Today, society as a whole has a crippling addiction to online use and social media, setting back the development of the world and day-to-day life.
Social media has affected many, but for me personally it has setback my ability to get things done. School has always been very important to me, so when I realized that being on my phone, getting distracted on social media for hours on end, I knew it was time for a change.
Social media is a great source of entertainment, as well as a way for people to stay connected with their friends and what’s going on in the world. When I decided to delete my social media apps the decision was difficult at first for these reasons, and for a little while I did feel as though I was missing out, but after some time I realized that it wasn’t the end of the world and how much more time I had to get stuff done.
My time management abilities have continued to improve and I’m now getting assignments done quickly both at school and at home. With these assignments out of the way and anything else really I need to get done, I find myself with more time to relax, spend more time with my family, and not be in such a rush with everything.
The addiction to online use has not been confined to just me, others have struggled and continue to struggle with this too. In The New York Times article I was Addicted to My Smartphone, So I Switched to a Flip Phone for a Month, journalist Kashmir Hill explains her struggle with online usage and the drastic measures she took to help overcome it.
“I ditched my $1,300 IPhone for a $108 Orbic Journey – a flip phone,” Hill said.
Hill explains how much she disliked her phone usage, her constant need to check it, and how it took so much away from her life. For her New Year’s resolution Hill decided to make a change and remove the online distraction by purchasing a flip phone. Hill discusses her experience with the switch and how the people in her life questioned her decision. She lists all the new ways she had to prepare for certain things that she once used her smartphone to do.
“Despite these challenges, I survived, even thrived during the month. It was a relief to unplug my brain from the internet on a regular basis and for hours at a time,” Hill said.
Although having a flip phone was inconvenient at times she adapted to it and goes on to say how she even did better when using it.
“So I do plan to return to my iPhone in 2024, but in grayscale and with more mindfulness about how I use it,” Hill said.
Like Kashmir Hill I plan to return to using social media, but at a time when I’ve gained a sense of self-control and am at a point where it doesn’t overpower my time. It seems like a big change but I believe it’s something that we’re all capable of and should do to better ourselves and the world’s focus.
