Unfollow
By: Erik Kennedy
Tags: Growth, Habbits, Addiction, Perspective, Social Media

photo by Lorenzo Ruj

Welcome to the 21st-century where people are more connected to others than they are to themselves. Joshua Fields Milburn, a co-founder of The Minimalists, has often stated “scrolling is the new smoking”, in fact, it’s even pinned to the top of his Twitter profile. We have become so intertwined with our devices we mindlessly scroll with little to no thought. Is it possible that we may know people we follow on social media better than ourselves?

The good news is no, but it's only because nobody posts their true self online for everyone to see. More than likely the typical person will be unwilling to open themself up to such judgment, scrutiny, or vulnerability. Social media has essentially created a digital mask for people to hide under. If you simply scroll through your Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook feed you will probably see a variety of different posts, which may portray people having the time of their life. Yet, this is nothing more than an illusion, a charade put on for other people. We attempt to curate every single little post to display we are the most interesting person in the world and have everything figured out. Why do we do this?

I’ve thought about this question and I have reached several answers on my own while also listening to others on the subject. One, we aren’t comfortable with ourselves. Maybe you think your life is boring and nothing you do is noteworthy. So, to combat this you try to paint a completely different picture of yourself on social media in an effort to make others think differently. Two, we never take a moment to detach and think of what we are doing. We blindly observe everyone partaking in this behavior online, so to fit in with the majority we follow the crowd. Take a second to contemplate why you even have social media in the first place? I bet there is no definitive answer and your accounts simply exist with little to no purpose other than having an online presence.

Social media quietly robs time and creates a toxic environment of comparison while also maintaining a consistent feeling of inadequacy about ourselves. There is still hope for these platforms despite the inherent problems. The solutions are simple but hard.

Solution one, unfollow everyone that does not play an immediate role in your life. If you have little to no contact with someone other than through social media it’s safe to say they are not playing any major role in your life and aren’t worthy of your time. If unfollowing doesn’t seem like a viable option to you for whatever reason, try muting unwanted people and add the people you do keep in contact with on a close friends list or group. These features are available on both Twitter and IG.

Solution two, utilize social media as a tool. Share your music, art, or other content you create and engage only with people doing the same. It’s a more productive use of time in my opinion and it also provides an opportunity to network with others interested in the same things as yourself.

Solution three, delete your online presence. This may be the most unpopular solution of the three but it may also be the most effective. For a couple of years, I had no online presence other than limited time on Reddit and Youtube. For the benefits that came with this time, I would be lying to say there weren’t any drawbacks. I honestly missed posting pictures of my family or keeping in contact with my close friends and the undeniable convenience that comes with having a social media presence.

Although social media is deeply flawed it still has an upside. If you stay disciplined and understand the platforms for what they truly are you can maximize the time you spend using these platforms. It seems simple but it may be difficult to stay consistent enough to break your “scrolling” addiction. Start by realizing that your time is far more precious than you think. Break the addiction and unfollow.

Thank you for reading.

Connect with me here: