I quit Social Media, & Became Addicted To Youtube
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- Опубліковано 2 вер 2023
- I thought I finally defeated social media, only to find out I am now addicted to UA-cam. Can you blame me, though? UA-cam is lowkey better than Instagram.
Follow me on IG: yvng.kvvnng... Equipment used:
Microphone: tinyurl.com/2aa3a964
Camera: tinyurl.com/4ummyzv
UA-cam and Reddit are my new biggest vices. I was so high and mighty for not going on TikTok, but I'm clearly a hypocrite 😭
I go to Tiktok maybe one a day if that and just watch one video. I don't check it as much as IG. I have gotten really good at not using them. I use them just in different ways then I used to.
Lmao same with me
as long as you’re able to see your own hypocrisy…you’re movin in the right direction
@@kabbaburner8202 agreeded
sometims it make take time
Me tooo 😂
I can't even just watch UA-cam videos anymore, I have to read the comments while I'm watching or I'll be bored. It's insane. I deleted all social media but I haven't quit UA-cam. Might be time, though.
I’m on this same wavelength, you got this! This will be my last comment/reply, I’m done with UA-cam because UA-cam is also social media. You got this, I got this! Best of luck, you have a wonderful fulfilling life ahead and I hope you find your peace!
@@nathanglynn7443 I wish you all the best!
Im literally doing that rn 😭
omgggggggggg same Its time to limit. I spend alot of time on youtube
Me reading this comment and doing the exact same thing: 🙃
Literally me. I deleted all of my social media a year ago but i stay on youtube all day 🤦♀️
I don’t watch UA-cam shorts the only one I watch is good old UA-cam.
Even shorts can also be sometimes useful in case it's related to "how to do stuffs" and quick recap of any relevant thing.
damn, I wish it'll all find some solution!
UA-cam is the best
me too, i delete all Social media and i stay all day on UA-cam and Gaming on my Xbox
Never in my entire life have I ever seen a title more relatable than this
same bro
I have never had social media but I am currently fighting my addiction to You Tube.
I actually respect you for admitting this bro. People be like “I quit social media” while spending hours on UA-cam WHICH IS A SOCIAL MEDIA.
Edit - It’s odd how people are debating whether UA-cam is a social media while socialising in the replies.
maybe people say that because they quit social media…
UA-cam is like TV though so they did quit social media
@@melh9492 define social media
@@Mlush you can't make posts or socialize on tv. Be honest with yourself
@@MlushUA-cam is like TV but also a social media, there's no way around it
UA-cam is difficult. There's such a wide variety that you can start off with something educational and end up binge watching meme compilations.
Or just end up in the shorts section 😂
I swear I keep UA-cam for educational stuff and end up caught up in streamer shorts 😂😂
@@jayseandon same bro, there should be a way to disable shorts lmao
The thing is I don’t remember barely any videos that I watch. If I watch 10 I’ll remember 1 so it’s kinda pointless
@edboss36 word doesn't help so many are formulaic
For those of you watching and thinking, "Damn... now i gotta delete UA-cam.." News flash, you don't have to and STILL free yourself from the addiction. Abstaining is not the only choice. There's one more, which seems counter-intuitive. All you have to do is simply re-state your awareness. Remain aware every second you're on here. Don't succumb to mindless scrolling, yet move your thumb (or whatever method of scrolling) manually and drench your action in consciousness. Observe how you feel internally every second and ask introspective questions. Reflect when you're off as well. Eventually, you'll understand you were unconsciously hyping it up or not enjoying it as much as you thought. You can apply this to almost anything, and it would also progress in your efforts to detach from said action so long as you REMAIN AWARE.
You can do this!
Agreed its how you use it.
Why do people think that deleting these apps are the only way to get resultss , man can't you guys control and have some timing to use and leave ?? wtf control do u have then . People who quit instead of taking control are just making them delusional.
@@johngulster7787i dont understand the method
This is fantastic advice
@@fatihakhan4381 The keyword for research is "10 days vipassana"
As a poor person in a small town, UA-cam has actually shown me thousands of ideas and points of view I would never have come across otherwise. I’ll never give it up but rather I dedicate a random Saturday to just being on UA-cam once in a while. A big old binge, write lots of notes, then back to reality the next day.
I have tried to have that approach. I remember twenty years ago only being on the Internet one hour a week. It was a planned activity like anything else. Now it's accessible 24-7 and I'm on all the time. I try to have planned time and save things for that time.
Ill try this
I just watched this video, looked away from UA-cam for less than five minutes, and felt that incredible sense of boredom towards everything else in my room. This is an addiction for sure
Finding piece in the present moment is the new way of being
@@calebquimbyall new is long forgotten old :)
woooooow. i thought this was only me. UA-cam is like visual cocaine.
When I started changing my daily routine to have hours when I wouldn't touch social media at all, at first there was even something similar to depression. Like boredom with zero drive to do anything else, which I was scared of (i do not want to be actually depressed again), but it passed after few days. I can be bored, but this isn't as distressing and I do other things. You can do it, just start with an hour without media in the morning and look at how you feel in a few days.
@@jrpreisshey, I really like that. Is it a saying, or did you just spit that out?
As someone who couldn't care less about other peoples lives and got addicted to UA-cam instead of social media from an early age, this is very enlightening. Same same but different
Exact situation with me.
@@IND-2403bruh... YT be hooking people that avoid other platforms, It got me , it still does actually.
@@chaosdweller true
Same same is where you should leave it. It ain’t different.
Same same but different is a reference to the movie The Interview with Seth Rogan lol
This is exactly the thought I’ve been marinating in lately. Deleted Facebook and Instagram last year, thinking it would only be for a couple of months. Realized I didn’t miss it and felt so high and mighty. But then I realized I would be searching and watching videos on UA-cam till midnight. I get home and immediately open UA-cam.
UA-cam played themselves by recommending your video 😂 you convinced me to delete their app
lol R.I.P
tbh i feel like social media like fb/ig/tiktok are so much worse for your mental health tho because you are just comparing yourself to every person on there that pretends like their life is amazing.
@@ngndnd that´s true but UA-cam videos is another story, it helped me with my studies, improved my drawing skills, learned to play chess, and also cooking + I´m not a native English speaker so even watching a silly English Yt video has a benefit for me
@iviknsbcbdjs very true. Dare I ask it, but there is lots of youtube videos about the harmful effects of fb and other social media.
I’m 15. For practically the 10 last years, I’ve watched UA-cam almost every single day. I’ve gone from DanTDM to shitty top 10 lists to fake inspirational content to commentary videos. I’ve practically grown up on UA-cam. And while I’ve found some absolutely amazing things on here (thanks Louis Rossmann, Not Just Bikes, and Second Thought) I think it’s time for me to step back.
it might be time! for someone your age that’s a great thing to realize. i was your age when youtube became my go to instead of social media. i hate it and still do, but now im 22 and ive just started realizing how much of a problem ive made it.
If you read this, completely disconnect from the Internet for 1 day
@@jauxroYeah.... No.
same but from the last 15 years.
I'm 43 and had a "classic" childhood and youth without internet, just linear tv. Internet for me started in the 2000s and it wasn't quite addictive in these days. This only started with smartphones and it's apps - actually not long ago for me. But man, just to think this started for you when you were only five! It's a cruel world. Hope you'll be fine.
This is so accurate it’s insane. I deleted all of my social media 2 years ago and for a while it was amazing. I didn’t feel any FOMO, I just went on walks by myself in nature and meditated and got more invested in my hobbies. But somewhere along the way, I slowly started to get addicted to UA-cam. At first it was just to watch educational videos and videos that related to my hobbies. But over the past several months, it slowly became more and more about getting the dopamine rush that I used to receive from other social media platforms. Watching this video really opened my eyes to the fact that this addiction has entered my life again. Thank you for making this video, it made me realize what I need to work on to feel better again.
Years ago I started out when UA-cam first came on the scene, every one else was on myspace or Facebook. I refused to get on Facebook it didn't make sense to me. But on UA-cam I learned soooo much from what is Fiat Currency, who were the founding fathers, what is metal. Then the ASMR videos where better because if I was cleaning or cooking I could watch someone build something. Never do short form all long form on your hobbies lectures on a hobby history learned to cook calligraphy sewing Chinese history, Japanese history there is soooooo many things to learn on UA-cam its not even funny.
I have been on YT since the beginning, and I feel like over time it has become just as bad as the other platforms. I remember I used to log on here, see what my subs posted then most of the time log off, or browse the home page and discover random stuff. I would come back to videos I liked, usually when I found what I was looking for I would close down YT. Now it's not like that at all, one video turns into 10 and so on.
@@greasybumpkin1661 You use UA-cam don't let UA-cam use u. Stick to learning ASMR music channels, restoring old tools...Where there is a will there is a way.
Me too...and honestly youtube addiction is the worst of all other social media events worse than Facebook
Exactly. UA-cam has become like all the other "social" media. If think about it, they're all competing for our attention and so UA-cam is competing with Instagram TikTok etc. and so is doing what they're doing making the algorithms more addictive and more "short form" videos etc. It's to keep people on UA-cam constsnt just like Instagram Tik Tok etc. just endlessly scrolling
I’m in the same boat, but I 100% believe that being addicted to watching videos on UA-cam is better than being addicted to arguing with strangers all day on twitter about politics like I used to 😂
Agree! Lol
Comments still seem to devolve into arguments within 5 comments or so on every thread.
@@Redskies453 you wanna fight you commie?!
Its for sure better but i guess the important thing is not to watch useless content on youtube
@@Redskies453 Liar. Not true. + L + Your mom
This video just randomly popped up as a suggestion on my feed. Not a coincidence at all! I gave up all social media platforms years ago but I am definitely addicted to UA-cam. This video has forced me to hold myself accountable. I think I’m gonna have to get rid of this app too. All the time I spend on here could be time spent studying my Bible. Thank you for this one!
I’m with you! Let’s ask the Lord for help with this addiction. He can deliver us in Jesus name 🙏
Hamdoulillah ! Bible is nothing compared indeed! Peace upon you sister.
You can use UA-cam to study the bible
Nothing is a coincedence everything happens for a reason i will be quitting youtube too
Yes girl I agree!! like i find all the time in the day to be on this device but cant find time to pray or read a physical book or write like I used to in school
Great video! I’m the same way. Yet, you made me realize something. For me, the important thing and difference is that I don’t have the stress of the other people’s lives and energy, let alone them peering into my life. Facebook and Instagram are overwhelming for EMPATHS. At least with UA-cam, I can learn about plants, pets, and being a vegan. The other platforms are just about my friends and family trying to pretend and outperform each other. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!!
Vegan 4 life ❤
😂 I’m literally in the exact same boat right now. I deleted Instagram and TikTok and now I’m a UA-cam addict. I’ve gone a whole year without Instagram and tiktok before but UA-cam was there to absorb the impact.
😂😂 I completely feel that one. IG & Tik Tok is so easy to get rid of. YT, not so much
100% I got an really bad obsession with yt and I know it @@Eli.G12
@@Eli.G12youtube became the new tv. it's not just a social media platform but so much valuable information as well
My life rn😮😭 UA-cam is fascinating for some reason😭The only “social” app that I don’t find addictive is Pinterest.
@@Eli.G12it's still a step forward but yeah UA-cam can be pretty insidious, that's why i try to stay away from shorts as much as possible
I never considered myself addicted to normal social media and looking back it was because I was always addicted to youtube.
Same
Same here! I'm rarely on other accounts like Discord (I only go on it occasionally for friends who want a day to do a voice call with me/chat), but UA-cam is what I end up being on the most, and browsing comments is what I do on automatic sometimes.
Damn bro. This vid came across my recommended feed as I was scrolling mindlessly on UA-cam, in place of social media scrolling, sitting on the toilet at work. Needed this reminder. I've been without Facebook and Instagram for a little while now and honestly felt the benefits. But tiredness and boredom get the better of us sometimes, it's so tempting to scroll when we are worn out (minimum effort with maximum stimulation). Good luck out there everyone. We don't need to quit anything entirely, but just find a way to reach a point where the technology works for us; not us working for them...
This is so true! I totally agree. The shorts totally give you bags under your eyes!
The challenge is being able to be present entirely in my own life. I usually go down a hole of travel videos and random shorts.
I need to stop.
😂😂😂😂the title alone omg this has been my struggle since 2006😢I could never shake UA-cam ever since I found out about it😞
UA-cam is just very addicting
I logged out and uninstalled all other apps but here I am on UA-cam for 6hours a day
Omg same! since the early days of UA-cam, I was only 9 lmao. Seeing all the changes happen, it's just not the same anymore but I'm still hooked. 😂😂
Like… since I was a preteen. I’m damn near 30 !
It's crazy how there's so many of us going through the same thing. Still gathering up the strength to quit UA-cam as well.💔
UA-cam just too good, Reddit has some ok stuff but I can leave it
Netflix has crap compared the variety on UA-cam. If you still live a life and don't just sit in UA-cam for 4 hours a day it's good IMO
No need to quit just have boundaries. I'm working on this as well. We'll get throught it
Me tooo
@@asiaj1 Just smoke crack more sensibly?
@@dingleberrysnigglefritz lol it not what you do its how you do it
Man I related it to this. I’ve been without social media for maybe 7 years, and I felt powerful, above the standards, but it happened the same as you with UA-cam! :(
It’s incredible how you try to convince yourself sometimes that you are getting necessary information from it.. But we only need the information related to the stage in life we are in.
There are too much info in the internet!!
That's exactly my story man. The difference in my productivity and motivation between when I cut social media and kept consuming UA-cam and quit UA-cam also was CRAZY.
You quit you tube but your still posting on it?
@@MarkMcCray-gg3wx YOU GOT ME
I found my people. I’m so addicted to UA-cam. I hope we’re all able to quit. ❤
I hope so to! We’ll be just fine
We really don't have to. Life is long and arduous. You might as well pass time doing what you like
@@ihatelife486do you really like it though
@@ihatelife486 mindless scrolling isn't fun it's just wasting time.
@@ihatelife486 Your name contradicts your statement.
The problem isn't spending time on UA-cam, it's how you spend it. If you watch cat video 5h straight, it's no different from Tiktok. But if you spend time learning a language or watching indepth analysis of stuff that matters, that's education, that's meaningful.
UA-cam needs to make it easier for the users to control it, not UA-cam controlling everything. Frot example you might have only subscribed to educational videos but UA-cam inserts the entertainment funny "shorts" which tempt you then if you watch them it feeds you more of them. It's to make an addictive cycle and shorten your attention span for quick hit of dopamine
exactly. that’s why I’m confused as to why people are acting as if you should treat this app like it’s tiktok. UA-cam imo is still a net positive but a lot of people here seem to be throwing out the baby with the bath water.
@@ottz2506 you are not meant to just constantly consume stuff, its like people who watch tons of motivational videos but actually dont do anything besides that, yet they feel like they have accomplished something
find a hobby, do something that interests you, use knowledge that you have gained so far, go for a walk and think a little about things, basically use the brain
I do all that, and UA-cam helped me improve on those hobbies and other interests, and I'm not the only person who can say that. We need to quit viewing everything as an addiction. It seems like it all went from saying social media is an addiction to literally everything is. It all comes across as a 'hey, look at me, I'm beyond all this stuff, you should be like me' move. It's all the epitome of the 'stop having fun' meme. @@lazar2949
Exactly!
Props to you for being vulnerable on here. Im glad youre pushing yourself to grow, but be gentle on yourself. Being hooked doesnt just mean youre weak. They design this stuff to be addictive, they hack our brains.
I feel you! I have a love hate with UA-cam. I love learning new things, but I hate how I spend time on it. I need the account so I can learn things I didn't know I wanted to learn. At least you're educating yourself, but stay off the shorts.
frick… i am definitely addicted to youtube, and have been for over 10 years. this video makes me realize how harmful it is to me. like, hearing you describe getting hooked on videos about animals, nature, and fishing. why are we wasting hundreds of hours watching these videos about life, when we could be experiencing stuff like that ourselves? i binge videos about art, but barely make any of the art ideas i have myself. i want to have my own life, not live vicariously through other people’s videos.
Because most people don't have the option to directly experience most of these things
How exactly were you planning on experiencing anything outside your immediate vicinity if not for reading, art, and shared social experience? You don't need to, but can we not pretend there isn't something to be gained from having access to seeing so many other people's perspectives and experiences?
It's a zen way to live, but not everyone wants to pretend the rest of the world outside of themselves doesn't exist :/
I’d just like to add, although UA-cam for a healthy no issues person might become an addiction and stop them from doing the things they like, it’s a great resource for people like myself who have disabilities and issues that prevent us from doing these things. I do not have enough friends to play on Minecraft servers so I watch others do so like hermitcraft, or primitive technology to see really cool outdoors activities my body can no longer do anymore, I can’t hike up mountains nor have the capacity for large friend groups anymore so I’d say this is definitely more towards those who are able to do these things as a possibility (in some cases, obviously there are boundaries like money etc) rather than how it’s helping us housebound folk who love seeing others do it.
If something is stopping you from doing things, then it’s an issue, if something is enabling you to enjoy watching something without doing it because you can’t or are planning to try in the future, it’s not an issue.
You just have to be an active participant in it then. Watch a video on the subject and do your best to work with it. Through UA-cam, I’ve improved a lot of my cooking skills, been exposed to a lot of new music, and taken advice from channels that talk about bodybuilding and apply that to my own life.
As harsh as it sounds, the problem then isn’t with youtube but the person who watches the content and does nothing with it.
Felt
I've learned a lot from UA-cam
man this video feels like it was made for me. i haven't used social media in 10 years, but i've been watching youtube since 2008 and been basically addicted since then. i really related to when you mentioned you don't even know what you're like without your phone to distract you. i often wonder what my entire early adulthood what have been like if these platforms hadn't existed. i think we all should ask ourselves what opinions and experiences are really our own or just a reflection of the thousands of hours of content we've all consumed. and as for a solution, i'm not sure i even have one. like you, i use youtube not just for entertainment, but education, improving skills, and implementing plans and learning more about the world. i guess i could be more responsible with my use of youtube, but we all know how effective these platforms are at eroding our self control.
i hope your time away from youtube teaches you something new about yourself, and i'd be really curious to hear your perspective. i liked and subscribed since this was such a great video. thanks for this.
Ah, I feel the same way. Sometimes I to wonder how my life would’ve been like if I didn’t have social media. Maybe I could’ve been the next coming of Alexander the Great, who knows? But my time away from social media right now is doing me well, and I’m learning so much about myself. I’ll definitely update you soon. Thank you for tuning in & subscribing, that really motivates me
I relate heavily with this message. I think the biggest making or breaking point is how responsible we are with the content we are watching as you mentioned.
In my case, i would just watch as much content to get a laugh in. Really kind of an escape from the reality i live.
Truth is is that the media we consume is tailored to our liking and that the rabbit hole we fall into gets so deep. Every once in a while we all meet reading through thus comment.
I started watching/using YT in the early pandemic phase bc I was looking for a talk about a honorable scientific topic. I’m addicted since. - Though using it in a responsible way, I’d say.
My resume is: Before I read lots of brilliant books, rather scientific as well. Altogether I had much more time every day for chores and meditation and everything.
BUT, I feel much less alone. Where I live now, there are zero people interested in my/academic stuff, so I really enjoy the community in the different comment sections..:) I feel more connected to the contemporary world. But I wouldn’t want to miss all the things I have learned from the past=books.
Out of curiosity - what are you doing to fill the void of no social media? Any hobbies or new interests 👀
@@auchmalwassagenbefore social media we had people like DaVinci, Galileo, Einstein, Tesla. Now we have cosplay Tesla who has never built anything is his life and just forces out inventors and slaps his name on stuff and a lost generation whose sole inspiration is to be an "influencer".
Yours is the saddest question I've read in the comments in ages. Imagine what so many of us could have achieved if we'd used our time like Da Vinci. An entire world of information at our fingertips and you are asking how people are filling up their time. There's still time for us to turn around this ghost ship we have willingly boarded. Go learn a new skill. Anything is better than the doomscrolling addiction.
Good luck man 🙏🏾 I hope you find balance and not just transfer addiction from one thing to the next.
Bro, same story.
You know what, you motivated me to control my UA-cam addiction too.
Thank you so much
Honestly, this video struck a chord within me. I used twenty minutes to watch this video because I was scrolling through shorts as well. I hate how predatory these apps have become and how weak I am towards them.
I'm going to develop an active mindset towards these apps from this point onward
Delete Shorts only watched long form educational videos or even ASMR
@@joseywales1150 how do I delete shorts?
How did it go
Stop letting the app use u you use it, you are smarter than the app.
@@80085ftw Well, I reduced my screen time drastically, but I can't say I don't still scroll mindlessly sometimes
The mantra that is helping me through all that is: "Embrace boredom, boredom is good. Boredom lets your dopaminergic system chill and replenish so you'll feel better." There is a quote by Andrew Huberman: "Addiction is a progressive narrowing of the things that bring you pleasure. Happiness is a progressive expansion of the things that bring you pleasure. The former emerges passively. The latter takes work.
“Work” in this context could be deliberate abstinence from no-effort-to-high-dopamine behaviors..."
So basically, we're addicted to high dopamine release activities and need to spend deliberate time in the oposite: boredom, rest, meditation. I wish you much success, may we all be bored more and reap the benefits.
Ah, I’ve never thought about it like that. I guess everything really do come full circle, I appreciate you for sharing that with me
beautiful quote
what do i do when i start wanting to do something other than nothing
ya none of that dopamine shit is true and huberman isn’t credible
Every time I'm bored, I have my best ideas. When I sedate myself with youtube for hours each day, I turn off my creative muscle.
You are being genuine with yourself and your situation. It’s obvious you’ll be a successful content creator as a you learn to maneuver this new space in UA-cam and other social media. This sort of reflection speaks to a larger problem we face as consumers of content. I appreciate your insight and I wish you the best of luck my man.
You can do it. Similar struggle with social and YT myself. You’re young and have so many possibilities ahead of you to explore. Good luck!
The quote "am I just an addict that switched from weed to crack?" Was amazing! My main issue with UA-cam is that I don't want to quit it completely, but at the same time it's very hard to only watch one video then close the app. You just got a new subscriber.
I tried deleting the app off my phone and that has helped a lot. I still use UA-cam on the computer and TV sometimes.
@@Galilelo_Telescope thank you so much, that's a great idea! I'll try it out.
Noooo don't sub, then you are watching more UA-cam 🤣
well at least I'm not drinking brian
@backstreet5963 same lol
UA-cam is absolutely social media. Watching video content is a form of social media. I never cared about IG, Tik Tok or Facebook but UA-cam is the most addictive to me personally because I love long form video content the most.
I agree. Long form content are great, especially when you have a high attention span
For real. Long form content is my kryptonite. I never got the appeal of shorts. I used to be able to multitask while watching long form content but now I’m just a vegetable and stop to watch another semi long video while reading comments, then go back to the first one… or not…
YT has content that’s usable for self growth. You’re not fishing for likes on YT, unless you are, then yea you’re using YT wrong
Wanna be YT friends
Watching this on UA-cam ironically makes me feel like i'm in an episode of Black Mirror
this video is so relatable. i’m on youtube for so long, constantly watching videos to distract myself from my real life and the thing abt watching like 20 shorts in between long videos is so relatable. i think im going to start cutting out youtube shorts because it takes so much time out of my life, i wish they had some sort of setting for that.
Off
I deleted my socials 2 years ago and can absolutely relate to this problem of the UA-cam rabbit hole. About 6 months ago I ended up deleting the UA-cam app but here I am in my internet browser doing the same thing. The last line of defense I’m testing out is putting my phone in grayscale which has been a bit better but it’s really difficult to completely cut out these visual forms of entertainment. Books have also helped a lot to occupy my downtime, especially if they’re the kind you can’t put down but then I’ll end up finishing them in a day or two. Stay strong friends and keep fighting for your own attention!
Shit!! I’m not alone 😂😂😂
Same
What is grayscale?
Putting my phone in grayscale was one of the FIRST things I did about 11 months ago. It’s worked wonders ngl. But UA-cam is a different beast
@@elevatedponcemakes your phone black and white. Absolutely 0 color
Also. Props for making this video, from looking at the comments I can tell this is incredibly relatable and relevant to a ton of people. We’re in this together, let’s take control of our attention spans yall
I love that you mentioned that whole thing with watching a long-form video and then scrolling down and watching 20 shorts in the middle of it. I do it all the time, and every time I catch myself doing it I feel like such a degenerate. To me it illuminates the fact that I use youtube as a content crutch - to keep my mind numb and stabilized so that I don’t have to experience boredom/anxiety/stress etc. I gaslight myself constantly into believing that my time spent on youtube is “worth it” because I consume mostly educational content, but the fact is that I consume so much content that it’s nearly impossible for me to retain any information I learn from these videos anyways. As a zoomer I really believe that a lifetime of content addiction has lead me to creative stagnation, lack of ambition, and an attention deficit. I feel like I’ve lost half of my life to this addiction…. And as much as I’ve told myself over the years that I want to experience a full presence in the tangible world, it has always felt like half of my existence is delegated to being a profile on instagram, or an audience member. I just could never tear myself away from the screen
This really resonantes with me. I've found that I made excuses to myself about UA-cam, but find it's just becoming a monstrous eater of my time. Plus I have hundreds of tabs open, and while it seems silly, it actually interfere with my life and wellbeing, plus slows down my computer. I love learning about a expansive variety of subjects, and like all I have loss aversion so feel like if I don't watch or save things it's tantamount to throwing them away, never to return. Even though I know there will be a deluge of newer content oncoming to wrestle with.
Your video may be a huge change for my life. Today's my birthday, I'm already giving up sugar for the month, I'm going to add on UA-cam as well. After that I may just only watch it for a 1 hour designated time slot -which I haven't been able to implement yet. Thanks again to you, and ironically the UA-cam algorithm for recommending this video. I do hope it can be a catalyst, and am eager to see what I'll be with all that reclaimed time.
Cheers, and happy new year.
P.S. you look like someone I knew, quite handsome. Also, for me, the analogy might be from cocane to weed instead :p. Though maybe yours works more than I'd like to admit, ha.
So relatable! I went exactly the same path after quitting social media. After getting UA-cam off my phone I realized that the pattern of mindless scrolling is so strong in my brain that even without the main SM apps on my phone, I still do the same scrolling on Pinterest, shopping apps, and sometimes even on my email. I literally open those apps up and start scrolling and only a few seconds later I catch myself and snap out of it. Still recovering my brain from these automations 1 year later. Doing things in the real world, like practicing guitar, reading books and cooking, as well as meeting people in real life, really helps.
Uh yeah! I started going on LinkedIn after I deleted IG. I never went on LinkedIn before that
How tf do you fix that awful feeling your body gives screaming for some entertainment? I hate even just listening to music now because it feels so boring, i can't even start a hobby
Please don't give up on the guitar we need more guitarists of all kinds.
@@selenadamman8417 Just endure it for a while. After some time your body/ brain gets used to it.
The scrolling hijacks our brains, definitely. It's not your fault, they're designed to hijack our brains. This all needs strong regulation
You’re already ahead of your peers for having this level of self awareness. So many of us are in a similar boat
Thank you for this, Eli. I'm 100% in the same boat, and this has been incredibly enlightening.
cool video! im currently on my social media break phase once again and I'm trying to watch more yt videos that are not shorts. I've been watching yt shorts ever since they've been introduced and it has destroyed my experience using yt. in short im addicted to it but now I'm trying to get rid of the same kinda shorts and shift to longer videos. what I hope to achieve here is a better attention span and informative videos at present.
This is SO relatable! I think the behaviour you had on social media isn't going away but just moving to other apps. Like for me, I was scroling trough my pictures and banckaccount, just to scroll without me even knowing it. It is the worst. I have a password everytime I open UA-cam now so I can make the choice more intentionally. Thanks for this video & have a lovely day :)
How do you set it so you have to enter a password every time you open UA-cam because that's something I'd like to try
The scrolling mechanism is now a strong neuropathic routine out of the subconscious. Its sad.
Damn yeah I started scrolling through photos more too when I quit ig
how did you put the password?
That's a good idea
youtube is just todays cable, hurts to admit it but i can’t judge myself any differently than i judge someone who goes home and sits on the couch in front of the tv all night. im just doing it with a smaller screen. kinda dumb.
great video! needed this lmao
When you have Roku, you get the tv watchimg literally
I’ve found content on UA-cam that absolutely changed my life for the better. It comes down to how you use it (and how often).
UA-cam is so integral part in our lives that we dont see it as something that we can just leave or use less.
Whenever i go out i always check youtube for no reason even if it gets boring.
Iam so glad this video got recommended to me i will restrict my usage to only studies!
This hit home 😂 I went on a few periods of no social media and only UA-cam and really walked around big chest like “I’m better than you peasants”. The wild animal life and bmx killed me
This came at the perfect time!!! I always justify my UA-cam addiction by saying that I can learn from it, but most of the videos I watch are purely entertainment. And Shorts are the devil fr.
I feel you on that. Even though I’ve deleted YT, I still find myself trying to make excuses to reinstall it back on my phone. Sheeesh😂
With the coming of shorts, it just became worse. Maybe it's time to quit for real
I'm in the same boat but you could remove shorts. When you're scrolling on youtube and you have that short section, just click on the 3 dots and select "not interested", do that for all the videos until you have none, refresh the UA-cam page and there are no shorts anymore
@@ismo9529yes but if you open the app they show up again
@@Eli.G12 I deleted it on my phone, and it I don't use it on there, but now I've found myself just using it on my computer
I understand your struggle brother. And I'm going through the same thing😢.
Thanks for the video🙌❤️
I swear bro, the algorithm is reading my thoughts. I was thinking this just yesterday - I’ve been off FB and IG for over a year and loved it, but more and more YT’s shorts are killing me now. I’m going dark this week. No fkn internet at all. My being needs this. Thanks for posting this bro…
I respect folks who even take the leap to even doing a detox from social media. I started what was suppose to be a 30 day detox back in April 2018 from both FB and IG at the age of 33. It is now Oct 2023 and I will be 39 in about 7 weeks and I have not returned in over 5 years. It has been an amazing experience to be free of having the pressure to have people up to date on what you’re doing. Sometimes I think of getting back on because I’ve become a mother in the last 4 years to two little girls and want to share things with my network but don’t want to fall into that trap again. But yes, I’m also a UA-cam addict now. I spend entirely too much time on it. From podcast, to documentaries, to fashion, real estate and then gossip and other foolishness. It’s insane. 😢
No way don’t put your kids on social media you never know who’s watching!!! ❤️
They try to catch you showing suggestions. Need to find way how not to see main page and sidebar with suggestions
I find addon for chrome "df tube" (distraction free for youtube)
@@alister_kroulenko I'm using a browser extension called Unhook. You can hide anything you want on UA-cam (main page, sidebar, comments, etc.)
You did a great thing a good accomplishment getting off "social" media. And really many moms are off it because they know they don't want to post pictures of the kids because the kids have no say in whether or not they want to be on "social" media or have Facebook own all the data of their childhood that is being fed into artificial "intelligence" to do God knows what to us all. There are many levels of harm, many very serious, and that's not even getting into the embarrassment vulnerable kids can feel from the constant "sharing" or even someone on mom's "friends" lists stealing the photos of the kids, putting them in danger of all kinds of harms like kidnapping, etc. No the "sharing" of kids on "social" media is not "benign." So you are to be commended and respected for protecting yourself and your kids. You're smart and responsible. Good job!
100% the same thing happened to me. I quit all social media. I then got a lightphone because I watched like 6-7 hours of UA-cam a day. I still watch UA-cam now, just on my iPad. Watching this video immediately right after I woke up. Deleting UA-cam is so much harder than the other social medias. I’ve tried a few times before. Good luck. Hopefully We all can figure this out.
Try making money in the time you spend on UA-cam. The. You will have money to do other things that make UA-cam boring.
That's exactly my purpose
You got a good point, esp if you’re already trying to make major lifestyle/habit changes. You gotta do what you gotta do!!! 🎉
Most definitely appreciate the honesty. I struggle with plenty things myself (yt being one of them, though, probably, the least damaging [maybe?])
I told myself I was gonna stop watching other peoples content for a year and be a producer instead of a consumer and within a few days the ideas and motivation were flowing through me. Writing down so many things, waking up very early naturally because I wanted to contribute to the world. It took one birthday party and a couple of drinks for me to fall right back into the rabbit hole. Another big one is keeping your phone in your glove box when you drive... I drive a lot for work and I listen to podcasts, random youtube videos, constantly distracting myself. I think it's much worse when driving because you are on high alert. It's not good for the brain.
Exactly
Honestly really relatable. I wish I could just turn of the shorts… Maybe deleting youtube from the phone and just using a tv/desktop might work
Same man. I don’t know what it is but every time I see the shorts, I just have to click. I like your solution, though. I’ll definitely try that for the next couple of months, and see how that works. Thank you for watching bro. 🤝
i uninstalled youtube, i just use google chrome now.
If you're on android, try UA-cam revanced. You can disable shorts
Shorts are still on my Roku TV
I do that and lay down on my bed with the video full screen to just focus on the content I am watching, it works and I easily watch hour long videos about lots of interesting topics like nutrition, psychology.... I think youtube is great to learn new things! We just need to be in a good relationship with our phones, have a "technology hygiene"
Thank you brother. I needed this. We live the same life.
Thank you! I am in the same boat. I needed this video
Well. I'm deleting UA-cam so I can feel at peace with myself without dopamine and distraction; pick back up reading or something more healthy as enjoying nature. I've been thinking for months that I just got rid of social media and Netflix which I don't use much to have UA-cam instead. The algorithm recommended this video to me so it's a sign to get away. Thank you for your perspective.
You’re welcome, I hope you find peace on your journey!
Same. I was just thinking about this yesterday and boom came this video. It’s really weird
@@elevatedponcesame bro, its as if the algorythm AI KNEW! 😅😂
@@S4KuR4Ch4N mind reading technology is here you just don't know it yet. Keep walking your journey hopefully you get enlightened
I'm right there with you. I would say that UA-cam content is usually more enriching than the classic social media apps you mentioned, but at the end of the day it's still an algorithmic time sink.
After binge watching/hearing for almost half the day, I totally agree with you. I quit social media years ago just to get sucked into UA-cam. At least I don't follow my material vices anymore. Bless you dude, stay strong. Hope you don't read this ❤
Mad respect for the introspection and humility. I'm on the same boat! No IG, FB etc, but 24/7 youtube. Definitely need a break myself, but this is inspiring.
Think about what you get out of UA-cam tho. When I don’t have it, I figure out I don’t have many hobbies outside of the internet. I think we all have a natural curiosity and lust for life and enjoyment that we haven’t been taught to value and foster. Our lives end up being work and family, no more and its hard to know who we really are
You know, I’ve actually been thinking about that for a minute. My lack of self control is the reason why I chose to delete it, but I’ll definitely be back later on. This time around, I’ll come back to YT with the intention to not waste time.
this is real man. done up eyebrows are a bit weird though but i respect the lotion on the desk fully in frame.
I really thank God that this video came across my feed. I laughed when I saw the title because it described me perfectly… I’ve been contemplating leaving all of it, but if I can’t do that all at once, I am DEFINITELY limiting my time.
Like, in the physical sense, when you take meds you have to get yourself slowly off it by lowering the dosage. Some people can go cold turkey! Guess we just have to figure out what works for us as individuals and make changes as needed.
i just deleted all of my social media yesterday but the way i can stay on youtube all day… wtf
youtube is social media
Your voice is genuinely therapeutic ❤️
Don’t gas me up before I start reading audio books 😂
You have a lovely gravelly tone to your voice
they rly need to introduce something to turn the shorts feature off because I’ve literally been sucked in this world of weird mindless scrolling. I threw my phone away and I was on my laptop just looking at UA-cam and it’s made me more miserable than ever. it doesn’t feel great realising you’re addicted to social media and the Internet in general because it’s just inescapable. you need that phone, and to keep in touch at some point, you’ll need that Instagram account too. I haven’t been able to quit completely but I’ll keep at it until I get rid of my addiction. thanks for letting me know I wasn’t alone
theres browser extensions for getting rid of YT shorts
I use one called "unhook", works well!
Love how self aware you are and how you allowed yourself to be humbled eventually by your friends comment. Those are invaluable skills.
Kudos to you for having the courage to expose yourself, your flaws and your thoughts. Takes a lot of courage. It is a big help for others who are going through addictions.
This video read tf outta me. I haven’t had social media for two years but i LIVE on youtube from the moment i wake up to the moment i go to sleep. I think i was in denial, but this video was deff a wake up call. I’m realizing the problem has nothing to do with the platform and everything to do with compulsion
This title already resonated with me I’ve been off of all other socials for 5+ years thinking keeping the UA-cam app wouldn’t be a problem but after getting sucked in by UA-cam shorts I think I might have to delete the app from my phone
I love what you say about wanting to see who you are without the distractions. I quit Instagram in June, didn’t even have YT before that, and here I am doing all the same things you are 😭 I can see I’m going to have to give it up too.
You're so real for talking about it how it is, and it seems your journey echoes on a lot of us. Thank you for this, sometimes a mirror is the scariest thing to see.
Me too. Sometimes i catch myself quitting out of UA-cam and back out to my main screen and then i open it up again, straight away! Especially since Shorts came in, they're crazy, hours can go by. The stupid thing is I'd rather be watching the long vids but the shorts are all over every feed and they suck me back in with something interesting.
I used to always be reading books. I haven't picked up a book in maybe 4 years.
I’m addicted to scrolling through comments straight away, I often miss what’s being said in the video
This is relatable af. I had to delete YT from my phone because it was killing my attention span. Even now being able to access it on my computer is still risky for me because I'm struggling my way through a degree and watching some video that's barely relevant to my course is soo much more tantalising than doing actual work.
Recently downloaded instagram again for the first time in like a year but definitely not addicted to it all like I used to be, but I know how easy it is to slip back into it.
Thanks for posting this.
I think most of us struggle with this. Part of the problem is that all these platforms are making themselves as addictive as possible--which just validates the drug comparison further. More power to you for kicking it
Completely understand how you're feeling, been through exactly the same thing. Now though, i just limit UA-cam to certain time of day, also never look at shorts. Any shorts on your feed, just click 'not interested' on all of them, and gradually you will stop seeing them, just like the good ol' days! 😊
I’m literally in the exact same boat as you, but I’ll tell you what, after 3-4 days without social media including UA-cam ,working out and going for walks every day Sounds a lot more fun than doing nothing at all.
You’re so right about how addicting social media is. When you said how you’d be on UA-cam and minimize the video you’re watching to check on others I had to catch myself because I did the same thing while watching yours. Your video is good and engaging but it’s definitely an addiction to try to find something else.
Best video ever; the honesty is brutal
reminds me of how old folks get so amazed when i tell them i don't watch tv, and i don't know how to tell them i spend like twice or trise as long online.
good luck!
I just got out of my appointment with my psychiatrist and talked about this with her. I left social media a week ago and I've already found myself increasing my use of UA-cam. The algorithm certainly listened to me and recommended your video as it is the first time I have seen any recommendations on this topic.
Soon as I read that title...
It resonates with me.
I thought I was any better than others for the fact I wasn't on social media platforms and posting constantly, but yet again I was none stop on UA-cam!
The worst part is the fact that I thought that 🤦🏾♀️
First of all great video, i just turned 19 and i am in exacly the same situation. I deleted instagram, Tik Tok... but now, i am just wasting my time on UA-cam. I always catch myself talking it good, although i know its exacly the same. Ireally wanna stop but its hard, i guess we just have to keep going !
Can definitely relate to the ideas in this video! The question of "who am I without my phone?" is a deep one. This video is a great call to action to give it a try!
I am cool cause I go alot of hours a day without my cell and not on any social media type site even UA-cam. I really can't stand cell phones, they are low key wicked
It's all about finding balance in your life. It's okay to have social media, it's okay to use it and create for it, but you need balance in your life. Quitting is okay, coming back is okay, and I certainly appreciate this video, so I'd argue investing your creative energy in it is also okay. But keep your life in balance, make sure you're going on walks and getting to know your neighborhood, or exploring other facets of yourself creatively, or even just enjoying other forms of media, like books and movies. If you are a well rounded person, your addictions will have less power over you. Not every addiction is best overcome with a cold turkey permanent separation (some are), some just require you to get to the bottom of what you are feeling/ missing deep down. Most of us are dealing with some deep seated need for validation, and while that might not be pretty to look at, I have found is better to acknowledge it and forgive yourself. Thank you for your perspective, seek balance and you shall find it.
Thanks for being a top G. UA-cam does have a small amount of educational value left over after it has become so blatantly addictive. Cheers and hoping you hit your goal
This is the most relatable UA-cam video title I’ve seen so far!!!!
So true and fun fact, yesterday I looked up my screening time on YT and holy shiaaaat, I had the same epiphany. Way to much and on what, endless non informational gibber gabber with a high entertainment factor. YT is great only if you use it to educate yourself, like learning to paint or how to self help yourself. Good luck and stay strong!
Former UFC Champ, now on UA-cam spitting facts, thank you Aljo 🙏🏽
Lool
😂😂😂😂
This is why I love reading comments 😂
THANK YOUUUUUU for calling me out I know this was the case but bruh it means more when someone else says it. I always think I’m doing it for connection to others but obvs it’s a very warped version of human connection 😢 it’s hard to face the underlying escapism in any addictive behaviour. I’ll pray for us all 🙏
same as me. you can block shorts from your home page by clicking the 3 bottoms at the top right and clicking not interested and you won't get short form content on your home page. this helped me so much
Cool thanks was wondering!