Like Georgina McNamara (The one change that worked: I deleted Instagram – and embraced the joys of a truly private life, 19 October), I also deleted Instagram over a year ago and have never looked back. I deleted every social media app I had. When my eldest daughter imitated me one day by holding up two phones, one at each ear, I knew it was time to change something.
After I went on maternity leave with my second baby, I deleted all social media from my personal phone. I worked in marketing so it felt counterintuitive, but I wanted to have a break. Suddenly the world opened up.
I could concentrate enough to read more than just the headlines of articles. I had time to organise meetups with friends in real life – in fact, life became IRL. I realise how much time I’d spent of my young children’s lives watching other people parent or just love their lives, and how much I was missing out on.
So I quit all social media. Now I just have one messaging app and email, and I am happier for it. The pros of the non-social-media life have benefits far beyond my own mental health; they have affected my family too.
I model better digital use for my children. They don’t have to say things three times to get my attention any more. And my eldest daughter imitates me reading books instead of clutching phones.
Now I’m working on reducing the amount of photos I take. I’m experiencing life instead of trying to capture it for it to just sit uselessly in the cloud. I’d rather it sit usefully in my head.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
