Rewards of 30 day Social media detox

If you find yourself squandering several hours on social media, you’re not alone. On average, Indian users spent 2.4 hours on social media, according to a survey. Globally, digital consumers spent nearly 2.5 hours every day on social networks, according to Global Web Index’s Social Media Trends 2019 report. In fact, the social media was devised to bring mankind together but, if truth be told, it dwindled the rapport altogether and evolved into an apodictic addition in all age groups. Here in this write-up, I would share with you my appraisal and experiment with Social media apps and lessons learnt from30 day social media detox. Since my juvenescence I was somehow cognizant of the drawbacks of Smartphone. It is on of this premise I kept a mobile phone only after passing 12th class, in 2018, only when I was a mature. Back then as everyone was active on social media apps like Face book, Instagram etc., having a Smartphone to my hand I could not stay aloof. I initially created a Face book account. Later I didn’t limit to Face book but became active on Instagram and twitter as well. From a person who was au fait of cons of social media and prudent about preciousness of time, I remember, inchmeal how I became habituated with social media apps. I remained glued to phone most of times scrolling the social media feed purposelessly. I began to fitter away time on social media. Social media began to create dopamine-inducing social environments around me. On Smartphone addition, here are few lines from my poem, in which I have poured my heart out :
The Smartphone was invented for men’s convenience,
But misuse has rendered it an apodictic nuisance.
And was devised to bring mankind together,
But misemployment dwindled the rapport altogether.
A bonny family comprising of mom, dad and two juvenile,
Though in a single room, detached like steps of a stile,
While talking, studying, driving, or during a walk,
This phobia pesters phone addict around clock.
Exasperated with social media, on November 20, I took a crucial decision. My exam was approaching and I was scrolling videos on YouTube. A video popped up which explained the advantages of Social media detox. The video coupled with the examination pressure impelled me for taking an oath for 30 day social media detox. I first logged out and then uninstalled all social media apps – Facebook, Instagram , twitter and disabled the YouTube. After logging out from all social media accounts handed over all the password of my social media accounts to Musaib , my nephew, who would manage these social media accounts for next one month. Though initially this task seemed very arduous, but as days passed it cleared the way for me. Detox began to usher it’s rewards and benisons. First and foremost, my propensity for late sleeping and late rising, the reason for which my parents would always keep nagging at me, began to change. When apart from studying I had nothing to do at night I would hit the sack early, as a result I would rise in the morning early. Before social media detox I noticed time running like sand from hands. It felt like I don’t enough time to do things. But the detox saved my time. Earlier the spend hours on social media could now be added to the study hours and spending the time with family or other productive works. It reconnects me with people and increased the face-to-face interaction. It made me feel happier and enhanced mental performance. Social media detox puts you into a situation to introspect. Introspection is key to good. In my case, during the detox, I introspected and conjectured that the world is a test for all and indeed death is the ultimate reality. This mulling shepherded me to do more religious acts like offering prayer and recital of Qur’an; which social media has ebbed away to a great extent. Though the task of 30 day detox task has been brought off now, but I have decided for aye not to log in Social media apps in my Smartphone, rather on PC (personal computer) ,which would help me use it properly only when needed. The detox taught me how to be Argus-eyed about the misemployment of social media. It edified me to use social media like a master and how to preclude becoming it’s slave. Whoever feels he/she is addicted or obsessed with social media should go for a social media detox. It will surely help you to recoup and repair yourself. I exhort to all out there plan a detox, execute it, harvest the fructifying results, and thank me later.
(Author is a columnist and law student at Kashmir University. Views are his own)
umarjamal968@gmail.com