In 2022, when I was deep in the grind of my first major wave of self improvement, I permanently deleted my social media accounts. That’s right, I’m off the grid. I don’t have a Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, or Instagram. At first, I was terrified of missing out. However, deleting social media actually improved my real life connections. Today, I’m more confident in social settings, and have real, authentic relationships.
If you’re seeking genuine self improvement, consider tuning out the noise and deleting social media. Your personal growth might just flourish in that newfound digital silence.
Improved Real Life Relationships
The number one fear I had with deleting social media was FOMO. I was afraid that deleting social media would cause my social connections to prune. Anytime there is an illusion of network effects (like with alcohol), we have the impression that quitting will result in missing out.
To name a few…
- How will I know what my friends are up to without Snap stories?
- Will I miss invites to parties without Facebook?
- Will it hurt my dating life if I can’t slide into somebody’s DM’s?
However, I can confidently tell you that deleting social media will make your social connections better, not worse.
Without social media as a crutch, I became more direct and confident in social settings. How do I know what my friends are up to? Instead of browsing stories on Snapchat, I had to reach out to my friends and make plans. Without sliding into DMs I had to… guess what… actually talk girls!
A common counter argument I hear from people addicted to social media is that it allows them to keep in touch with long distance friends. This too, is misguided.
Keeping tabs on somebody is not the same as maintaining a relationship. Don’t confuse being a spectator with being a friend.
Freeing Up Mental Bandwidth
I lied – I did lose touch with some people. But not people I care about. Yes, I didn’t know that my ex-girlfriend from high school graduated law school. But I did I really want to know that in the first place? I haven’t spoken to her in six years.
By deleting social media, you’re reducing the passive consumption of information, not your social connections. This will free up more mental bandwidth for genuine social interactions.
Less Comparison, More Solitude
You only have so many fucks to give – seriously. Why waste them on people you don’t care about? Even if you’re aware that social media is illusory and superficial, there are parts of your brain that will always compare itself to what it perceives. Every time you scroll you’re sub consciously comparing yourself to others.
Comparison is the death of joy
Mark Twain
Turning Your Energy Inward
Deleting social media will cut out the noise from your life. Without the external comparisons and validations, you can turn the newfound energy inwards towards personal growth. The best person to compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday.
Comparison is also the death of personal growth. I found it very demotivating to improve myself when I was constantly reminded that there was somebody out there doing better than me.
Deleting social media helped me dial into a growth mindset. I was able to cut out the noise and work on myself. Your elevation may require your isolation.
Final Thoughts
Without the constant barrage of other people’s “perfect lives,” I stopped comparing myself to unrealistic expectations. Deleting social media has given me much needed solitude. I’ve redirected my focus from external validation to internal drive, which has fostered my personal growth. Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.
