In early November, I impulsively decided to delete Snapchat. Instagram followed seconds later, and TikTok right after. Despite not being on Twitter in the last six months, I decided to delete that, too. 

No remorse. No regret. If anything, I should have done it sooner—although I do think the timing was near perfect.

I deleted social media in the first place because I had felt so busy. I remember journaling about how it was hard enough to go through life with just myself. Adding these extra voices, problems and perspectives from social media were not beneficial and only clouded my vision.

Clicking on people’s Snapchat stories does nothing positive for me. It doesn’t help me grow. It doesn’t help me know who I am. It doesn’t clear the path of my future. It does nothing but fill the time and space in my brain that I could be using wisely.

I know life isn’t always that serious and that there is no problem in taking a rest from your own chaos to maybe focus on something different. For many people, and thanks to social media, those rests are filled with someone else’s chaos.

Social media subconsciously became so much background noise. It was constantly on the back burner. Every minute it’s easy to just pull out your phone and see what people are up to on Snapchat or Instagram. 

Lately, I have no time for BS—especially others’. 

At no point in the past three months have I wanted my social media back. I find time and time again new reasons why I should keep it deleted. It relieves so much pressure. Pressure to post. Pressure to watch. Pressure to respond. 

I am so glad I no longer have to see what rapper cheated on his girlfriend this week while I scroll through Instagram. I am glad I don’t have to receive a creepy DM from any more sugar daddies. I am glad I don’t have to respond to people who don’t really care about me as my family or close friends do.

There is so much toxicity to social media, and everyone knows it. Taking a break from it opened my eyes to how much it negatively impacted me. 

In the early weeks of deleting social media, I’d still have to fight the urge to take a picture of an appealing dish for Snapchat. On my way to parties, I would have to remember that I do not need to let everyone know that I am, in fact, hanging with friends tonight. 

I don’t think I will ever get TikTok back. I think it will take me many more months, maybe even a year or so, to get Snapchat back. I will get Instagram back just for the occasional flex to show everyone how well I’m doing. 

However, I know that when I am older I am going to need social media for my job. So, for now, I am taking a break while I can. Filling my head with my own thoughts and feelings is time well spent and satisfying enough.