The Irony of Posting On Social Media That I'm Off Social Media
Seven days ago, I deleted all social media applications from my phone. I also disabled push notifications from news sources, making it a conscious decision to access current events. Despite these changes, I still feel the occasional, reflexive impulse to scroll through endless content—an impulse shaped by years of behavioral conditioning.
This is not the first time I’ve attempted such a reset. Nearly four years ago, I published a blog post declaring my departure from most social platforms. That initiative succeeded temporarily, but, like many, I gradually reengaged. Although I haven’t been actively posting, I found myself opening the apps more often than I would like—seeking the familiar reward mechanisms they so effectively deliver.
Both attempts at digital disengagement—in 2021 and now in 2025—have been heavily influenced by the work of Cal Newport. The first time, I was motivated by his book Deep Work, which explores the cognitive benefits of uninterrupted, focused effort. This year, Digital Minimalism offered a more targeted critique of how digital tools fragment attention and dilute intention. Between these, I also read Slow Productivity, which builds on similar themes but emphasizes sustainable, meaningful output over frantic busyness. My reminder of Newport’s work came through Big Think Plus, a corporate leadership development platform offered at Stryker. His framework—centered on the deliberate use of time and attention—has shaped much of my thinking around personal productivity. I highly encourage reading his books and/or watching his TED talk. Newport has nine books linked on his website, so I can see a not-too-distant future where I’m writing about all of the other things he’s convinced me to adopt.
A central exercise Newport proposes is a 30-day social media fast, followed by a critical assessment of what, if anything, is worth reintroducing. The idea mirrors Marie Kondo’s minimalist philosophy: remove everything, then selectively reintegrate only what provides genuine value. My first step was deleting the apps, which inherently adds friction to access. If I want to use social media, I now have to go through the extra step of logging in from a computer or tablet—making the experience more intentional and less compulsive.
News consumption has undergone a similar recalibration. I removed nearly all notifications—retaining only a few for sports updates, which themselves may soon be removed. The goal is to avoid real-time information overload and instead engage with more curated sources. Platforms like Ground News appeal to me because they offer not only summaries but comparative media analysis, showing how different political ideologies frame the same events. While no solution is entirely free of bias, this approach seems more likely to foster critical thinking than constant exposure to fragmented headlines.
It’s important to clarify that I haven’t experienced a dramatic surge in productivity since implementing these changes. The relationship between distraction and output is not always linear. However, I have noticed a reduction in cognitive noise. My attention feels less fractured, and I’m more aware of how much time I previously spent in a reactive state—responding to pings, alerts, and algorithmic nudges rather than acting with intention.
A lingering concern remains: the fear of missing out. Not necessarily on personal updates or viral content, but on the cultural or political developments that can shape our shared reality. Social media and breaking news offer a sense of connection and immediacy, even if it comes at the cost of well-being. Stepping back from those channels raises the risk of becoming uninformed or socially disengaged. The challenge, then, is to replace passive consumption with active connection—seeking out meaningful conversations, fostering deeper relationships, and staying informed through more thoughtful means.
In sum, this is less a rejection of digital life than a reevaluation of its place in mine. The experiment is ongoing, and while the results are not yet transformative, they are suggestive: clarity, intention, and even mild discomfort can be indicators of a more conscious way of engaging with the world.
P.S. This was punched-up by ChatGPT. Look at me still embracing technology.