Do You Need a Social Media Detox

How often do you reach for the phone first thing in the morning and check your Twitter notifications? How often when you’re on vacation are you more concerned about taking the perfect Instagram picture than enjoying yourself? How often are you locked in an internet argument on Facebook? A social media detox gives us a bit of clarity into this.

A social media detox is a conscious elimination of social media use and consumption for a set period of time. Generally, most social media detoxes are 30 days, but some people do seven days or even a year-long social media detox.



There’s no denying that social media has become a huge part of modern life. Apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter help us stay connected with loved ones, catch up on news, and discover both beautiful destinations and inspiring people. Yet you may find that spending hours on end scrolling through various feeds can leave you feeling anxious, drained, or dissatisfied. So how do you know if you’re in need of a social media detox? “Reflect on your habits and evaluate how social media makes you feel and how it impacts your life,” says Catherine Price, author of How to Break up With Your Phone and founder of Screen/Life Balance. “Is it negatively impacting your mental wellness? How about your productivity and creativity? Is it taking time away from the activities that make you happy?”

Social media user numbers continue to grow. In fact, the average person spends at least 1 hour and 40 minutes per day looking at their favorite social media sites and apps.[1] This is an astounding amount of time that could be spent in other ways, but it is also indicative of the current social and business culture.

However, this doesn’t mean that spending this much time on social media is good for you. Although your work may require you to remain social online during business hours, it can be very helpful to detox over the weekend or during a vacation.

How is social media ruining your life?