Stepping Away From Social Media: My 16-Month Experiment and the Unexpected Benefits

The author of this passage reflects on their decision to step away from social media on 10 January 2022. They mention feeling overwhelmed by the constant anger and hopelessness they encountered on their social media feeds, which led to a snap decision to disappear from social media without announcing it. The author notes that within a week, their screen time decreased significantly, and they felt a sense of mental clarity, focus, and increased energy. They also experienced better sleep and a boost in creativity and confidence. The author mentions feeling more relaxed and rebellious, and their Fitbit (智能手表) recorded a lower resting heart rate. They have now been away from social media for 16 months and have no desire to return due to the reduction in negative emotions and the positive impact it has had on their work, such as their writing. The author acknowledges that keeping up with friends has been trickier without social media, but they have found alternative methods of communication, although some friendships have suffered. Overall, the author feels that stepping away from social media has allowed them to live life on their own terms and not be dictated by algorithms.