How To Do A Social Media Detox

By: Sarah Novitsky

Why Do A Social Media Detox?

According to a study done by MSS Media, the average Gen Z college student spends almost four and a half hours a day on social media. On its own, the statistic already doesn’t look very good. After all, its almost 20% of the entire day. Paired with the fact that heavy social media usage is linked to increased risks of depression, loneliness and anxiety, this stat starts to look even more horrifying.

In order to avoid this, people have started taking a social media detox. This can look like a wide variety of things from as small as setting screen time limits to deleting social media apps/ accounts. The most important aspect of a social media detox is that it is done in order to promote a healthy mind.

If you’re looking for a way to break free from the captive screen, you’ve come to the right place. Here are three ways to participate in a social media detox. You can mix and match them or just choose the best option that works for you.

But first, consider your goals

Before doing anything, it’s always important to reflect on your purpose. In this sense, ask yourself why you want to do a social media detox. Is your mental health wavering? Do you find yourself losing sleep? Do you want to be more productive? Asking yourself these questions not only helps you connect deeper with yourself, but it can also make it easier to find the right solutions.

Option 1: Limit Access

Limiting access to certain apps (or just your phone in general) can be a great start to a detox. This can look like deleting/offloading apps during certain time periods, using screen time limits in the settings, or turning off and putting away your phones.

Great for:

• Setting healthy habits
• Increasing productivity

Option 2: Reassess Who You’re Following & Re-curate Your Algorithms

Sometimes, the root of the problem comes from what we’re choosing to consume. If you find yourself feeling extremely anxious, jealous, angry, or other negative emotions while scrolling through your feed, the best thing to do is go through your following and look over what is appearing on your social media. Is constant news updates making you anxious? Then maybe take a break from following news accounts for a short while. Is that one influencer making you feel insecure about your appearance? Even if she’s a nice person, maybe hitting that unfollow button will give you peace of mind.

You can even go as far as to trying to re-curate your algorithms to switch up the content that is being shown to you. This website here teaches you how to refresh your TikTok algorithm.

Great for:

• Improving Mental Health
• Reducing extreme emotions

Option 3: Find Other Things To Fill Your Time

This video is a great place to find other hobbies that can fill up the space that social media once held. The best part of a social media detox is realizing how much time you can get back. Scrolling for four hours before bed can turn into one hour of reading, one hour of drawing, one hour of talking to friends and one hour of going on a walk. The opportunities are endless!

Great For:

• Getting Your Time Back