6 Top Reasons Why Parents Might Need Social Media Detox - November 2024

We often worry about our children becoming addicted to the internet and social media, but the truth is that many parents are also guilty of this. Tell me you haven't seen parents glued to their phones, scrolling mindlessly through Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or playing video games endlessly. I know you can't because everywhere you go, whether it's a restaurant, a shopping mall, a medical centre, a recreational park, or even a playground, there must be parents on the phone ignoring their children in front of them. Worse, the entire family is engrossed in their phones! So, how do you know if you have a social media addiction? According to Healthline, “Like other types of behavioural addictions, using social media can influence your brain in harmful ways. You may use social media compulsively and excessively. You can become so accustomed to scrolling through posts, images, and videos that it interferes with other areas of your life.” Simply put, you can't go a day without using those social platforms. To be honest, I'm not yet addicted (I hope!). But having used social media since I was a teenager (Friendster and MySpace era) and having a Facebook account since 2007, I can say that I'm on it a lot! I remember having to deactivate my account during finals back in university so I didn't waste time on them. :s A screenshot of my account on MyRakan! Feeling so old~ Psst...a quick throwback: I even opened an account with myRakan.com in 2003, if you know what that is. I hadn't even thought about it until I was writing this blog! It's amazing how far social media has come in the last few years. Well, that was when I was young and single. But now that I'm a wife and a mother, I'm curious if my use of social media has any impact on my role or family relationships. Hence, I’m sharing six signs of why parents may require a social media cleanse or detox, some of which I’m guilty of. You Stop Living for Phone Documenting Image credit: Canva Every time you go out or stay at home, all you want to do is take photos or videos to post on social media. Check how many times you've posted on your account today. It's fine to do this once in a while to capture memories, but when you do it all the time, you're wasting valuable time that you could be spending with those around you. Feeling Restless and Anxious When Not Online Image credit: freepik This is when you can't miss from posting or scrolling through your social media accounts every few hours or so. For example, even though you're busy trying to meet deadlines, you can't take your mind off your account and will find time to click on it even if it's only for a few minutes. Let's just hope that a few minutes didn't turn into a few hours, causing you to miss the deadline. Lack of Attention and Interaction with Family My toddler is imitating her dad by looking at the phone this way. o_O When you're immersed in your phone and unbothered about what's going on around you, you pay less attention to and interact with family and friends. This is especially dangerous if you have young or teenage children who crave your attention. They may believe they are insignificant in your life and that they must share your love with something that’s not even alive. Even worse when your children are becoming emotionally attached to smartphones as well! Demoralised by Other People’s Happy Posts Image credit: Canva How do you feel when you see your friends or family members upload photos of their new homes, jobs, or family outings? If you are unhappy, insecure, or feel small in comparison to the person, then something’s wrong with your thinking. What’s worse, some people may experience depression as a result of feeling as if they’re not doing enough in life. Starting to Lose Track of Time Image credit: Canva Remember when you were scrolling through any social media platform and started watching videos, reading posts, and so on? Then, what seemed like 10 minutes turned out to be 3 hours! That right there is a case of losing track of time. Post to Brag and Being Hungry for Social Media 'Likes' FYI, braggarts can never get enough attention. (Image credit: Canva) This is the case where whenever you want to post something, all you can think about is showing it off to your friend list and keeping track of how many likes you get. You may be feeling good as a result of all the attention and praise you're receiving, but braggarts can be considered immoral and self-centred. If you have any of the above signs or are simply obsessed with any social media platforms or any online activities such as gaming, it's time to find a solution before it's too late. This also applies to me, as I've realised that it is affecting my life. Here Are Several Ways to Detox from Social Media Image credit: Canva Put your phone away before going to bed so it doesn't disrupt your sleep or valuable time with your partner and kids (if you co-sleep). Invest in a real alarm clock rather than relying on your phone to avoid the temptation of checking your phone first thing in the morning. Once you’re hooked, it might take you longer to get out of bed! Make it a habit to put your phone somewhere out of reach when you have important family time and don't want to be disturbed. Delete the social media apps from your phone, and if you absolutely must use them, log in to the sites on your laptop or desktop. Isn't it tedious? I know. Find a friend or maybe your partner who’s willing to go on a social media detox with you. It’ll keep you both motivated because you’ll be supporting each other. Believe that time is money. Rather than wasting time on social media, find something worthwhile to do that will generate income. Try using a social media app that allows you to set a time limit. Perhaps one hour per day is sufficient to get a taste of social media? So far, I've tried points 1, 3, 6, and 7, and they all work great. However, this is only a partial list. There's so much more you can do, such as discovering new hobbies or setting reminders not to check social media, and so on. It's better to experiment and see which methods work best for you when it comes to detoxing from social media. Final Thoughts on Social Media Use social media with caution and moderation. (Image credit: Canva) Personally, I don't believe that detoxing or cleansing entails completely discontinuing the use of social media. Nowadays, those platforms can be useful if you work in the media, marketing, or need to get the most up-to-date news quickly. There’s a lot of useful information on there, and more companies are encouraging their employees to join LinkedIn, a professional social media platform. The keyword here is 'moderation'. Everything in moderation can be beneficial. Just like chocolate, which makes you feel good. It's fine to consume it in moderation, but if you overdo it, you'll get sick! So, keep in mind to use and be present on social media in moderation. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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