Restricted Social Media
I still have social media accounts such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Substack, and LinkedIn (does this count?) despite making attempts to get rid of them in the last 5 years or so.
It was in 2021 when I realized I wasn’t doing myself any favors doomscrolling, especially when it’s just to pass the time. This often led to a lot of low/no-productivity days. Something had to be done or I was going to continue rotting my brain for the rest of my life.
That same year, instead of deleting all my social media accounts, I deleted everyone. 0 Friends on Facebook; retained the accounts of news and traffic updates in other social media apps. Anything related to showbiz was immediately removed. I don’t need those things in my life.
Why not just delete the apps? It’s easier said than done. Even if I wanted to, I can’t. Those apps are where I get learn-as-needed information; how I coordinate with establishments and businesses; where my loved ones send me memes and updates. We bond–pebble–through those memes.
But this pebbling comes at a price. Friends and family will be posting stuff that seems like so, but then it becomes unsolicited advice.
Take a look at their lifestyle first. Are they actually in a position where you'd want to be? Don’t take advice from people whose judgment you don't value very much.
The rules I’ve made for myself through the years
- Delete all social media apps on the main phone.
I have two phones. One Android, one iOS. Social media apps are on my OPPO phone, since I can’t delete YouTube — might as well have the other apps there. The only means of me doomscrolling on my iPhone is when I’m reading blogs and newsletters. That’s a better alternative to social media because I make notes and reflect on what I’ve just read.
When on the desktop, YouTube is the only place I find myself going down rabbit holes—this can range from podcasts to Shorts. You can remove recommended videos with Unhook—disable YouTube Shorts by disabling your watch history.
If you only have one phone, consider deleting all of the apps on that phone. Browse them on your laptop or tablet—where friction is greater in accessing those apps.
- Give yourself a limited time to let loose.
This is where I permit myself to go doomscrolling. Or watch the memes I received that day. Sometimes my wife’s messages on TikTok reach up to 70+. Not to brag but that’s just how rare I open TikTok these days.
I used the Minimalist Phone app for some time. It was okay, until I found myself circumventing those restrictions. I’m a techy guy after all, no?
What worked for me was to have a next task that was more important than scrolling. Whether it was time to cook dinner, fetch my wife from work, or study for an exam.
Use whatever tricks you use to get you moving out of your current activity. Having a schedule helps. Knowing the consequences of getting behind schedule gives you a sense of urgency.
The key here isn’t to let your life be dictated by the apps you have, the videos you watch, or the accounts you’ve subscribed to. If you can’t remove them entirely, set some restrictions you can’t escape.
In the end, it's about YOU taking control of the things you have. Not the other way around.