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Breaking My Social Media Addiction
Learning to live outside the Internet
I don’t want to trivialize other addictions, but I really think I have a social media addiction. I’m on my phone or computer for hours each day. So, I’ve decided I’m going to cut back.
It’s tough, though, because I’m a writer. I make money by typing and submitting things online. The temptation is always right there. A click away. I can’t just block every web site that’s a time-waster, because I may need to access it for promotion or research.
This is going to take a lot of self-discipline.
Social media is the worst for me, because I can’t even justify it. What happens on social media feels real, but it isn’t real. We get a sense of accomplishment from likes. A dopamine hit.
An example of how fake it all is: When my birthday rolled around, lots of people wished me happy birthday on Facebook. I was grateful, until I saw some messages from people I don’t get along with in real life. I was surprised we were still “friends.” The last time I spoke to one person, she said she never wanted to see me again … yet she posted a chirpy birthday wish and a cute picture on my wall. Is it just a habit? Do people think it makes them look friendly? I don’t know.
