“I’m done with social media.”

Every once in a while, we hear people say things to this effect. I know I’ve heard a variety of reasons, and undoubtedly many more exist. These are some of the more common ones:

• The detox effect that comes with “unplugging,” even for just a little while
• Putting social media out of sight and out of mind frees up our mental faculties
• Potentially massive time savings make time for more productive activities
• Recognizing that social media can bring out the worst in you, and then choosing to avoid it

These reasons are pretty substantial on paper, but I’m not really convinced that quitting social media actually works for any extended period of time without a zealous, unrelenting commitment. Social media isn’t a light switch to simply be turned off.Continue reading