be referred to as an addiction too!
@@hangettingstrongerthis is such a sweet thing to say 😖
@@sarahjolzzzyes nobody ever refers to it as an addiction but it 10000% is!! Crazy how so many people are in denial
@@alayna-zg5xf I'm that person , I was supprised where my grades went after lockdown . Someone in my friend circleadvice me too look into my phone and desktop usage .. vola there it was , My feeds were fill with usells rot that occupied my brain space for nothing .
such a breath of fresh air to see an actual human that's free in expressing themselves without the need to confine to any aesthetic. Just simply letting the things you love and the person that you are define you. I cant lie Ive been guilty of trying to fit in with every aesthetic shown to me on the internet and at the end of it, its just capitalism tied with a pretty pink bow on top and it just made me feel empty. Nowadays Ive been truly reflecting on what makes me genuinely happy and what feeds my soul even if its not the most aesthetically pleasing process.
gosh, i was HUGE into cottagecore for a while there. pretty sure i used the term once in at least every conversation i had for a good two years lol, so i feel you. because when i got tired of that my first instinct was to get on pinterest and search up different aesthetics in hopes of finding one that felt more like the person i had become. the most freeing thing was realizing that no one aesthetic is ever going to do that because we aren't made to fit into boxes. anywho, i love this comment, and i hope everything is well🫶
@@gillianelaird thank you, im pleased you found it worth responding to! i wish you all the best
I love this comment wow!!!!! you explained exactly what I have been feeling!! "just simply letting the things you love and the person that you are define you" BEAUTIFUL.
I’ve been doing the same thing, Im glad to know we’re not alone🫶🏼
I promise you if you get friends who are older you'll find more of them are "free in expressing themselves without the need to confine to any aesthetic". This issue is primarily a gen Z problem
honestly deleting all socials was the best thing i could have done for myself, i definitely agree that it can send you through and identify crisis of sorts because you're consuming so many things of so many different people and it's so exhausting, being completely yourself is so freeing!
so freaking true. the journey to TRULY discovering yourself can be so intense (especially with all the indoctrination from socials and stuff) but in the end it is so rewarding.
I've definitely felt this. I scrolled the echo chambers of Reddit a lot in the past but getting out of that and actually practicing some beliefs that I took from it in my real life without the influence of redditors has helped a ton
@@ambiarock590 omg yes! breaking free of those echo chambers and genuinely having your own opinions and beliefs is so important these days
4 and a half months clean now. I have made so many more friends, even went on a mini vacation with them, started going to the gym everyday consistent and realised that I am actually a gym girl, got more confidence, reading what I want and slowly enjoying it and not just going along with what is on social media. Best 4 and a half months as I have ever had.
That's awesome ❣️💞💜❤️💝💖💖💜💜✨🌠🌠🌠
How ? I’m going through the exact opposite of this and I’d take any sort of advice :( after deleting socials for a year I’ve lost so many friends and I’ve realised how isolated I’ve become I’ve just become so depressed.
@m4jima you can always be the one to reach out or invite them for sports or reading or movies 😊 don't think it's the only way to connect with friends. We don't need an audience. Just people that we care and care about us.
I quit everything (except RUclips) the same day, and like you deleted the accounts. I had 40k followers and when I deleted that, it just felt like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. No one is supposed to get that amount of attention (bad or good), it’s not how we are wired! Ever since then I’ve been able to find myself, and my style (not one that fits into a box) and I am so much more fulfilled. I feel lucky, and I look around and realize how everyone is morphing into the same person, because people have soooo much influence. I’m also writing more and found my hobbies again!! For all of you who have quit, I’m proud of you!! And for all of you who are on the fence, just know I’ve never ever had any regrets.
Oh but the glow, the difference in your voice, Your eyes… you found life. I pray this peace for everyone.
This ❤️
I'm so grateful that I'm finding out this at the age of 19, social media is just ruining our lifeeee reallyyy
" I don't think that just deleting social media is what has helped to ground me and make me happier, i think it's just the things that i have learnt being off of it"- THISSSSS ❤❤❤
I'm 40 so I grew up without social media. It's wild to think how much has changed. I use it when I'm bored. RUclips is also social media which isn't talked about much but it's so easy to lose hours to it. That's the thing for me. I've spend so much time watching other people live their lives instead of living my own. And don't even get me started on the amount of money I would have saved if I didn't have the internet in general!
I don't know if it's particularly an age thing. I'm 42 and I've been active online since I was 16 - it was Live Journal, then eventually Myspace, it's all been around a very long time.
Wasn't it the same with TV back in the day though? It's RUclips now but it would have been cable TV before
Social media isn't a real place. The Internet isn't a real place. Living life and finding hobbies outside of online fantasy land is truly amazing.
On the topic of slowing down, one new practice I've adopted is taking the time to mull over and reflect on a video I've just watched, in the form of a comment. I started this habit when I realized that I was using RUclips just like I did all other social media apps that I ended up hating and deleting, binge-watching video after video after video. I barely gave my brain and mind the time to digest any of the content I consumed. I had shifted to RUclips in the effort to find and practice slowness, to only realise that that was completely dependent on how I used the service. Plus, it helps the creators that I watched, which is the best unintentional side-effect!
awesome
wow, this is a great idea. thank you.
Love this idea, I’m also not one keen on commenting, but as you said it’s because we’re just consuming video after video. Will try it out starting now 🫶🏻
I've been off social media (Instagram and Tiktok) for a week now. The reason behind it was to focus more on my studies, since this week I've been having tests everyday; the original plan was to re-install them after this week was finished, but as the end approaches, I found myself not wanting them anymore. I feel very present and grounded, things I rarely felt in the past year of having social media, and overall more focused and less distracted. So I agree with all you've said in this video!
love this! i say go for it! take as long as you need away from it to grow and learn!
I was kinda hooked on social media when I started my first job and I found it a hassle to do things and I just wanted to not do anything. I've made great progress on cutting back on this stuff, I can tolerate being bored without whipping out my phone to mindlessly scroll on it, I'm starting to appreciate some silence in my life as well. Social medias are killing motivation
No but "A Gillian Bucks" is so good
thank you, i tried😹 @ a_gillian_bucks is my legacy.
The problem for most people that get addicted to social media is that it often is a result of having none or very few friends, bad economy, etc. This is were money comes into the picture. There has to be other types of irl entertainment and that costs money. It's a huge privilege to be able to afford going out, going to concerts, etc, when prices are this high. Going off social media just isn't a choice for most people who are actually addicted to it in a negative way.
Prices are not too high, people just buy too many things and food and then can't afford to do stuff.
@ladybird491 You are not living in reality then. Because one months income can not even cover a concert ticket.. Wanna go to a wrestling show, 1500€ if you buy 2 tickets for 3000€. 2 day festivals wanting 700€... It's not realistic. Going out to eat is almost impossible, even pizzas are expensive af. I get it, the upper middle class does not have any connection to the reality of people that don't have that kinda money. Only buying normal groceries will empty most people's monthly budget.
If I'm understanding this right, you're saying that social media is a result of not having enough money to go out and do stuff... yes, everything got more expensive but that doent't mean that you can't do other activities in your free time. There are cheaper things to do, which are not less fun :)
That makes so much sense! You hit the nail on the head
Honestly... I've had a lot of friends growing up, and yet I still had an addiction to social media and my phone. I think there's also social pressure to be on social media because everyone is. Every single one of my friends was as well. Social media is made to be addictive, and once you're on it, it can EASILY become a habit no matter what. No matter if you even have the money to go out, or just hang out with friends at home without spending any money. Things are expensive, absolutely, and I do agree that that, as well as lonelyness, makes the risk of becoming addicted even higher, but that isn't the core cause.
I want to delete social media buy a digital camera and document my life without posting about it online all the time. Social media makes me feel so drained and sad because I always feel like I’m constantly chasing validation from others.
42 years old here and have taken so many short breaks from FB. Finally have no desire to get back on whatsoever. This totally resonates, thank you!!
Facebook is boring, TikTok sucks, Instagram gets boring too, toxic trash.
This is amazing. I truly believe that social media is ruining peoples lives.
‼️💯❤️❣️
I got rid of my social media in 2021 and I’ve been feeling so good! Selling my house, started a music lesson and art business with my partner and I feel like I’m thriving! I can read, game, spend time with friends and family and go out more and not feel like I had to prove to anyone I was doing anything good, I could just BE in it doing the good! Happy for you though that it’s helped you grow and feel better without it. It’s all a time waster to be honest.
I'm much older than you (just turned 35), and I got my first smartphone in 2013, when I was 24. As soon as Instagram had the "for you" page and changed up the algorithm, the doomscrolling started. Then they introduced stories, and I started thinking about activities in terms of "how can I post this in my stories"? As a fully grown woman, I've noticed my self-esteem and self image have suffered dramatically in the past 5+ years, and I feel lost and aimless. I had a stronger, more unique identity in high school and my teens and drew from a wider variety of personal influences. I can't imagine how hard it is for the younger generations to decouple from social media, especially TikTok. The short-format videos are insanely addictive and I wish I could get rid of them on RUclips
hi, as someone who also struggles with short-form content, i've found out that there are chrome extensions specifically to block youtube shorts! I've also disabled RUclips on my phone as it plays a 'short' as soon as it opens and now only go on youtube on devices with bigger screens so it feels more purposeful. good luck with everything! i understand how you feel
@@rozziw5695 thank you, these are excellent suggestions!
@@rozziw5695I didn’t know this this is such a great idea!
It’s honestly just all about what a person can handle personally bc your “life with no social media” is how my life looks with social media.. at the end of the day it’s simply about balance !!
I just deleted all my socials a couple days ago (I still have FB to keep up with local businesses, and Pinterest because I need it, but that’s it!) and I already feel SO much better. I was obsessed with reading comments and people are so negative and rude online that it got stuck in my head.
no one would check on me, but I would check on them.
Currently on a social media break, and I am realising how utterly wild it is. Thank you for sharing your perspective!!
Outside of RUclips (I watch it on my lunchbreak at work), I've taken all of my social media apps off my phone. I miss the days of the 2000s where the internet and all these giant companies weren't permanently attached to our hips at all times, ready to distract us, ruin our attention spans, and sell stuff to us constantly. Back before smart phones, using the computer was something you did when you went home at the end of the day for a limited amount of time, it wasn't constantly around us impacting everything we did. You got on, you got off, and you went about the rest of your day. I miss that and I'm trying to recreate that in my life, I've even debated getting a dumb phone and a separate mp3 player but I'm not there yet. I just feel like the apps take up so much time and really makes me miserable. Also, as an artist, I feel like spending too much time scrolling impacts my creativity and desire to make art.
loved your video! getting rid of instagram (either temporarily or not) felt hella isolating AT FIRST. It'll soon be a year that i don't have it on my phone anymore, but i chose to keep my account active so i can post smth once in a while on the web version (it's like a virtual album to me). Total game changer, my main issue was the validation seeking, this constant need of approval and feeling of relevancy, and doom scrolling💀im glad our generation is detaching itself from social media and focusing on the stuff that matter. (get rid of tiktok too guys!) doing things without constantly thinking abt how entertaining, funny or likeable i'd look on my stories has been incredibly healing, and ive been building myself as a individual (still got some issues i gotta work on but i haven't ever been better :)
i love this
I’ve honestly been looking for videos to convince me to delete social media because I feel the same things you mentioned, but for me I feel more like fear of missing out on what people are doing but that goes hand in hand with only wanting to see what their doing just to compare how my life is better when in reality that’s really stupid to do, so I really appreciate this video it’s convinced me to get rid of instagram
Oh my God same! But the thing is now especially with family.. you will only know them through social media.. if all socials were deleted, 90% of the people you would never hear from again, including family / in laws. And I think some people aren't ready to mourn that loss. Although it's fake the relationships.. it's still a different type of pain to mourn. I'm not ready yet either.
Instagram made me want to do things just so I could post it on my stories, so I would seek activities that looked good on camera regardless of me liking it or not! And always I mean always thinking about what I could post next so that “people” would think I’m cool and I lead such an eventful life and want to be my friend or something:/ and it got to a point where it was as if I was just living my life performing for this audience who obviously doesn’t give a shiz and moreover seeing other people’s stories having fun and enjoying their young life gave me major fomo. I’m not gonna lie it’s a little difficult to just let go out of it because “ how else are people going to talk to me?” But then I wonder do these people even matter? I’m so grateful I found this video : )
social media is not everything and it sucks that it's become our main way of communication and bonding. trust me, you'll find your people. sending all my love🫶
I actually really resonate with this video! I went on a walk earlier today reflecting on my feelings towards social media and caught myself thinking about how it’s kind of silly we’re part of a generation that documents and overshares SO. MANY. THINGS. I truly do find myself missing and yearning for genuine community and real connections with real people in real life. It’s so nice to find that there are others that feel the same way! Sending you distant love and friendship in your journey 🥰🫶🏻
i completely understand what u mean by yearning for a community irl!!! i haven’t found my tribe yet when it comes to thinking like this and how social media is not it😭
@@raeesah8050 Know you aren’t alone 🫶🏻
Been of social media for about 1,5 years now and it feels so freeing. During my decade of social media usage I always had one rule, to never take my phone with me to museums. As an art lover I once read an article about how social media changes peoples perspective on art, and how they describe aesthetic value to artworks. I didn't want bias of what other people found pretty or 'instagrammable' to ever interfere with my gallery visits. This worked, but in doing this I forgot to realize that this interference of social media went beyond liking Monet because it looks good on the feed. Only when I went off social media completely I realized how much of what I did, liked, watched, read, and so on was all shaped through what I was seeing on my feed on a daily basis. What you said about doing and seeing things just for yourself really resonates with me.
You are on the right track! I'm 36, and I've had to do the same off and on throughout the years. But definitely felt much better being off social media. Thank you for being you and sharing in such a meaningful way! ❤😊
6:00 I agree this is a big realization with living in a social media world. Seeking validation from the internet led me to feel like I had no real life friends, low self esteem and putting off all the things I wanted to do for scrolling online feeds and creating to trends. Even on trips I felt disconnected from the actual experiences. As a parent now, I see my kids growing up with less and less desire to live their life stories versus sit on their screens watching others’ stories. Thanks for sharing. Great message to reflect on.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm 23 and I know I struggle with social media use (constantly checking all day even first thing in the morning and last thing at night, comparing myself to others, feeling behind etc etc.) and have been torn with the idea of deleting it or staying on. I want to build a career in content creation within the world of food and recipe development as a creative, and I know that I need to be online for that, but I find myself feeling paralysed by constantly doom scrolling and seeing other people's content. Your video has really made me reflect on things, knowing that I can do that and use social media for good, but first I need to heal my relationship with it. This has really opened my eyes, so thank you 💖
I’m 30 I got Facebook at 12 it RUINED my life. I’m a late mellenial early Feb z person I guess since the cut off is 1996. GET OFF social media. Constant comparison no joy no life. I don’t remember a single happy moment in my life. When I say it DESTROYED my life I mean DESTROYED. ❤
You’re ahead of the curve ❤ 33 year old woman here. Wish I had this figured out at 22. Proud of you. Enjoy these years.
I feel like this video should be viral, every should genuinely watch this. Your points are amazing and you have such great energy :)
❤️
This is so true..Social media can destroy your whole life 💔 ...Delete those permenant and enjoy real life❤️🧚
Is like being a kid again, best thing i've done. Has been 7 months for me.
This is just what I needed. I've tried minimizing social media use before and I really liked how I was feeling. Now I don't use it as often but I feel like all the work I did before was gone. Even though I don't scroll a lot, sometimes, I do things that I feel I only do because I think it will look good in social media. I want to take pictures not because I want to remember but because I want to post it and get the validation I crave. Now I'm starting my 30-day social media detox again that's why I'm watching videos like this. Your video really made me think a lot. Oftentimes, what makes us feel bad is because we are losing ourself to please the world.
yeah I agree when I had social media, I was not a good person because doom scrolling all day on tiktok just made me miserable. I felt awful about myself and it turned me into a very bitter and insecure person because my life wasn't like everyone else's that is shown online. after deleting apps like tiktok and twitter a couple of months ago, I feel so much more productive and happier. I'm still struggling a lot with mental health but I'm happy to say that I'm not nearly as bitter and low energy as I was when I had been scrolling on tiktok all day long. I still have instagram but I've been considering deleting it as a whole just due to reels being a total distraction. I just feel more myself and I've developed more healthy habits now that I'm doing other things rather than sitting on social media all day and comparing my life to others. I also overshared a LOT with my mutuals on social media and almost everytime, it never made me feel good. like you said, it should feel like a weight off your shoulders - not something that makes you feel exhausted, guilty, stressed.
i deeply resonate and see myself in this video. i’m still in high school and i have felt lost not knowing where i stand in my school and online and even with myself. this whole video is exactly what i needed to hear thank you so much
sending you all my love! just stay true to yourself and everything else will fall into place🩵
THE CAMERA UPGRADE YOU LOOK GORGEOUS ANGEL BABY
would you believe it's cinematic mode on my phone...
@@gillianelaird NO WAY
@@gillianelaird what type of phone???
no seriously i’m not done with the video but i fully agree with you . I have taken many breaks in my life with social media but i think i want to fully take the break because i had people on my ig who didn’t really know me and then between 2022-2023 i went through something traumatic and i would post sad things and literally nobody cared or anything and some were my “friends “ now that im 22 i want to start building my life up in private
it's so sobering (and FREEING) to realize that most people don't really care about anyone they follow on social media. it's such a transactional relationship; you like my stuff, i'll like yours. i've found that getting off socials and keeping my life as just my own has actually helped me to foster real friendships with people who actually care about me. hope everything is well
One of the things that I have learned is if you are easily influenced by others you need to stay off social media...
I'm starting to see RUclips also as social media.
A heart break caused me to delete all my socials. I look back 2 years ago and I'm kinda glad I don't have to think about "snap scores" and "likes". I feel like I'm able to see things and have more of my own opinion about them. It allows for a lot of growth in my life too.
sometimes i feel like i'm missing out on some things, but i prefer this life a lot more for real.
I'm a few years younger, and just deleted Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter last week. It's been a breath of fresh air for me and I agree with literally almost everything you said. I still have Pinterest, RUclips, and Spotify though. I realized I have more time to read, to write, and just be. Found this video and it gave me so much inspiration and motivation to keep going, and to know I'm the only one doing this. thank you!
Love this!! also so important to remember that lots of pinterest content that looks candid is an actual model/lots of energy has gone into producing that shot xx
yes! so right! i've even found myself needing to take breaks from that app sometimes!
Just wanted say you’re amazing. You’ve done so well. I’ve just quit Twitter and have never felt better about a decision. You’re an inspiration. I deleted Snapchat after a break up, and never went back. That was six years ago! Now Twitter has gone, I’m wondering what is next. Thank you for this.
Yes girl! Spotify and Pinterest FOREVER ♾️🩷
the superior apps!
Such an insightful video. You should be so proud of yourself! I’m in my mid 30s and deal with people everyday who haven’t grasped these concepts yet.
I love that you don’t post any shorts as well - true to your word!
I deleted all socials for about a year in 2021. I actually did because it became detrimental to my mental health. I went back on eventually but only kept instagram. I still only have instagram now (other than RUclips duh) and I limit my screen time on there as much as possible because I SEE and feel what it does to me. I don’t have it on my phone and just keep it on my iPad. It feels so much better that way because everytime I use it, it’s intentional
fact is social media takes you from your actual world and friends to replace it with a digital one .
i’m a gen z, and i recently deleted social media. it’s changed my life for the better. i’m rarely on my phone, and spend all my time being me, not some version of me that i felt was the only acceptable part of me for social media. it really is breath of fresh air.
I respect you
And i want to go for years
Without internet .
I deleted all the apps for 3 years ago .
8:08 I just want to add- I had a tiktok feed that was very very few big accounts or rich people. It was just a lot of small niche accounts, meme/shitpost accounts, etc. It still made me miserable, because in the end you're not making real connections or gaining very valuable memories/experiences. There's just some unremovable gap between every person online.
not just the concept, your journey, but the documentation as well: slay girl 💓
ahhh thank ya🫶
I recently celebrated my 36th birthday. I’m a music producer and I’m so glad that people stream my beats without me having to really participate on social media at all. Social media was damaging my mental health for years without me realizing its true impact. I have IG and TikTok just to have a presence online and to post about my faith occasionally. I’m essentially done with social media as of this year. I’m so glad you’ve made your decision at a younger age.
I left TikTok in 2021. It was a good call. Now everyone around me has it, it's like I'm forced to go back and it gives me anxiety. Especially being a creative artist with no money so I may have to use social media again to advertise myself.
People spiting is such a good term! Great video!
thank you! i'm planning to make a more in depth video about it!
Watching this video has just made a light go off in my head. I think social media has been taking all my life and attention I woulda been soo much further rn and happier
i deleted tiktok 4 months ago, i thought i would really miss it, but ive actually had a great time and i hardly think about it. I started to get less intrusive thoughts, i wasnt triggered anymore by offensive or scary videos, i had more time to focus on my creativity, and i felt like i gained part of myself back.
Well done ! I quit social media in 2021 when our 2nd daughter was born and I never missed it because I lived in the present and haven't missed a moment from our kids' life. ❤
As somebody getting back into reading after deleting social media, the new york times best seller analogy really put it into perspective lol. Thank you
I'm only just learning a lot of this stuff and I'm ten years older than you -- it's so awesome and refreshing to see someone so young having these realizations and learning these lessons 🥰
Love that this popped up on my feed. I've started to delete social media during the week and have already seen an improvement in my mental health. We are really not meant to have all of this information about everyone else 24/7 lol
Thank you so much for making this video! As someone who was born near the end of Gen Z I have been growing up with technology, and even though it’s helped me create quite a few great ideas and such (I do a lot of creative things) it’s also sorta been really awful. More recently I’ve been very anxious about the world around me, and I feel like something is going to go wrong and I feel like I’m not going to be safe anymore or just anxious for the future and if I’m doomed. And I worry about politics (even though I shouldn’t care about a lot since I’m still young) (I’m from the US) and as someone who’s quite empathetic and sensitive it doesn’t help. I want to quit using social media for a while, but I’m not 100 sure how but I know it should help. But I really hope I can improve and feel less worried and enjoy my life a bit more!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR POINT: that you won’t get it now because you are still craving making a point !!! I love that concept, that you are still committed to growing even though you have been off for two years and did “the thing” it shows you are truly intentional. You’ve really inspired me.
25 yo male here. haven't been on socials since 2021. I feel so much peace and confidence in myself. It's nice not morphing into whatever the current trend is. I am simply me. At first I had some serious FOMO but now if I care enough about a trend I just ask friends to explain it to me.
Thank you so much for making this video! Watching this video made me feel less alone and more confident because we have so much in common!
I decided to leave social media a few years ago. While I never had a huge presence, I was negatively influenced by seeing others opinions all the time. Sometimes I wish I could go back to make more friends, but I know I’d be acting inauthentically toward myself.
Also, when you said you were working on a novel, I got so excited because I’m working on one too!
Anyway, I wish you the best of luck, and I’d love to see more videos from you soon💕
can't wait to see our novels on the shelves next to each other one day🫶
@@gillianelaird me too☺️
This is incredibly needed! Thank you for your social experiment
Definitely inspiring me to ween myself off and tell my story + do the same. So thanks !
I got rid of social media in March 2022, it was like a weight was lifted!!!
I'm 20, and I feel like you're my older sister giving me advices lol. Ty so muchhhh for this video, it made me really happy and confortable with myself :))
thank you. I was doubting but you've convinced me to delete twitter and maybe Instagram, it's hard because it's actually an addiction but we have to do it!
wow. what a video.
i have been leaving instagram and ending up going back to it for the entirety of the year now, and despite having noticed that i feel a million times better when i'm off it i always end up returning -till now. it's been a week since i took a step back and your video helped me decide that it was for good this time. deleted both my instagram accounts and god, the weight that has come off my shoulders just by doing that!!!
LOVE the video!! thank you, really!
Thank you for being so honest, Gillian! Right now thinking about quitting it too. I've always thought it wasn't an option because I had to "market" myself, like get followers and listeners and subscribers by posting on social media. But this week I realized basically no one goes from tiktok to RUclips to watch long form. And why would I make short form content if it doesn't make me happy?
So, thinking about this a lot. Thanks again💕
thank you so much for this bc you literally put my feelings into words surrounding social media 😭
Hi!!! we have verrrry similar journeys (got SM at 11, started deleting apps in late 2021/early 2022) and we're around the same age, and it makes me so happy to see others in our age group share the same sentiments. No one around me in my circle seems to recognise how 'bad' SM and tech use can be for you, so I always feel so alienated lol even though not having it is definitely for the best. ALSO, your hair is stunning and you look soooo much like Aubrey Plaza!!
omg when i first got off socials soooo many people literally told me it was dumb. i laugh about it now😹
im 16 and like a week and a half ago had my first "situationship" end, which obviously hurt me alot, and ive noticed myself resorting to the usage of social media to avoid thinking about it, but instead i end up feeling more guilty for wasting my time and i end up feeling worse in the end because i havent actually solved the issue, ive just delayed thinking about it. Ive decided today (after starting this video) to deactivate and delete my tiktoks, instagrams and snapchat (debating on my facebook too) because i realized what a waste of time it is. I deleted social media for a while but never went as far as to actually delete my accounts. im excited for summer and i feel like it'll be alot easier to enjoy myself when im not stalking to see if hes with a new girl, or wasting my time watching reels for hours, or just comparing my life to others in general. im watching alot of these videos today to try and convince myself i made the right decision, because i know i did. Im mostly worried about missing out and not having a place to post any pictures i take, and being bored, but in the grand scheme of everything, id rather be bored and have to learn how to entertain myself without consistently checking how other people are doing, etc, then be overtly sad and never heal because im too busy scrolling to admit i have uncomfortable feelings. Thank you for this video, its helped me alot with realizing i should change.
sending you all my love. you've got this!
p.s. i'm working on a video with TONS of ideas on how to keep from being bored once you've deleted social media ;)
Thanks for sharing this, I got off social for similar reasons in 2021 and STILL haven’t gotten back on & don’t know if I ever will. I was just thinking today maybe I’m missing out & your vid just confirmed to me , nah, thanks!
i feel like its harder to do this as a younger teen because you cant go out for walks, drive, go to the park, etc which is mostly what everyone says they started doing after they got rid of their socials on yt. I do think obv its hard for everybody but i want someone to talk ab things u can do w out going out, because altho id love to i cant
Yeah I get that since i cant even drive yet either. I deleted social media and am just trying to focus on myself and my hobbies for now :)
since deleting socials i've started doing things that make me feel like a kid again! i watch old movies i used to love, read lots of books, color, write, spend time with family, go sit outside, draw in the driveway with chalk, BAKE! there's so much you can do to get in touch with yourself outside of socials.
1. Dopamine addiction is real - there is no mistake why they call people on social media users 2. Would you ever go to a job for 4 hrs per day and not get paid? Thats what you are essentially doing - everytime you go to social media someone else makes lots of money off you.
i’ve been off social media since 2021 as well, 22 too twin
🫶✨
I LOVE how you put it as open-ended question of whether or not you'll be back, and how you figured out that the way you weren't ready for it was because you wanted to seek that validation and attention. That's where I'm at- wanting to get off, taking long breaks, barely using it, but wanting to use it to show off. When I have a message to share, that's when I'll be back. Until then, it's gone for now.
“I stay in my room and read books and watch Outlander” I did not need to be personally attacked like this
Celebrating you girly 🥳 my favorite pieces were when you shared the deepening of TRUE friendships and that you have the attention span to write a novel!
I totally get the comparison with where you’re at in your timeline to others, I think SM def enhances that but it’s still around in every day life bc we’re social creatures. I will say as someone who’s 12 years older than you, I felt the exact same way at 22 but I was also, like you, discovering myself and learning things- KEEP DOING THAT- because every single year your life will get better and better and better and then when you’re turning 30, you’ll be so dang grateful to the 21 year old version of you that took that time to know herself. That’s the biggest gift you can give yourself ❤
girl i love your energy soooooo much!!!
thank you🥺
i've been thinking about deleting my social apps for a long time now. the apps only, my accounts have memories in them so i don't think i'll deactivate. but deleting them is still a step to getting off the internet. it was therapeutic and mind-opening watching this. i think it's a sign. thank you.
except youtube hehe
Loved the video.
I've deleted everything except for my other youtube channel and telegram (messenger) too, about 2 years ago, after working in content creation for nightclubs.
A couple of days ago I've made a tiktok account to promote my guitar playing thingy, but i'm already seriously considering leaving.
The brainrot is real.
That was a very useful video!❤️thanks for sharing your thoughts, experiences and for giving advices. I am now mentally preparing to delete social media apps, bc I felt more peaceful and content with my life when I used to not have it. Hope I can try living off of it for more than 2-3 months at least
You are beautiful! I'm also 22 and deleting social media changed my life too.
Ugh such a Beautiful video. The only question now is how do all of us who don’t have social media find one another 😩😩❤️💕
we can be friends🫶🕺
I've recently completed a full six months with my instagram deactivated. I don't miss a thing. I am probably never going to go back. The amount my random mental load of all types of insta stories and posts has decreased and opened up room for new thoughts and creativity is amazing to me. I much more favor catching up with my REAL friends in person or by just randomly ringing them up. I feel so good about it. Thank you for making this video and sharing your experiences.
I have deleted and redownloaded snapchat/tiktok and facebook so many times off of my phone. Hopefully, this time it sticks. I mean it this time.
I'm in the same situation as you. My problem is Instagram. I've deleted the app so many times, but it hasn't helped. I deleted my account, but because of the 30 days you can come back I kept getting weak. Now I've told myself that I've finally had enough. I don't want to waste any more of my life looking at unimportant things from people I don't know and who don't know I exist. I always felt bad when I was on the app and then saw how much time I had lost. But for what? You are tempted to buy things that you didn't even know existed, let alone that you needed them. Influencers are strangers with paid opinions. I don't want all that anymore. Hang in there, you're not alone. 💪🦋💖🪷