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For many people, myself included, social media has become an everyday habit. It can be useful for staying connected and finding information, but it also has a downside. Constant exposure can take a toll on your mental well-being. The pressure to compare yourself, to always perform, or to keep up with everything can feel overwhelming. In this article, I want to briefly explain why spending too much time on social media can affect your mindset and what you can do to reduce that pressure.

The Constant Comparison

Everyone shares the best moments of their lives, whether it’s the perfect vacation, a happy relationship, or professional success. Few people show their failures because who wants to post about a failed exam? And who wants to see that? This creates the impression that everyone else is mastering life better than you are. One tends to compare their reality with the idealized portrayals of others and quickly feels inferior.

This portrayal of a seemingly "perfect life" on social media can spark the desire to be perfect oneself. However, this perfectionism can undermine self-esteem and lead to long-term mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

My Withdrawal from Social Media

I am mostly withdrawing from social media. Generally, I regularly engage in digital detox phases during which I either completely deactivate my accounts or archive all posts and delete the apps from my smartphone. I usually limit my social media usage to my desktop, as consumption there is less than on my smartphone.

Now, I plan to permanently reduce my entire social media presence. This means removing all posts and writing exclusively on my website. I am aware that many of my followers consume my content primarily on social media platforms, where traffic is simply higher than on "old-school" websites like mine. However, I have found that too much social media personally burdens me. I made this decision because managing multiple inquiries every morning and then again after work becomes too much effort for me in the long run. Of course, I could simply ignore it, but I want to generally scale back my social media activity and focus more on my website.

For those who have only consumed my content through my website, nothing will change. I will continue to publish high-quality posts in the usual format, but now exclusively on my website. Inquiries and so on are still warmly welcomed here.

Closing Words

Always remember: You are more than just the number of clicks, likes, and so forth. Don’t let the virtual world take control. Your worth as a person goes far beyond your online presence. Focus on what really matters: Your personal relationships, your health, your well-being, and everything else that is important to you.