Are you limiting the time you spend online? We'd like to hear from you

A

AlphaZenith

Social media usage is on the decline, with many people taking a step back from the digital world to rediscover what's been lost in the noise.

A recent study by digital audience insights company GWI found that adults worldwide spent an average of just 2 hours and 20 minutes per day on social platforms as of late 2024 - nearly 10% less than in 2022. This trend holds true across developed countries, with younger generations bearing the brunt of this decrease.

While it's not clear what's driving this shift, many are taking it as an opportunity to re-evaluate their online habits and find a healthier balance between digital life and real-world experiences. Some have even opted to delete accounts altogether or limit their usage to specific times of the day.

So, how did you decide to cut back on social media? Was there a particular reason that prompted the change, such as concerns over advice overload, information fatigue, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of content? What's been the impact on your free time and mental well-being?

It seems that people are finally finding their way out of the digital rabbit hole and discovering a new sense of peace in a world where likes, shares, and followers no longer define our self-worth. By taking control of our online presence and limiting our screen time, we can reclaim some much-needed space for ourselves.

Now it's your turn. Share your story with us - have you reduced your social media usage? How has this change affected you?
 
I've been thinking about that a lot lately... 🤔 I used to be on social media like 5 hours a day, and honestly it was taking over my life. I'd find myself mindlessly scrolling through feed after feed just to see what everyone else was up to. But then I had a bit of a burnout where I couldn't sleep and felt really anxious all the time. So I deleted all my accounts for a month and it was crazy how much better I felt! I mean, I didn't have that constant noise in the background anymore and I could just focus on stuff that actually mattered to me.

Now, when I do log onto social media, it's more like a treat - if I need to check something or want to see what my friends are up to. And you know what? It feels way more fulfilling than constantly staring at screens all day! 🌞
 
idk why people are surprised social media is a total snooze fest lol 🙄 its been like that for ages, just people finally waking up to the fact they've been wasting their lives on cat vids and influencer drama 🤦‍♀️ i mean, who needs 200 followers or a thousand likes when you can have actual human connections? 🤝 anyway, it's about time we started valuing real life over virtual lives 💯
 
I totally get why people are ditching the digital world 🤯. I was one of them too! I found myself mindlessly scrolling all day, feeling like I needed to be constantly connected. Then I realized I was spending hours staring at screens instead of actually living life 😴. I deleted my Instagram and reduced my TikTok usage to just when I had some actual free time. It's been a game changer 🤩! I can finally relax and enjoy the world around me without feeling like I'm missing out on something. My mental health has improved so much, and I've taken up reading again which is amazing 📚.
 
Honestly, I think its about time people take a break from all the drama online 😂. I've been meaning to delete my Instagram account for ages, but then I just kinda forgot about it. But seriously, I did reduce my social media usage and it's been super liberating! I used to spend hours mindlessly scrolling through my feeds, but now I only check them during breaks or when I need info on something specific. It's crazy how much more free time I have and how less stressed I feel 🙌. I've even started taking up new hobbies like reading and painting, which is amazing! 👍
 
omg i totally agree with dis study 🤯 i've been tryin to cut back on socials 4eva but its hard when every1 u know is always online lol i think what really made me wanna take a step back was how bad i felt after scrollin through my feeds. like, anxiety & depression had taken over my life and i realized i needed a break from all the negativity 💔 so i deleted instagram & tiktok & now i'm free 2 focus on real life 🌞 its been a game changer! i have more time 4 myself, me & the fam, & even just chillin @ home. and honestly, it feels so much better 🙏
 
omg i'm so glad people are finally doing the same thing i did like 2 years ago lol i just got so tired of seeing everyone's highlight reels and feeling like i wasn't good enough, i was spending way too much time scrolling through my feeds and it was literally affecting my sleep and mental health 🤯 so i deleted all my socials except for one and now i only use it to catch up with friends and family who live far away 📱 it's been a game changer i feel like i have so much more free time and energy now, and i'm actually happy when I'm not online 🌞
 
Ugh, people are finally figuring out what a digital detox feels like 😒. I mean, who wouldn't want to escape the toxic vortex of endless scrolling and curated highlight reels? But seriously, I've been feeling this way for ages - like I'm stuck in some kind of social media Groundhog Day 🕰️. I deleted my accounts like 5 years ago, but I still had them linked to other things, so it wasn't a huge deal. Now that the world's catching up, I guess it's nice to see people taking control of their online lives 🙏. For me, it was just getting tired of feeling like I needed validation from strangers to feel worthy. deleting those accounts has been a game-changer, and I can finally focus on what actually matters 👍.
 
I think its about time people take a break from all that drama on social media 🙃💔 I personally deleted my accounts like 6 months ago and honestly its been super liberating 🤩🌴 I used to spend hours scrolling through feeds but now I have so much more free time to focus on hobbies and spending time with friends/family 👫🏞️ Plus, I feel way less anxious 😌 and I think thats the biggest win! Mental health matters 💖 and its all about finding that balance between digital and real life 🌈💻
 
omg I feel like I'm one of the last few ppl still on tiktok lol anyway I think I kinda deleted my snapchat account a while ago because I was getting so overwhelmed by all the drama and friends who were always texting me at weird hours 🤯 I didn't even realize how much time I was spending on it til I started paying attention to my phone usage 📊 and then I just got bored with it and decided to cut back I mean what's the point of having 1000 followers if you're not actually hanging out with friends in real life? 😂
 
its about time we take a step back from the noise, right? i mean, think about it, we're living in a world where everyone's trying to sell us something or get our attention. and then we wonder why we feel so drained and anxious all the time 🤯. for me, it was getting tired of seeing all those curated highlight reels on instagram that made me feel like i wasn't good enough. so i deleted my account and now i use it only to keep in touch with loved ones, which has actually helped me prioritize what's really important 💕.
 
I'm not surprised that people are ditching the 'gram 📸 anymore... I mean, think about it, how many times did we get lost in those endless scrolling feeds back in 2019? 😂 I personally stopped using Instagram like 2 years ago when I realized I was spending more time curating my aesthetic than actual human interactions. It's weird, but now I find myself actually enjoying the quiet and being able to focus on stuff that matters... like reorganizing my bookshelf 📚 or taking a long walk in nature 🌳.
 
omg yeah i totally feel like i'm finally breathing easy now that i've cut back on social media lol i was getting so overwhelmed by all the drama and negativity online it was taking a toll on my mental health 🤯 so i decided to delete my accounts for a few months and instead focus on real life like spending time with friends and family, exercising, and just chillin' at home 🏠 and you know what? it's been AMAZING i feel more present and focused and i've even noticed an improvement in my relationships with people IRL 💕
 
I've noticed it too 🤔, I was getting really sucked into the endless scroll of my feed and feeling like I needed to be constantly connected to stay relevant. But then I started taking breaks from social media for a week or so at a time and what happened was amazing! My anxiety levels dropped, I had more time for myself, and I felt like I could focus on actual things instead of just looking at screen after screen.

I think it's funny how everyone is now talking about 'digital detox' but honestly, I've been doing that for years and it's made a huge difference in my life 🙌. It's not just about deleting accounts or limiting usage, it's about being mindful of how much time you're spending online and making sure it's adding value to your life.

I also think it's awesome that people are starting to realize that their self-worth shouldn't be tied to likes and followers - I mean, who needs that stress in their life? 😂
 
omg I'm totally guilty of this!! I used to be on my phone like, nonstop every day, but then I started noticing how much time I was wasting scrolling through feeds and comparing my life to others. now I've limited myself to just checking social media in the morning and evening, and it's made such a huge difference! I feel more present in real life and I have so much more time for hobbies and spending time with loved ones 🤩📸
 
OMG, like i totally need a break from all the drama on insta 🙄! I mean, don't get me wrong, it's cool to keep up with friends and family, but honestly, i was getting soooo tired of seeing everyone's highlight reels and feeling like im not good enough 😒. So, i decided to take a step back and delete my accounts for like, 2 months 🤯! It was amazing how much more time i had on my hands and how less stressed i felt 🙌. I mean, i still check in with friends every now and then, but it's not like i'm glued to my screen all day anymore 💻. Plus, i've been getting so many more reads at the library and enjoying nature walks again 📚🌳! It's weird, but i feel more grounded and less anxious 🙏. I guess what i'm saying is, social media can be toxic, but we have the power to take control of our own mental health 🤝! 👍
 
OMG I'm so glad to see people finally realizing that less is more 😂! Honestly, I was getting so tired of seeing the same old selfies and sales pitches on my feed 24/7... like, can't they just post something inspiring or funny for once?! 🤣 But seriously, I did take a step back from social media about 6 months ago and it's been a total game-changer. I was able to start reading more books, trying out new recipes, and even taking up painting again! 💡 It's amazing how much free time you can find when you're not constantly scrolling through your phone.

I think the biggest adjustment for me was detoxing from FOMO (fear of missing out) 🤦‍♀️... it's so hard to resist the urge to jump onto Instagram and see what everyone else is up to. But now, I'm more mindful of when I log on and try to stay present in the moment. It's crazy how good it feels to not be tied to my phone all day! 🙌
 
I've gotta say, I'm pretty surprised by this trend 🤔. For me, I think it all started when I realized that my feeds were becoming more like a never-ending stream of ads and sponsored content 📦. It was like, no matter how much I scrolled, I couldn't escape the constant bombardment of stuff that wasn't even relevant to me.

I think what really made me re-evaluate my social media usage, though, was when I started noticing how it was affecting my mental health 🤕. I found myself comparing my life to others' curated highlight reels and feeling pretty crummy about myself in the process 😔. It was like, I needed a break from all that negativity.

So, I took a step back and started limiting my usage to specific times of the day ⏰. And you know what? It's been a game-changer 🎮. I've got more time for myself, and I feel way more in control of how I want to spend my free time.

For me, it's not about completely deleting social media accounts (although some of my friends have done that and they seem to be doing just fine 😂), but more about being mindful of how much time I'm spending online. It's funny, because now I feel like I've got a sense of peace that I never had before 🙏.
 
I was getting so burnt out on Instagram, honestly 🤯. I mean, every single post from my friends and family was just another thing to scroll through...and the ads were getting crazy annoying 😒. So, I decided to take a break for a month, and it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders! I had more time to read, hang out with actual people, and just chill out at home 🤩. It's been nice to see how much less stress-free my life has become now that I'm not constantly checking my phone...and it's funny how I don't even miss the constant stream of updates as much anymore 😂!
 
OMG I totally feel like that 🙌! For me it was getting so tired of seeing everyone else's highlight reels and feeling like I needed to keep up with the latest trends and news. It was like, I'm good I just wanna watch a movie or play some video games in peace lol. And honestly it's been super liberating not having all that constant noise in my head! I mean I still check social media sometimes but only when I feel like it, no more mindless scrolling 🤯. It's nice to finally have some free time and energy for myself 😌.
 
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