That ending line was perfect. "You don't want an inflated sense of importance. You want real sense of importance made from doing real things on behalf of real people, that really matters."
Depends on ur situation ur in ☝️ No offense but obviously its easy to preach if ur on the on side of the socially accepted fence rather then the opposite one lol 😂💦 So this is actually based ngl
Benefit: you become a normal down to earth real person again. Deleted all social media 10 years ago when I was 19 because I realized what was happening to me. To this day, still one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’m 19 and I’m thinking of doing the same but I have one question which is how to stay updated to important news , events , etc that are relevant to me? Also sometimes social media gives valuable and beneficial advice or content that you didn’t know that you needed so what do you do to learn about the things you care about?
@@kandil952the things which matter to you or affect your life will come yo you automatically. Do you think billionaires rely on social media for relevant news.
@@kandil952to be honest, what you see on social media might be 5% of interesting stuff, but drowned in 95% of garbage. In my opinion it's not worth it. Like somebody else said, you could keep up with the news on UA-cam, or maybe on google
It's very common for people to lack the courage to sit alone with their own thoughts. They have never been taught how to cope with the scary ones, never been taught that thoughts are just thoughts, they can't actually harm you or control you. Your own brain generates them so it's irrational to fear them.
Summary: 1. More boredom - boredom produces creativity, you're left thinking about the world around you 2. Lower your anxiety - There is more information than you can consume, and social media usually shows you the bad side of the world 3. Privacy - less unknown people know about you, it is probably better 4. Lower self importance - He doesn't talk about not feeling important, but social media gives notifications that make you feel that things you do are important
I gave up social media several months ago and have not looked back. I was addicted to it, checking ex's profiles, mindless scrolling, always anxious. My anxiety has decreased tremendously, and i have more time to read, and do other productive things.
@@dallassegno I also quit using social media in 2014. This doesn't truly count as attention, as I've turned off notifications so that I don't have to interact with losers. The interaction itself is the problem. So enjoy the attention I'm giving you, and know that I won't be getting any attention back, as I won't be notified, and I won't be checking back. Nothing social about that, girlfriend.
@@phenitagomes1292 "but can be so informative..." although true, let's be honest, how often are you scrolling through UA-cam shorts more often than watching "informative" videos? I have never had social media such as Twitter, Instagram, facebook, etc. Except UA-cam. And I waste A LOT of time watching bullshit videos that don't really help my current life. If you are here, then you haven't fully let go of your addiction. It's like letting go of crack, and meth, but still smoking weed and drinking beer. Not as "harmful" but you still get some high ie. comment "Likes", watching Instagram-like videos that show fit/pretty people, scrolling endlessly through shorts... Pretty much the same thing really.
The one thing that pisses me off especially as a parent is how every club, sport, school you join you have to have a freakin app in order o stay informed. My sons soccer coach wants all the parents to download this stupid app. To “communicate” I’m like “tf?! Isnt that what txting and phones are for?” Lol. Like why do I need a freaking app. We already have the seasons schedule, both game, practice and snack schedule. Wtf else do I need to know? I don’t need to be connected to these people 24/7. And the same thing with my sons co-op. They “encouraged” us to turn on notifications and I did and I was CONSTANTLY getting messages and dings for crap I don’t care about! I just miss the good old days when it was just call, txt or email. That’s it. I have an app not for every single activity it’s annoyinggggg!! Oh and my kids park play group wanted me to download WhatsApp for their group. FML!
Getting off social media has been like unplugging from the matrix. When I tell people I have no social media the reactions are similar to why someone doesn't drink alcohol. I had a girl say that it was a huge red flag that I don't have social media because I must be hiding something. I just value my privacy and have goals and social media was interfering with that.
Remember that UA-cam is also a social media. If you are reading this comment, you do have social media. Yeah, it probably doesn't have pictures of your friends "perfect lives" but it does have a constant stream of information and opinions screaming in your face. And speaking from personal experience, it's super addictive.
100% I was using it as a way to fill in time and this was taking time away that I could have used for other things, I even bought premium to avoid ads and looked for longer videos.. it was only when the algorithm dropped the ball and started recommending stuff I wasn’t interested in (investing money lol) that I realised it was a problem.
But my friend...this social media that is UA-cam is still way better than IG and FB where constantly people throw their good life pics on others; all this info is so redundant and makes us dumb while interacting with fellow people who like Cal Newport is beneficial engagement.
@@nancyyadav285 UA-cam presents a unique challenge, and depending on who you are as a person, it will affect you in different ways. I believe that for those of us that enjoy learning, delving into complexities of topics, and wish to develop ourselves, UA-cam provides all of that, but only temporary, and if consumed too much it will start working against you instead. For someone that is more into their social landscape, and care more about relationships, etc. FB and IG is probably much more of a challenge. FB was only mildly addictive for me. YT was insanely addictive for me. Blocking it on my phone, and getting extensions on my PC to remove a bunch of features have been life-changing.
Yes. And no. It’s more like watching TV but you choose what to watch and there is a comment section to talk about it. For sure it can be addictive as much as TV but far less than Instagram, Twitter, tiktok..
I really appreciate boredom nowadays after letting go of social media. I used to think reading books was not a way to decompress after a long day. Turns out, it's more rejuvenating. I think that's the biggest thing I got from Cal. Thanks man👏👏👏
I’ve been contemplating getting off of social media because of Cal’s work. It’s good to know you have found it a positive thing. I’m encouraged to hear that.
I lost my smartphone and my laptop for one month. I've never had so much clarity in my life. It was hard at first, but I found joy in taking walks. I read actual physical books. I thought a lot. I wrote a lot of good poetry. I found so much clarity. My mind was free.... It was hard, but amazing.
I think what hurts the most is that I realized not a lot of people truly care about you once you leave social media. I had maybe 3-4 people notice that I wasn’t posting anymore and they just said something like “I noticed you deactivated your account” or “I just thought you’re taking a break”, which is fine. But that’s only 3-4 people out of perhaps hundred. Another thing that’s been difficult is staying in touch with others, but that’s because I’ve gotten used to using social media as a crutch to make connections rather than doing it naturally.
Most people (me included) have gotten lazy and let the centralized, easy short contacts on social media stand in for personalized reaching out through longer phone calls, snail mail, emails or text message exchanges. I have taken FB breaks in the past -- and my own little sister back then would rather post family photos and information on FB than share through email or texts. So I feel for you too!
Very true. I lost pretty much much all connection with all but two old friends but I realized if you’re truly meant to stay in touch, it will happen and the reciprocation will go both ways. It taught me to stop chasing friends who didn’t make effort. Sadly I hardly hear from family members because they post all their updates on Feb. I wish we could have society without it. We desperately need real, deep connection with others
"The world constructed by your mind is constructed by what you pay attention to. (If you're paying attention to social media, that is going to be a grim, unsettling world.)" This is a critical point. Bravo, Mr. Newport.
My social media is a beautiful paradise where I get to show love to my homies everyday. What world are y’all living in? I swear these boomers and gen x’ers need to get off their meds
Since I dumped social media, my anxiety level has decreased significantly and my happiness and contentment have been completely restored so making that change was truly a life changing experience.
@@alexanderhalliwell2109 It technically is, but how harmful it is depends on how you use it. It's easy to just be around beneficial content (but with one or two recommended gaming videos slipping through the cracks).
I deleted my Facebook and Instagram-accounts when I was done reading the first section of “Digital Minimalism”. This was two months ago. It makes me feel like I feel about quitting smoking a few years back. I’m so glad I did it and I can’t imagine missing it. Thanks Cal, you really opened my eyes on this issue.
UA-cam is the only "social media" that I've used for at least 5 years... it becomes easier and easier to predict how much social media a person uses by how they act and talk, which was totally unexpected but it's real. It changes you and you don't even know it.
It's been around the same time for me and I feel I did the right thing too. Only YT. I sat at home and struggled through my second degree while getting back to full-time work. Real-world goals that mattered to me. All I lost by quitting social media was to lose a few friends and acquaintances who were concerned about likes and shares than anything else. I enjoy it so much now that I want to keep it this way. Was fun while it lasted but it was time to move on and grow up.
I recently did this with my own social media and growing UA-cam following. The priorities in my life have completely changed. I got engaged, got a dog, and picked up new hobbies. Your life is the 3 feet in front of you, not the 3 scrolls in front of you.
I have a tendency of deleting my FB, IG, Twitter, repeatedly and then at times go back on them. You're right, it's very addictive and it all goes back to being content with yourself like nature intended. We were not meant to have information thrown at us continuously.
I only have Whatsapp (family and work), Telegram (send and receive files) and UA-cam (information and tutorials).... I canceled all the others, it's a great peace.
I've been saying it for a decade... It is sad and should be alarming at how many people have fallen for the most base and obvious manipulation tricks. Social media has set humanity back a bit and it didn't have to happen this way.
I deleted my social media in 2011. People teased me for years. Now everyone is doing it. I deleted mine for all the same reasons you mentioned in this video. I guess I was wayyyy ahead of my time.
Everyone? My impression is that more and more people are realizing the benefits and possibilities of social media and putting it to a good use in oder to be more financially secure in life
One of the main reasons why I deleted my Insta/Reddit & Facebook is because as a middle school teacher I have seen firsthand how damaging the social media addiction is to my students. They are chronically stressed and overwhelmed due to overstimulation. It also made me think about the adverse effects on myself. It's been very liberating to be rid of it.
That’s the perfect word. OVERstimulation. I left HS in 2011 so we pretty much were the last generation to know what it’s like without all these apps. I still had a dvd player and a vcr in high school.
One of the real pros of stepping away from social media (specifically instagram), you realize that there's such an illusion of friendship, that when you're away from it or not on it at all, it shows you who really wants to actually spend time with you and not just make you some kind of accessory they can put in their story and brag to their friends about. It's the most freeing thing ever. Time to make friendships again where how you appear to be to the society has no bearing at all.
wow i deleted instagram and i discovered this whole youtube section of ppl without social media it is so cool. I actually talk and interact with more people in real life now that I am not distracted by social media and on my phone. It is so cool. Ive said hello to my neighbors, gave money to some homeless guy in my neighborhood, went to more meetups, talked to more people, invited people out for dinner, found more real life events to go to. I think I relate to people completely differently now. Im much more friendly and confident and I'm actually connecting to more people in real life. And you know what I realized, most people are quite nice contrary to what you see on social media. I can focus and pay attention to who's actually in my life and what is actually there to do in real life now that all the extra meaningless stuff is gone from my head and I have more free time. I think social media actually takes us away from forming connections and relationships and living a good life with other people. And be who we really are, not this consumerist puppet insta is trying to make people to be. Once I stopped going on social media it seems like wonderful things started to happen in my life. I suggest anyone to try to take a break from it and see how you change. The best thing that happened was that I got my identity back.
Amazing talk. Youngsters these days think it's abnormal not to be on social media which is not true. Not being on these apps is going to help you level up and know yourself much better. Learn to live in solitude and enjoy your own company. This will lead you to things that you actually want to do and learn and eventually lead you to your life purpose. Social media is wasting your time my friends.
These youngster are simply the wannabe "Cool People" but are simply destroying themselves and have lack of self awareness! I'm a young adult and I hate it when friends, siblings push me to use these unnecessary social media apps but this is a great time to analyze the people around you whether they're serving you any sort of value into your life or not.
Brilliant submission, Prof. I deactivated my only social media account(Facebook)...Huge perks for me: In three years and eight months, I earned a PhD and an MSc degree-Medical related certificates. Prof, you are giving a real-life service to minds that want to discover themselves and be meaningful to humanity.
I’ve been social media free since 2015 and it is one of my best adult decision. My cellphone doesn’t follow me everywhere anymore and it stays in a fixed spot in the house like the good old land line. Ringer is on for incoming phone calls, texts will be answered when and if needed… Barely any texting anymore too
I deleted my Twitter account today as I had enough of all the negativity around the world getting dumped in my brains. Another thing I've started from today is stop watching new channels. Non stop news of disasters and negativity was keeping me in perpetual negativity. I hope this is a start of a journey to a better mental health.
I'm on a social media fast. I'm at day #11 now. I feel like half of my anxiety is gone and my outlook on life has done a radical transformation. I'm finding out things about myself everyday. Life without Twitter and Instagram is worth living!
I deleted all social media and now limit my time to youtube under 20 minutes 3 days a week only. I now have 3 things I am becoming a master of and taking classes and writing books and reading and working out and love the peace.
I deactivated my Facebook account for a while to reflect on the value of social media in my life. When I first deactivated, someone that I used to work with in the past that I still talked to sent me a text message telling me that they don't see me on Facebook. I don't have a lot of friends and only use Facebook to stay in touch with my family up in Vermont. After the reactivation of my account. I went on and realized that I just don't care for it anymore. Plus, now I am focused on school. Technology has taken away our ability to socially connect as we are hardwired to do. Thank you, Cal!!!!
I was on Academic Twitter for the lockdown, while writing my PhD and defending it. What a ghastly place filled with misery, faux outrage and endless naval gazing. Love your work Prof Newport.
@@CIARUNSITEI didn't stay in academia beyond a one year part time research contract because the conditions for postdocs were horrible. Yes, Twitter was absolutely an accurate reflection.
I have never had a social media account. I watch coworkers stare at the phone all day like crack heads. It is alarming to see brains hijacked. Think, read or listen to beautiful music. Human being not a consumer of whatever is placed before you. Be very careful what you feed your mind.
Ive been off social media for nearly 10 years now, and I can genuinely say it's made a huge difference in my mental health. Theres many people I lost contact with, but there's other ways to reach out other than socials so I guess that's that. The people that truly care will be there regardless. Theres many benefits to not having social media, I guess I can say the cons outweigh the pros in being heavily involved in socials.
Well done. I used to think people who weren't on social media were either just shy or old fashioned. I noticed though that many of them are intelligent and careful. Just before I gave up social media 3 months ago I realised two things - people without social media have more time to be productive and I how jealous I was for those times in the past when we wrote a letter or talked to just one person at a time with care and intent. It has been difficult to let go but also a revelation as to who really wants to stay in touch. I wish you all the best.
I'd add a fifth, and one I think is incredibly important: Time. Put the daily screentime displayed on your homescreen, and you'll realize how much time you spend on social media (main use for most people). Spend an evening with no social media. You can get so much done! I'm cutting back on social media, slowly over time. It's so difficult!
Excellent point. I used to congratulate myself for having dumped television, which is all well and good, but I failed to realise that social media consumed far more of my time than TV ever did. Also, there’s a simple solution to getting rid of social media in one fell swoop, if you’re game enough: just say something that will get you banned. You can always get a new account, but it’s not the same, which helps tame your enthusiasm. (I speak from experience lol)
So true, (yes, I only use UA-cam mostly because I love watching documentaries and there are so many things to benefit from if used correctly). I wasn't allowed to play video games, have social media, and most of the things I considered "fun". Over the years I have noticed that I am very different from most of my friends, it is really cool to be considered the "smartest" person in the room because I am a very deep thinker and can hold long logical conversations with adults. I thank my parents for giving me a phone only after I turned 16 (I also used a family phone outside the home for safety when I was younger). Don't worry your kids won't hate you for not giving them a phone ( yes they probably will complain a bit but if you talk to them about the reason you give them such high boundaries in the future they will thank you for your protection and effort).
Thanks for this comment. My kids are still way younger but it's nice to know that despite the peer pressure kids endure that they don't absolutely despise their parents for actually parenting. I'm the only parent I know that doesn't give their kids a tablet. Hopefully I can do as good of a job as your parents did.
I deleted all my social media platforms in June, 2020 and documented my thoughts about same. I found I had more time to do the things that I loved and to discover new interests such as listening to podcasts, reading and learning a new language. Deleting those platforms also came with the biggest sense of Freedom that I ever experienced. I rejoined these social media platforms in mid 2021 and proceeded to delete these same platforms in June, 2022. I did not plan to deleted them within this same time frame. I just began to notice social media is draining, physically, mentally and spiritually. When I reviewed my documented thoughts about why I deleted them to begin with, I noticed the same trend of thoughts. I do not want to BONDAGE associated with these platforms. Thank you Cal, I read your "Deep Work" years ago an it was truly refreshing! I subscribed to your channel for more of your awesome content.
I'm 17. Deleted it because I would just mindlessly scroll through memes and random shit on there and around 2-3 hours a day doing nothing productive. Trying to read more etc, social media's fucked up my generation. Half the kids in my classes stay up till 3-4am and get 4 hours of sleep before school and their time management is completely messed up.
Congrats brother🎉 keep going! I am also deleting it. It brought me a lot of problems i cant concentrate i fee depressed and compare my self to others, even if i hide the apps i still found a way to be back at it. From today on, im deleting all of them except youtube! I want to really start living my own life rather then watching what others buyed, did travel or went to.
I quit social media about six years ago due to feeling vaguely harassed by old friends I can't relate to anymore. I'm glad overall. I no longer feel obligated to put my life on display for the entitled people in my life.
Social media is considered an adequate replacement for in-person/phone/text conversations now. It's becoming impossible to keep up with people who aren't in your immediate area without it. You can argue that someone who won't make the effort is never going to be in your inner circle anyway but it's uncomfortable to confront when it's your own family.
Before I read Cal's book or heard about the idea of stepping away from social media for 30 days, I had already done it with Instagram and Facebook a while ago. I was out of both for a week, extended it to a month, I felt lighter, freer of anxious thoughts, I felt more productive, everything started to move. At the end of the 30 days, only one person had noticed that I was not on the networks. My Aunt. Soon after, she came up with the chat that "what's going on with you?", "You look like you're depressed", I looked at her and asked, "People who are connected are happier", she didn't have an answer to this question.
Same here mate. The people care about you in the real world, your real friends will care about you, not your IG-friends. i agree with using social media for business purposes, but this senseless scrolling and wasting your valuable lifetime on social media should be stopped by more people
@@hugemessju but i still dont get what is so toxic as people say or bad about viewing some animal, art, architecture, travel, nature and other videos or photos on instagram, tiktok, youtube and so on. Can you explain?
@@dreamthedream8929 I’ll pipe in here with what I think cal said… that spending extended periods of time on social media WILL change your brain, your life, because it becomes your reality. So if you only occasionally look at it to view posts of architecture and puppies, then it probably isn’t doing much. But it is still influencing your reality, subconsciously.
@@TheEmaile how does that become your reality? I mean of course its reality, people and myself are using it to find the content that we wanna see there. What does it even mean what you said? Its something that you use, no different from a book or magazine with nice stories, illustrations and articles
Its been week since i deleted all social media account....and trust me i feel peace,less anxiety ..and now i feel more happy and healthy...always in good moor..doing what important to me and my family...
Compelling arguments! After I got off social media, I freed up so much of my time. I began practicing meditation and read books. I also feel much better about myself, my looks, the world, and the overall trajectory of my career. ❤
I have been not using instagram for the past 6 months and I can tell you I feel waaaay better than before. This feels sooooo good that you can't imagine until you quit it yourself. My mind is very calm and I feel less anxiety
I got rid of social media about a month ago.. i knew deep down it had no really value or purpose. It has been like waking up from a dream or trance. I did not expect the positive affects have felt after.. most notability connecting with my true inner emotions and contentment, I haven’t had that in over 15 years.
Your point about boredom really resonated with me. As an introvert I enjoy being alone but I often times find myself on my phone or watching Netflix or going on a walk listening to a podcast more and more these days. This video is really encouraging for me to continue to evaluate how I use social media or, how social media is using me.
@Mrs since day 1 then other hoes flossing Johnson still pinterest is one of the best traffic sources out there for making money because its audience mostly already have enough money and are prepared to buy, a lot of it is from the usa
Also, research "schizoid fantasy", which is simply fantasizing (NOT to solve a particular problem, which is what fantasy is to be used for). Very dangerous. It's a way to provide yourself with the (surrogate) values you seek - without actually doing the work, in reality. A way of feeling good (without _being_ good), thus. Check the other defense mechanisms, too. (Wikipedia: "defense mechanism")
exactly what I felt ! I've been off social media for six months now and no one cared, no one noticed. I was under the impression or the illusion of having many friends and that was honestly disappointing for me. I still have my one true friend that we always count on each other and that really made me cherish this friendship.
Exactly the same thing happened to me. Although i left social media because i had to deal with real life issues and treat my mental illness which social media seemed to make worse. I though as soon as i leave ppl would miss me or try to contact me and ask about me but nothing happened. I just realized that i wasn't that important even to ppl that used to tell me so. I had to get back after 5 months and check it out myself to see if any of these ppl would talk to me or ask but nothing happened.. these ppl just continued with their lives as if i never existed
@Светлана ' I guess it's better to know now than go on our whole lives with an inflated perception of importance. I don't want to go back to social media and I don't regret my decision to quit.
I left social media at the same time that I left my job due to feeling disrespected and in a constant toxic environment. I was not ready to face my insecurities and the sense that I wasn’t the same person I portrayed on social media. Ive gone through a tough period the last couple of months but I know now that it was all because of the way I was conditioned and not understanding why I was feeling the way I was. The real world is worth living in and giving it all your energy.
Quit all social media about a year ago and have seriously never been happier! I was never super active on them but was spending waaay to much time looking at other people's pages and comments. Life is great now!
@md YT is quasi-social media. It can still be addictive in its own way though. For most people, Fb, twt and Ig are going to be harder dragons to slay, hence the focus on those.
I think is crazy how much different you experience reality and life with and without social media. I wish more people were unpluged from this zombie like state. In my social circle (family, firends, acquaintances), I'm the only one without social media and they get surprised AF that I don't have any. I feel like a zen master in a world full of children lol it's bananas. Tho, UA-cam is the last thing that i need to get rid of.
@@danielvalderrabano9566 why would people not use the best traffic and audience sources out there to feel more financially secure? How does that make sense? Apart from that why wouldnt they want to use it for finding some inspiration?
Just opted to get rid of all my social media just a couple days ago, and this video just further solidified my decision to do so. No more Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Only WhatsApp for international connections, business, and calls, and a phone number and email for everything else. I want to rid of it for an entire year, and see how that changes myself. I've spent thousands of hours of my life on it over the years, and surely that has had a profound effect on me in ways I'm not totally sure. It's easy to fill our downtime with the nothingness of scrolling and consuming. I want to occupy my boredom with things I've been interested in, including art, writing, language, etc. etc. I definitely worry about the FOMO with bands, events, and other things, but I'm confident the benefits outweigh the possible losses. Again, thanks for this video, Cal, it reminds me I've made a good choice. I'll try to remember to come back to this comment to see how everything has been over the year.
Results vary depending on the person. I walked away from social media and dating apps a number of years ago, mostly because the consistently poor results I was getting on dating apps, and the lack of engagement I was getting on social media apps, despite putting in considerable effort into both, was causing me significant depression. At first, things got better. I was less stressed, less anxious, and less depressed. But before too long, I actually became MORE of all of those. Probably because, for me, my job prospects and career opportunities evaporated, my friend circle shrank dramatically, and my dating life collapsed. I felt completely cut off and isolated from everyone around me. But like I said, results will vary, so it might work great for you, as it has for many others.
Been on the fence for years. Doing dopamine detoxes for weeks/months at a time. After awhile I realized there was no net benefit to my life. Listened to this video, went to my accounts and saved any photos I wanted. My accounts are now “scheduled for deletion” because they don’t let you just delete right away.
I gave up social media at the end of 2021. I do agree that boredom is a good thing. I have just purchased a collection of books I intend to start reading and I am also more present and aware while in a social setting. Great advise and amazing video!
This was very good - insightful. I think a strong force people have to contend with regarding social media is FOMO, fear of missing out, fearing of somehow being left behind. But it's based on a lie.
Just deactivated Facebook. Suddenly my thoughts are clearer and I'm less stressed. I'm more productive at home and I'm not as affected by social trends. It's as if I've put a manhole cover on a sewer.
Thanks, Cal! 2+ years out without social media, your advice totally changed my life! I’ve started an entirely new career that I am more excited abt than ever and I now have a family! And to think I might’ve traded all of this for some likes.
Right On Target! I canceled my Facebook account about a month ago. I have no regrets. Social Media is a waste of time and acts as a “pacifier” to cope with life. The television and social media are the devil’s greatest inroads into your life and heart. The average person can add about twenty five hours a week back into their lives. If they are willing to refrain from the television and Social Media. It’s changed my life!
Since 2016 I chose to do 2 -40 days and a one year fast w/prayer and realized social media became my master! Through that time I learned how to master it and now know the triggers when it’s becoming an idol and know who and what is important. I work with teenagers and I see social media doing more harm than good. I will be utilizing your videos as a tool to help others! Thank you for at least being on YT lol! 🙏🏽❤️✝️👣🌄
Off socials since 2012. Love all this. The privacy thing…huge!!! Thanks for this. I think this privacy issue has yet to hit most people as a real thing yet. The self importance thing…validation. Very specific kind of addiction. Yikes!!
I have been feeling so miserable the last couple of years. Cannot seem to find any pleasure in anything. I have no interests, no motivation, and no goals. I thought it was just depression and I was doomed for the rest of my life to feel this way. I can't sleep, clench my teeth at night, dread the day ahead, even feel suicidal at times because im not good enough. I never realised that this could all be down to my social media addiction! What a wake-up call! But Cal is spot on with the Twitter and Instagram comparisons. Im no longer on twitter (X), but im on Instagram, and yes, it's all fluffy and carefully edited highlights. But it can still get you down. Thank you. This is just what I needed to hear in order to start taking control of my life again.
I remember opening an account on social media (Facebook) during college in 2007... after a decade seeing how my close friends were addicted, I came to a realization that social media is a huge distraction to my life, reality, and not having control of my self importance. Safe to say it has been a year since I deactivated my account in order to move on and evolve as a human, being a decent person in society. I have had more time to contribute to communities and have a peace of mind rather than be entertained by someones rant, senseless activities etc
Hi Cal, I needed to hear this today. I came off facebook over 2 years ago and instagram 2 weeks ago. So now totally free of social media and already feeling the benefits, particularly less anxiety. Thank you!
I haven’t had any social media whatsoever for over five years now, and people are shocked I don’t know everything about their lives.. all the time. So are we breeding narcs? It’s so weird to me now that I don’t even think of pulling a phone out during something fun/important . …your kid is sick, walks for the first time, you get engaged, promoted, etc… people just getting a photo shot to show it to ppl who don’t matter instead of being there and feeling that life event. I’m not hating because I get it completely…. I’m commenting from my phone, after all.Just pontificating a bit on how addicted we are.
What you said are all facts. Now that I logged out of my social media accounts, I achieved a greater peace of mind and sense of security. I believe I am on my way to be completely independent from the world of social media and that would mean account deletion for good. God bless you, Sir.
This is the opposite of so many people, they would feel reduced sense of security and safety if they just stopped using social media like you did. I feel like i need to use it and post regularly in order to increase my chances of making enough money in order to live. Alston godbolt also said to one such anti social media person it seems that what is more important to you, make money and feel safer or refuse to use social media and not make money and stress out
I left twitter for good June this year and I am a calmer , happier person. I also observed that the voice in my head is clearer and more audible especially when I'm reading. When I was on social media, it felt like my mind was running so many different tabs on the background at the same time even if I wasn't consciously thinking about those topics. My mind felt bogged down. My mind feels a lot lighter now and it's a lot easier to focus.
It’s amazing. I can listen to Cal for 13 minutes straight without distraction, but right when I try to get back to work I have a hard time focusing and look at my phone every other minute at notifications coming through. It’s kind of a scary addiction/impulse.
Lately I haven’t really been on social media and I don’t really feel like it. I understand that this doesn’t apply to everyone, but for me it was seriously impacting my overall confidence. I wasn’t getting as many followers as other people and I was just spending a lot of my day scrolling through my feeds rather than do anything actually productive. I decided to take a break from all of it and I don’t know if I even really feel like going back to it. I feel so much better not having to worry about posting stuff and waiting to get followers. It was becoming kind of like an obsession and it wasn’t healthy.
I never had social media either but my problems were video games for a long time used to play a lot and now 2 months without them I'm way healthier in every aspect of my life and finally started grinding my path toward programming and cybersecurity + reading books again.
Yep. I've only ever used Facebook for work, as I'm a dev and we took full advantage of that platform for our media back then. My profile is still on there but it was never much to look at and I haven't been on Facebook in 7 years since I left that company... My phone has 3 apps I use: Maps, Subway schedule & bank. I'm one of those rare person today that takes a book with him everywhere & most of my friends are on WhatsApp so I have no problems communicating. Social media is destroying both our brains and our societies, it is sad.
This is cool how self help authors are becoming UA-camrs, first Mark, now Cal. We could use some people on this platform with good ideas, and who are good with words! Keep em coming!
That ending line was perfect. "You don't want an inflated sense of importance. You want real sense of importance made from doing real things on behalf of real people, that really matters."
Absolutely .
I think social media plays a role in the increased narcissism we're seeing in our world today.
Profound
Depends on ur situation ur in ☝️
No offense but obviously its easy to preach if ur on the on side of the socially accepted fence rather then the opposite one lol 😂💦
So this is actually based ngl
i deleted my accounts with fb instagram etc for bunch of narcissists on it
Benefit: you become a normal down to earth real person again.
Deleted all social media 10 years ago when I was 19 because I realized what was happening to me. To this day, still one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Congrats 👏🏾👏🏾 that’s great!
I’m 19 and I’m thinking of doing the same but I have one question which is how to stay updated to important news , events , etc that are relevant to me? Also sometimes social media gives valuable and beneficial advice or content that you didn’t know that you needed so what do you do to learn about the things you care about?
@@kandil952the things which matter to you or affect your life will come yo you automatically. Do you think billionaires rely on social media for relevant news.
@@kandil952I get most of my news from UA-cam!
@@kandil952to be honest, what you see on social media might be 5% of interesting stuff, but drowned in 95% of garbage. In my opinion it's not worth it. Like somebody else said, you could keep up with the news on UA-cam, or maybe on google
Being alone with our own thoughts is really underrated… Thank you Cal
It sounds terrifying actually
It's very common for people to lack the courage to sit alone with their own thoughts. They have never been taught how to cope with the scary ones, never been taught that thoughts are just thoughts, they can't actually harm you or control you. Your own brain generates them so it's irrational to fear them.
@@AGirlofYesterday the untethered soul✨
But he’s not lol. He’s got a growing UA-cam platform. UA-cam is social media.
That's how I realized I have ADHD
Summary:
1. More boredom - boredom produces creativity, you're left thinking about the world around you
2. Lower your anxiety - There is more information than you can consume, and social media usually shows you the bad side of the world
3. Privacy - less unknown people know about you, it is probably better
4. Lower self importance - He doesn't talk about not feeling important, but social media gives notifications that make you feel that things you do are important
Thanks, I saw the video too.
@@phattjohnson Hey, me too!
.
I the last point could be summarize in YOU IS NOT CHANGING THE WORLD BY A HASHTAG.
@@BracingRex6989 #youisnot
"your world is what you pay attention to " this line 🔥
"Your focus determines your reality." It's a quote from Star Wars.
I gave up social media several months ago and have not looked back. I was addicted to it, checking ex's profiles, mindless scrolling, always anxious. My anxiety has decreased tremendously, and i have more time to read, and do other productive things.
@@dallassegno
@@dallassegno 😂 exactly. UA-cam is also a problem but can be so informative.
@@dallassegno I also quit using social media in 2014. This doesn't truly count as attention, as I've turned off notifications so that I don't have to interact with losers. The interaction itself is the problem. So enjoy the attention I'm giving you, and know that I won't be getting any attention back, as I won't be notified, and I won't be checking back. Nothing social about that, girlfriend.
@@dallassegno 😂
@@phenitagomes1292 "but can be so informative..."
although true, let's be honest, how often are you scrolling through UA-cam shorts more often than watching "informative" videos?
I have never had social media such as Twitter, Instagram, facebook, etc.
Except UA-cam.
And I waste A LOT of time watching bullshit videos that don't really help my current life.
If you are here, then you haven't fully let go of your addiction.
It's like letting go of crack, and meth, but still smoking weed and drinking beer.
Not as "harmful" but you still get some high ie. comment "Likes", watching Instagram-like videos that show fit/pretty people, scrolling endlessly through shorts... Pretty much the same thing really.
The one thing that pisses me off especially as a parent is how every club, sport, school you join you have to have a freakin app in order o stay informed. My sons soccer coach wants all the parents to download this stupid app. To “communicate” I’m like “tf?! Isnt that what txting and phones are for?” Lol. Like why do I need a freaking app. We already have the seasons schedule, both game, practice and snack schedule. Wtf else do I need to know? I don’t need to be connected to these people 24/7. And the same thing with my sons co-op. They “encouraged” us to turn on notifications and I did and I was CONSTANTLY getting messages and dings for crap I don’t care about! I just miss the good old days when it was just call, txt or email. That’s it. I have an app not for every single activity it’s annoyinggggg!! Oh and my kids park play group wanted me to download WhatsApp for their group. FML!
Getting off social media has been like unplugging from the matrix. When I tell people I have no social media the reactions are similar to why someone doesn't drink alcohol. I had a girl say that it was a huge red flag that I don't have social media because I must be hiding something. I just value my privacy and have goals and social media was interfering with that.
Proud of that brother ❤
Sounds more like she was a red flag for being too obsessed with social media
You are better off without someone who said that. I met my husband at a past job in 2010. We didn't need Facebook and Twitter while we dated.
Remember that UA-cam is also a social media. If you are reading this comment, you do have social media. Yeah, it probably doesn't have pictures of your friends "perfect lives" but it does have a constant stream of information and opinions screaming in your face. And speaking from personal experience, it's super addictive.
100% I was using it as a way to fill in time and this was taking time away that I could have used for other things, I even bought premium to avoid ads and looked for longer videos.. it was only when the algorithm dropped the ball and started recommending stuff I wasn’t interested in (investing money lol) that I realised it was a problem.
Yep. This is the last one that’s the hardest to quit for me
But my friend...this social media that is UA-cam is still way better than IG and FB where constantly people throw their good life pics on others; all this info is so redundant and makes us dumb while interacting with fellow people who like Cal Newport is beneficial engagement.
@@nancyyadav285 UA-cam presents a unique challenge, and depending on who you are as a person, it will affect you in different ways. I believe that for those of us that enjoy learning, delving into complexities of topics, and wish to develop ourselves, UA-cam provides all of that, but only temporary, and if consumed too much it will start working against you instead.
For someone that is more into their social landscape, and care more about relationships, etc. FB and IG is probably much more of a challenge.
FB was only mildly addictive for me. YT was insanely addictive for me. Blocking it on my phone, and getting extensions on my PC to remove a bunch of features have been life-changing.
Yes. And no. It’s more like watching TV but you choose what to watch and there is a comment section to talk about it. For sure it can be addictive as much as TV but far less than Instagram, Twitter, tiktok..
Absolutely fascinating. Social Media is nothing but waste of time. The world would be a better place without social media.
I really appreciate boredom nowadays after letting go of social media. I used to think reading books was not a way to decompress after a long day. Turns out, it's more rejuvenating. I think that's the biggest thing I got from Cal. Thanks man👏👏👏
I’ve been contemplating getting off of social media because of Cal’s work. It’s good to know you have found it a positive thing. I’m encouraged to hear that.
@@leadershipthatlasts do it, do it, do it. And take walks too. You won't regret it!!!
A few weeks ago on a Saturday I sat down for over 6 hours and read a book. I've had a new outlook in life since!
Great job man, your really are growing
UA-cam is social media
I lost my smartphone and my laptop for one month.
I've never had so much clarity in my life.
It was hard at first, but I found joy in taking walks.
I read actual physical books. I thought a lot. I wrote a lot of good poetry.
I found so much clarity. My mind was free.... It was hard, but amazing.
Sound of freedom
I think what hurts the most is that I realized not a lot of people truly care about you once you leave social media. I had maybe 3-4 people notice that I wasn’t posting anymore and they just said something like “I noticed you deactivated your account” or “I just thought you’re taking a break”, which is fine. But that’s only 3-4 people out of perhaps hundred. Another thing that’s been difficult is staying in touch with others, but that’s because I’ve gotten used to using social media as a crutch to make connections rather than doing it naturally.
Most people (me included) have gotten lazy and let the centralized, easy short contacts on social media stand in for personalized reaching out through longer phone calls, snail mail, emails or text message exchanges. I have taken FB breaks in the past -- and my own little sister back then would rather post family photos and information on FB than share through email or texts. So I feel for you too!
there was a time that existed before photographs
Agreed, I recently deleted everything. Question, do you feel that social media has decreased your social life?
This. Since I quit I realize most friends don’t want to stay in touch via messaging.
Very true. I lost pretty much much all connection with all but two old friends but I realized if you’re truly meant to stay in touch, it will happen and the reciprocation will go both ways. It taught me to stop chasing friends who didn’t make effort. Sadly I hardly hear from family members because they post all their updates on Feb. I wish we could have society without it. We desperately need real, deep connection with others
"The world constructed by your mind is constructed by what you pay attention to. (If you're paying attention to social media, that is going to be a grim, unsettling world.)"
This is a critical point. Bravo, Mr. Newport.
My social media is a beautiful paradise where I get to show love to my homies everyday. What world are y’all living in?
I swear these boomers and gen x’ers need to get off their meds
says the guy with a Ukraine flag in his profile pic...
@@joecurtis7124 beat me to it lol
@@z1ssou funny right? The guy has got caught up in the virtue signalling but lecturing others about the brainwashing on social media
@@joecurtis7124 nice reach, Joe
Since I dumped social media, my anxiety level has decreased significantly and my happiness and contentment have been completely restored so making that change was truly a life changing experience.
Would you class UA-cam as social media?
@@alexanderhalliwell2109 No I wouldn’t.
Great!
That is so real. The anxiety levels decrease significantly.
@@alexanderhalliwell2109 It technically is, but how harmful it is depends on how you use it. It's easy to just be around beneficial content (but with one or two recommended gaming videos slipping through the cracks).
Never heard truer words. Currently at 5 months no Social media, No friends= the best 5 Months of my life so far
Social media is sucking up such a great amount of our time and potential. I’ve read so much since quitting and my anxiety is way down.
I deleted my Facebook and Instagram-accounts when I was done reading the first section of “Digital Minimalism”. This was two months ago. It makes me feel like I feel about quitting smoking a few years back. I’m so glad I did it and I can’t imagine missing it. Thanks Cal, you really opened my eyes on this issue.
Keep it up bro.
Thats great my friend!!
That is awesome 👏. Thanks for sharing and congratulations 🎈
I did the same thing a year ago, and I feel relief.
UA-cam is the only "social media" that I've used for at least 5 years... it becomes easier and easier to predict how much social media a person uses by how they act and talk, which was totally unexpected but it's real. It changes you and you don't even know it.
It's been around the same time for me and I feel I did the right thing too. Only YT. I sat at home and struggled through my second degree while getting back to full-time work. Real-world goals that mattered to me. All I lost by quitting social media was to lose a few friends and acquaintances who were concerned about likes and shares than anything else. I enjoy it so much now that I want to keep it this way. Was fun while it lasted but it was time to move on and grow up.
I recently did this with my own social media and growing UA-cam following. The priorities in my life have completely changed. I got engaged, got a dog, and picked up new hobbies. Your life is the 3 feet in front of you, not the 3 scrolls in front of you.
👏👏👏♥️🙏
I have a tendency of deleting my FB, IG, Twitter, repeatedly and then at times go back on them. You're right, it's very addictive and it all goes back to being content with yourself like nature intended. We were not meant to have information thrown at us continuously.
If you delete it how to you get back on it?
download the apps again? I have been doing the same thing, it really is so addicting.@@phenitagomes1292
I only have Whatsapp (family and work), Telegram (send and receive files) and UA-cam (information and tutorials).... I canceled all the others, it's a great peace.
I've been saying it for a decade... It is sad and should be alarming at how many people have fallen for the most base and obvious manipulation tricks. Social media has set humanity back a bit and it didn't have to happen this way.
And it has allowed many people to make money and feel more secure in their lives as well, social media is the best way for traffic and audience
I deleted my social media in 2011. People teased me for years. Now everyone is doing it. I deleted mine for all the same reasons you mentioned in this video. I guess I was wayyyy ahead of my time.
Everyone? My impression is that more and more people are realizing the benefits and possibilities of social media and putting it to a good use in oder to be more financially secure in life
One of the main reasons why I deleted my Insta/Reddit & Facebook is because as a middle school teacher I have seen firsthand how damaging the social media addiction is to my students. They are chronically stressed and overwhelmed due to overstimulation. It also made me think about the adverse effects on myself. It's been very liberating to be rid of it.
That’s the perfect word. OVERstimulation. I left HS in 2011 so we pretty much were the last generation to know what it’s like without all these apps. I still had a dvd player and a vcr in high school.
One of the real pros of stepping away from social media (specifically instagram), you realize that there's such an illusion of friendship, that when you're away from it or not on it at all, it shows you who really wants to actually spend time with you and not just make you some kind of accessory they can put in their story and brag to their friends about. It's the most freeing thing ever. Time to make friendships again where how you appear to be to the society has no bearing at all.
wow i deleted instagram and i discovered this whole youtube section of ppl without social media it is so cool. I actually talk and interact with more people in real life now that I am not distracted by social media and on my phone. It is so cool. Ive said hello to my neighbors, gave money to some homeless guy in my neighborhood, went to more meetups, talked to more people, invited people out for dinner, found more real life events to go to. I think I relate to people completely differently now. Im much more friendly and confident and I'm actually connecting to more people in real life. And you know what I realized, most people are quite nice contrary to what you see on social media.
I can focus and pay attention to who's actually in my life and what is actually there to do in real life now that all the extra meaningless stuff is gone from my head and I have more free time. I think social media actually takes us away from forming connections and relationships and living a good life with other people. And be who we really are, not this consumerist puppet insta is trying to make people to be.
Once I stopped going on social media it seems like wonderful things started to happen in my life. I suggest anyone to try to take a break from it and see how you change. The best thing that happened was that I got my identity back.
Went without internet or cable for two years. It was paradise.
Amazing talk. Youngsters these days think it's abnormal not to be on social media which is not true. Not being on these apps is going to help you level up and know yourself much better. Learn to live in solitude and enjoy your own company. This will lead you to things that you actually want to do and learn and eventually lead you to your life purpose. Social media is wasting your time my friends.
Exactly bro
These youngster are simply the wannabe "Cool People" but are simply destroying themselves and have lack of self awareness! I'm a young adult and I hate it when friends, siblings push me to use these unnecessary social media apps but this is a great time to analyze the people around you whether they're serving you any sort of value into your life or not.
@@makizenin1840 agreed!
“ wasting your time “ thats a big one. So true
My new favorite genre of UA-cam is unironically posting about how one doesn't use social media - on a social media platform.
Brilliant submission, Prof. I deactivated my only social media account(Facebook)...Huge perks for me: In three years and eight months, I earned a PhD and an MSc degree-Medical related certificates. Prof, you are giving a real-life service to minds that want to discover themselves and be meaningful to humanity.
Congratulations!
Wow 🤩! Amazing congratulations 🎊
That’s brilliant man well done!
I quit Facebook and did nothing. Haha. Kudos to you though.
@@Campfire30 LOL you made me laugh thank you!
This is what i dream of and i wish for a world one day without social media.
I’ve been social media free since 2015 and it is one of my best adult decision. My cellphone doesn’t follow me everywhere anymore and it stays in a fixed spot in the house like the good old land line. Ringer is on for incoming phone calls, texts will be answered when and if needed… Barely any texting anymore too
I deleted my Twitter account today as I had enough of all the negativity around the world getting dumped in my brains.
Another thing I've started from today is stop watching new channels. Non stop news of disasters and negativity was keeping me in perpetual negativity. I hope this is a start of a journey to a better mental health.
I'm on a social media fast. I'm at day #11 now. I feel like half of my anxiety is gone and my outlook on life has done a radical transformation. I'm finding out things about myself everyday. Life without Twitter and Instagram is worth living!
Yessss
Did you continue? I am currently on day 11. Even deleted Strava.
I deleted all social media and now limit my time to youtube under 20 minutes 3 days a week only. I now have 3 things I am becoming a master of and taking classes and writing books and reading and working out and love the peace.
Good on you!
@希望 Jayanggg I am back to say I have a lot of success in writing now..etc.
YT can be a huge waste of time and the same as other social media, specially with the new shorts format.
Never brother. Here you can't find your cousin and friends day to day life unless they are youtuber
@@kislayajit Doomscrolling is just as bad. UA-cam works on the same type of mechanisms and algorythms as all other social media.
The sense of importance is so true. Social Media algorithms are so good they give you that false sense that you’re needed by views.
I deactivated my Facebook account for a while to reflect on the value of social media in my life. When I first deactivated, someone that I used to work with in the past that I still talked to sent me a text message telling me that they don't see me on Facebook. I don't have a lot of friends and only use Facebook to stay in touch with my family up in Vermont. After the reactivation of my account. I went on and realized that I just don't care for it anymore. Plus, now I am focused on school. Technology has taken away our ability to socially connect as we are hardwired to do. Thank you, Cal!!!!
I was on Academic Twitter for the lockdown, while writing my PhD and defending it. What a ghastly place filled with misery, faux outrage and endless naval gazing. Love your work Prof Newport.
Twitter is just instant gratification
And now you work in academics and realize Twitter is an accurate reflection of those people?
@@CIARUNSITEI didn't stay in academia beyond a one year part time research contract because the conditions for postdocs were horrible. Yes, Twitter was absolutely an accurate reflection.
"Have you ever met for example a frequent Twitter user who was happy?"
The way I loudly cracked a laughed because that remark is so true
I have never had a social media account. I watch coworkers stare at the phone all day like crack heads. It is alarming to see brains hijacked.
Think, read or listen to beautiful music. Human being not a consumer of whatever is placed before you. Be very careful what you feed your mind.
Ive been off social media for nearly 10 years now, and I can genuinely say it's made a huge difference in my mental health. Theres many people I lost contact with, but there's other ways to reach out other than socials so I guess that's that. The people that truly care will be there regardless. Theres many benefits to not having social media, I guess I can say the cons outweigh the pros in being heavily involved in socials.
Well done. I used to think people who weren't on social media were either just shy or old fashioned. I noticed though that many of them are intelligent and careful. Just before I gave up social media 3 months ago I realised two things - people without social media have more time to be productive and I how jealous I was for those times in the past when we wrote a letter or talked to just one person at a time with care and intent. It has been difficult to let go but also a revelation as to who really wants to stay in touch. I wish you all the best.
I'd add a fifth, and one I think is incredibly important: Time. Put the daily screentime displayed on your homescreen, and you'll realize how much time you spend on social media (main use for most people).
Spend an evening with no social media. You can get so much done!
I'm cutting back on social media, slowly over time. It's so difficult!
Excellent point. I used to congratulate myself for having dumped television, which is all well and good, but I failed to realise that social media consumed far more of my time than TV ever did. Also, there’s a simple solution to getting rid of social media in one fell swoop, if you’re game enough: just say something that will get you banned. You can always get a new account, but it’s not the same, which helps tame your enthusiasm. (I speak from experience lol)
And 6th - you'll damage your eyesight less.
You can get so much done? You can get so much done on social media in order to make money and feel more secure instead!
I’d like to do this, but how?
So true, (yes, I only use UA-cam mostly because I love watching documentaries and there are so many things to benefit from if used correctly). I wasn't allowed to play video games, have social media, and most of the things I considered "fun". Over the years I have noticed that I am very different from most of my friends, it is really cool to be considered the "smartest" person in the room because I am a very deep thinker and can hold long logical conversations with adults. I thank my parents for giving me a phone only after I turned 16 (I also used a family phone outside the home for safety when I was younger). Don't worry your kids won't hate you for not giving them a phone ( yes they probably will complain a bit but if you talk to them about the reason you give them such high boundaries in the future they will thank you for your protection and effort).
Thanks for this comment. My kids are still way younger but it's nice to know that despite the peer pressure kids endure that they don't absolutely despise their parents for actually parenting. I'm the only parent I know that doesn't give their kids a tablet. Hopefully I can do as good of a job as your parents did.
I deleted all my social media platforms in June, 2020 and documented my thoughts about same. I found I had more time to do the things that I loved and to discover new interests such as listening to podcasts, reading and learning a new language. Deleting those platforms also came with the biggest sense of Freedom that I ever experienced.
I rejoined these social media platforms in mid 2021 and proceeded to delete these same platforms in June, 2022. I did not plan to deleted them within this same time frame. I just began to notice social media is draining, physically, mentally and spiritually. When I reviewed my documented thoughts about why I deleted them to begin with, I noticed the same trend of thoughts. I do not want to BONDAGE associated with these platforms. Thank you Cal, I read your "Deep Work" years ago an it was truly refreshing! I subscribed to your channel for more of your awesome content.
I can totally relate to this. Its a struggle.
you should delete these platforms forever, without looking back.
SO true....all of it.
I'm 17. Deleted it because I would just mindlessly scroll through memes and random shit on there and around 2-3 hours a day doing nothing productive. Trying to read more etc, social media's fucked up my generation. Half the kids in my classes stay up till 3-4am and get 4 hours of sleep before school and their time management is completely messed up.
Congrats brother🎉 keep going! I am also deleting it. It brought me a lot of problems i cant concentrate i fee depressed and compare my self to others, even if i hide the apps i still found a way to be back at it. From today on, im deleting all of them except youtube! I want to really start living my own life rather then watching what others buyed, did travel or went to.
I quit social media about six years ago due to feeling vaguely harassed by old friends I can't relate to anymore. I'm glad overall. I no longer feel obligated to put my life on display for the entitled people in my life.
" Your phone becomes a default tool of distraction ". Thanks Cal! That hit hard...
Social media is considered an adequate replacement for in-person/phone/text conversations now. It's becoming impossible to keep up with people who aren't in your immediate area without it. You can argue that someone who won't make the effort is never going to be in your inner circle anyway but it's uncomfortable to confront when it's your own family.
Yes, things seem to slow down when we are not on social media.
Before I read Cal's book or heard about the idea of stepping away from social media for 30 days, I had already done it with Instagram and Facebook a while ago. I was out of both for a week, extended it to a month, I felt lighter, freer of anxious thoughts, I felt more productive, everything started to move. At the end of the 30 days, only one person had noticed that I was not on the networks. My Aunt. Soon after, she came up with the chat that "what's going on with you?", "You look like you're depressed", I looked at her and asked, "People who are connected are happier", she didn't have an answer to this question.
I don’t get the answer. You mean that people nowadays are more connected to each other but also more depressed at the same time?
Same here mate. The people care about you in the real world, your real friends will care about you, not your IG-friends. i agree with using social media for business purposes, but this senseless scrolling and wasting your valuable lifetime on social media should be stopped by more people
@@hugemessju but i still dont get what is so toxic as people say or bad about viewing some animal, art, architecture, travel, nature and other videos or photos on instagram, tiktok, youtube and so on. Can you explain?
@@dreamthedream8929 I’ll pipe in here with what I think cal said… that spending extended periods of time on social media WILL change your brain, your life, because it becomes your reality. So if you only occasionally look at it to view posts of architecture and puppies, then it probably isn’t doing much. But it is still influencing your reality, subconsciously.
@@TheEmaile how does that become your reality? I mean of course its reality, people and myself are using it to find the content that we wanna see there. What does it even mean what you said? Its something that you use, no different from a book or magazine with nice stories, illustrations and articles
Summary: 1 Boredom
2 Less anxiety
3 Privacy
4 Lower your sense of self-importance
Thanks. I came way down to find this
@@downbntout Welcome
Its been week since i deleted all social media account....and trust me i feel peace,less anxiety ..and now i feel more happy and healthy...always in good moor..doing what important to me and my family...
"The world is what you pay attention to". Nice quote Cal.
Compelling arguments! After I got off social media, I freed up so much of my time. I began practicing meditation and read books. I also feel much better about myself, my looks, the world, and the overall trajectory of my career. ❤
I have been not using instagram for the past 6 months and I can tell you I feel waaaay better than before. This feels sooooo good that you can't imagine until you quit it yourself. My mind is very calm and I feel less anxiety
Been off it for seven years. I love seeing my friends and actually having things to talk about.
I got rid of social media about a month ago.. i knew deep down it had no really value or purpose. It has been like waking up from a dream or trance.
I did not expect the positive affects have felt after.. most notability connecting with my true inner emotions and contentment, I haven’t had that in over 15 years.
Quitting social media is the best decision you could ever make. It really is. I quit Fakebook in 2018 and IG 2 years ago. Never felt that free
I’m starting tonight 2am. It became unhealthy for me.
Your point about boredom really resonated with me. As an introvert I enjoy being alone but I often times find myself on my phone or watching Netflix or going on a walk listening to a podcast more and more these days. This video is really encouraging for me to continue to evaluate how I use social media or, how social media is using me.
@Mrs since day 1 then other hoes flossing Johnson still pinterest is one of the best traffic sources out there for making money because its audience mostly already have enough money and are prepared to buy, a lot of it is from the usa
Also, research "schizoid fantasy", which is simply fantasizing (NOT to solve a particular problem, which is what fantasy is to be used for).
Very dangerous.
It's a way to provide yourself with the (surrogate) values you seek - without actually doing the work, in reality. A way of feeling good (without _being_ good), thus.
Check the other defense mechanisms, too. (Wikipedia: "defense mechanism")
exactly what I felt ! I've been off social media for six months now and no one cared, no one noticed. I was under the impression or the illusion of having many friends and that was honestly disappointing for me. I still have my one true friend that we always count on each other and that really made me cherish this friendship.
Exactly the same thing happened to me. Although i left social media because i had to deal with real life issues and treat my mental illness which social media seemed to make worse. I though as soon as i leave ppl would miss me or try to contact me and ask about me but nothing happened. I just realized that i wasn't that important even to ppl that used to tell me so. I had to get back after 5 months and check it out myself to see if any of these ppl would talk to me or ask but nothing happened.. these ppl just continued with their lives as if i never existed
@Светлана ' I guess it's better to know now than go on our whole lives with an inflated perception of importance. I don't want to go back to social media and I don't regret my decision to quit.
I left social media at the same time that I left my job due to feeling disrespected and in a constant toxic environment. I was not ready to face my insecurities and the sense that I wasn’t the same person I portrayed on social media. Ive gone through a tough period the last couple of months but I know now that it was all because of the way I was conditioned and not understanding why I was feeling the way I was. The real world is worth living in and giving it all your energy.
Quit all social media about a year ago and have seriously never been happier!
I was never super active on them but was spending waaay to much time looking at other people's pages and comments.
Life is great now!
I quit facebook, twitter, and I feel great. Thanks Cal.
@md YT is quasi-social media. It can still be addictive in its own way though. For most people, Fb, twt and Ig are going to be harder dragons to slay, hence the focus on those.
@md use it like a library - search for the video you want and don't look at the feed.
I wish there were feature or extension in UA-cam to hide the feed. But there is no extension like that for Android as in desktop
@@danieltemelkovski9828 Yeah FB, IG and Twitter are very addictive,
I think is crazy how much different you experience reality and life with and without social media. I wish more people were unpluged from this zombie like state. In my social circle (family, firends, acquaintances), I'm the only one without social media and they get surprised AF that I don't have any. I feel like a zen master in a world full of children lol it's bananas. Tho, UA-cam is the last thing that i need to get rid of.
Did you permanently deleted them recently?
@@user-nz8nb2vi4n 4-5 years ago
@@danielvalderrabano9566 oh cool! How old are you?
@@danielvalderrabano9566 why would people not use the best traffic and audience sources out there to feel more financially secure? How does that make sense? Apart from that why wouldnt they want to use it for finding some inspiration?
Absolutely true. It is better to be lonely than trapped in social media
Cal is different. He's a real leader and a genius.
Just opted to get rid of all my social media just a couple days ago, and this video just further solidified my decision to do so. No more Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Only WhatsApp for international connections, business, and calls, and a phone number and email for everything else. I want to rid of it for an entire year, and see how that changes myself. I've spent thousands of hours of my life on it over the years, and surely that has had a profound effect on me in ways I'm not totally sure. It's easy to fill our downtime with the nothingness of scrolling and consuming. I want to occupy my boredom with things I've been interested in, including art, writing, language, etc. etc. I definitely worry about the FOMO with bands, events, and other things, but I'm confident the benefits outweigh the possible losses. Again, thanks for this video, Cal, it reminds me I've made a good choice.
I'll try to remember to come back to this comment to see how everything has been over the year.
All the best!
@@ShanKayV thank you very much!
Results vary depending on the person. I walked away from social media and dating apps a number of years ago, mostly because the consistently poor results I was getting on dating apps, and the lack of engagement I was getting on social media apps, despite putting in considerable effort into both, was causing me significant depression.
At first, things got better. I was less stressed, less anxious, and less depressed. But before too long, I actually became MORE of all of those. Probably because, for me, my job prospects and career opportunities evaporated, my friend circle shrank dramatically, and my dating life collapsed. I felt completely cut off and isolated from everyone around me.
But like I said, results will vary, so it might work great for you, as it has for many others.
Been on the fence for years. Doing dopamine detoxes for weeks/months at a time.
After awhile I realized there was no net benefit to my life.
Listened to this video, went to my accounts and saved any photos I wanted.
My accounts are now “scheduled for deletion” because they don’t let you just delete right away.
SAME
One perk is that I get more time to watch you. I love you bro
awww
Stepped away from social media last year. Don’t miss anything & have had more real life experiences. Still watch UA-cam tho
This is fascinating, but I'm still addicted to learning from videos like this on UA-cam...that's an addiction I'm not looking to break😅
I gave up social media at the end of 2021. I do agree that boredom is a good thing. I have just purchased a collection of books I intend to start reading and I am also more present and aware while in a social setting. Great advise and amazing video!
Wow so cool
This was very good - insightful. I think a strong force people have to contend with regarding social media is FOMO, fear of missing out, fearing of somehow being left behind. But it's based on a lie.
Just deactivated Facebook. Suddenly my thoughts are clearer and I'm less stressed. I'm more productive at home and I'm not as affected by social trends. It's as if I've put a manhole cover on a sewer.
Thanks, Cal! 2+ years out without social media, your advice totally changed my life! I’ve started an entirely new career that I am more excited abt than ever and I now have a family! And to think I might’ve traded all of this for some likes.
Love this."for some likes" lmao facts
Thank you for sharing
Right On Target!
I canceled my Facebook account about a month ago. I have no regrets. Social Media is a waste of time and acts as a “pacifier” to cope with life. The television and social media are the devil’s greatest inroads into your life and heart. The average person can add about twenty five hours a week back into their lives. If they are willing to refrain from the television and Social Media. It’s changed my life!
Since 2016 I chose to do 2 -40 days and a one year fast w/prayer and realized social media became my master! Through that time I learned how to master it and now know the triggers when it’s becoming an idol and know who and what is important. I work with teenagers and I see social media doing more harm than good. I will be utilizing your videos as a tool to help others! Thank you for at least being on YT lol! 🙏🏽❤️✝️👣🌄
Off socials since 2012. Love all this. The privacy thing…huge!!! Thanks for this. I think this privacy issue has yet to hit most people as a real thing yet.
The self importance thing…validation. Very specific kind of addiction. Yikes!!
I have been feeling so miserable the last couple of years. Cannot seem to find any pleasure in anything. I have no interests, no motivation, and no goals. I thought it was just depression and I was doomed for the rest of my life to feel this way. I can't sleep, clench my teeth at night, dread the day ahead, even feel suicidal at times because im not good enough.
I never realised that this could all be down to my social media addiction! What a wake-up call! But Cal is spot on with the Twitter and Instagram comparisons. Im no longer on twitter (X), but im on Instagram, and yes, it's all fluffy and carefully edited highlights. But it can still get you down.
Thank you. This is just what I needed to hear in order to start taking control of my life again.
I remember opening an account on social media (Facebook) during college in 2007... after a decade seeing how my close friends were addicted, I came to a realization that social media is a huge distraction to my life, reality, and not having control of my self importance. Safe to say it has been a year since I deactivated my account in order to move on and evolve as a human, being a decent person in society. I have had more time to contribute to communities and have a peace of mind rather than be entertained by someones rant, senseless activities etc
Hi Cal, I needed to hear this today. I came off facebook over 2 years ago and instagram 2 weeks ago. So now totally free of social media and already feeling the benefits, particularly less anxiety. Thank you!
I haven’t had any social media whatsoever for over five years now, and people are shocked I don’t know everything about their lives.. all the time. So are we breeding narcs? It’s so weird to me now that I don’t even think of pulling a phone out during something fun/important . …your kid is sick, walks for the first time, you get engaged, promoted, etc… people just getting a photo shot to show it to ppl who don’t matter instead of being there and feeling that life event. I’m not hating because I get it completely…. I’m commenting from my phone, after all.Just pontificating a bit on how addicted we are.
Cal Newport is the reason why I gave up Socal Media in 2021 and started using UA-cam way less infact I just came back from a 2 month hiatus from it.
Quitting Twitter and Instagram alone literally cuts down 80% of the anxiety you have.
This just made me more comfortable with not being on some social media platforms and not being 'active' on the one's that I'm on.
What you said are all facts. Now that I logged out of my social media accounts, I achieved a greater peace of mind and sense of security. I believe I am on my way to be completely independent from the world of social media and that would mean account deletion for good. God bless you, Sir.
This is the opposite of so many people, they would feel reduced sense of security and safety if they just stopped using social media like you did. I feel like i need to use it and post regularly in order to increase my chances of making enough money in order to live. Alston godbolt also said to one such anti social media person it seems that what is more important to you, make money and feel safer or refuse to use social media and not make money and stress out
I left twitter for good June this year and I am a calmer , happier person.
I also observed that the voice in my head is clearer and more audible especially when I'm reading.
When I was on social media, it felt like my mind was running so many different tabs on the background at the same time even if I wasn't consciously thinking about those topics. My mind felt bogged down.
My mind feels a lot lighter now and it's a lot easier to focus.
It’s amazing. I can listen to Cal for 13 minutes straight without distraction, but right when I try to get back to work I have a hard time focusing and look at my phone every other minute at notifications coming through. It’s kind of a scary addiction/impulse.
I think that final section on self importance is the most significant. Many people would benefit from considering the truth and wisdom of such words.
The best thing I ever did was quit all social media. Thanks, Cal.
Lately I haven’t really been on social media and I don’t really feel like it. I understand that this doesn’t apply to everyone, but for me it was seriously impacting my overall confidence. I wasn’t getting as many followers as other people and I was just spending a lot of my day scrolling through my feeds rather than do anything actually productive. I decided to take a break from all of it and I don’t know if I even really feel like going back to it. I feel so much better not having to worry about posting stuff and waiting to get followers. It was becoming kind of like an obsession and it wasn’t healthy.
I never had social media either but my problems were video games for a long time used to play a lot and now 2 months without them I'm way healthier in every aspect of my life and finally started grinding my path toward programming and cybersecurity + reading books again.
lol ya i deleted insta there was nothing to do on my phone so i opened a book ....crazy what these addiction do to us
@@yoyoyo5621 what do they do to us?
Thank you. I'm thinking of taking my accounts off my phone.
Social media is becoming mental overwhelming and it increases anxiety
Iv watch ALOT of "delete social media" videos but this was bar far the Best One ! 👌 thanks for this ! 👍
I’m doing social detox, I’m excited to see the benefits and the changes in my daily routine
Stick to it!
Update on how it'd going?
Yep. I've only ever used Facebook for work, as I'm a dev and we took full advantage of that platform for our media back then. My profile is still on there but it was never much to look at and I haven't been on Facebook in 7 years since I left that company... My phone has 3 apps I use: Maps, Subway schedule & bank. I'm one of those rare person today that takes a book with him everywhere & most of my friends are on WhatsApp so I have no problems communicating. Social media is destroying both our brains and our societies, it is sad.
This is cool how self help authors are becoming UA-camrs, first Mark, now Cal. We could use some people on this platform with good ideas, and who are good with words! Keep em coming!
Mark who? I'm being genuine. I just want to know whom else to follow
I think, he refer to Mark Manson. Just correct me if I'm wrong.
im a month free I love it. No more useless dumb distractions all day. Reading way more books and enjoying simple things a lot more