Why I quit social networks

So, have you ever heard of Dunbar’s number? This researcher figured out that our brains can only really maintain about 150 meaningful relationships. That’s it – 150 people we can actually know and care about.

Meanwhile, there I was with 1,000+ Facebook “friends.” Something didn’t add up.

A Little Reality Check

Here’s a fun experiment: Try writing down everyone you actually know without checking your phone. I tried this once and barely made it to 40 names before my brain started hurting. And these were supposed to be people I “knew.”

The thing is, I’m pretty introverted. Always have been. So trying to keep up with hundreds of online “friendships” felt like running a marathon I never signed up for.

The Sunday Morning That Changed Everything

Picture this: Last semester of college, Sunday morning, and I’m scrolling through Facebook in my pajamas. Two hours later, I’m still scrolling. Two hours!

What did I gain from those two hours? Well, I learned that someone from high school had pancakes for breakfast. I watched a dozen political arguments where nobody changed their mind. And I saw everyone’s highlight reels while sitting there with my bedhead, feeling like I was somehow failing at life.

That’s when it clicked – I was watching other people live instead of actually living myself.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Deleting my accounts felt like a breakup. Facebook especially didn’t want to let go:

“Are you sure?” “Your friends will miss you!” “Look at all these memories!”

It even showed me old photos, like an ex trying to win you back. Nice try, Facebook.

Here’s what I ended up deleting:

• Facebook (the hardest goodbye)
• Instagram (which honestly hurt – I’d spend ages editing my photos to perfection, only to get 12 likes while someone’s blurry mirror selfie got 300+. Not great for the ego.)
• Twitter (the endless scroll of hot takes)

I kept WhatsApp because my family would probably disown me otherwise, and LinkedIn because, well, I needed a job after graduation.

The Weird First Few Weeks

Not gonna lie, the withdrawal was real. My thumb kept reaching for apps that weren’t there anymore. I’d unlock my phone and just… stare at it. What do people do with their phones without social media?

So I did what any reasonable person would do – I downloaded 9gag. “It’s just memes!” I told myself. “It’s different!” Spoiler alert: It wasn’t. I’d basically swapped one infinite scroll for another. At least with 9gag, I wasn’t comparing my life to anyone else’s – just wasting time with anonymous internet strangers.

But slowly, something shifted. Even with my 9gag habit (which I eventually kicked too), I had so much more time. I started reading actual books again. I could focus on my assignments without the constant ping of notifications. I had conversations where I actually listened instead of thinking about what to post later.

What I Discovered

Four months in, here’s what surprised me:

The people who matter stayed in touch – My real friends didn’t vanish. We just texted or, imagine this, met up in person. Revolutionary, I know.

My anxiety calmed down – Without the constant comparison game, I stopped worrying about whether my life looked good enough. I started caring about whether it felt good.

Boredom became productive – When you’re not filling every spare second with scrolling, your brain actually comes up with ideas. Some of my best thinking happens when I’m just… doing nothing.

Sleep improved dramatically – No more “just one more scroll” until 3 AM. My sleep schedule actually became a schedule.

“But Don’t You Miss Out?”

People ask me this a lot. And yeah, sometimes I do:

• I’ve missed some party invites that only went out on Facebook
• I don’t see my cousin’s baby photos unless she texts them
• I’m definitely out of the loop on some gossip

But here’s what I was missing before: my actual life. I was so busy consuming everyone else’s experiences that I forgot to have my own.

This Isn’t a Judgment Thing

Look, I’m not here to convert anyone. Social media works great for some people. Maybe you use it for work, or you genuinely enjoy staying connected that way. That’s totally cool.

But if you’re like I was – if social media makes you feel anxious, inadequate, or just exhausted – maybe it’s worth asking yourself what you’re really getting out of it.

Four Months Later

Honestly? I don’t miss it. My life feels calmer and somehow more full at the same time. I take fewer photos but remember more moments. I know less about acquaintances but more about the people I actually care about.

Will I ever go back? Probably not. I’m pretty happy knowing that when something good happens in my life, my first thought isn’t “how will this look on Instagram?” but rather “wow, this is nice.”

P.S. Yes, I realize the irony of sharing this on a blog. But hey, at least you actively chose to read this instead of having it algorithmically inserted between a cat video and an ad for something you mentioned once in a conversation. Progress, right?